CD-Charts Position 1
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Secret Story: Remastered & Expanded

by: Pat Metheny

Release Date September 24, 2007
The original Secret Story has been one of my favourite albums since it was released back in 1992. Hearing a while back that it was going to be included in the reissues of remastered Pat Metheny titles I must admit to wondering whether it would be worth buying - would the sound be that much better than the original, which already sounds pretty good?

Well, thanks be to Pat Metheny because this is a remastered album in the truest sense. Not only does it sound so much better, but some of the pieces have been altered by bringing various tracks either higher or lower in the mix - it's almost like listening to new songs. This has really added a great deal and has brought so much more to the Secret Story experience.

As far ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Tokyo Day Trip : Live EP

by: Pat Metheny

Release Date May 19, 2008
Released as a supplement to "Day Trip", the trio's studio set from earlier this year, this is a collection of new live tracks recorded at The Blue Note in Tokyo. In spite of its categorization as an EP (a label that has probably lost all the meaning it had in the vinyl world - indeed, this set clocks in at 40 minutes, which used to be a respectable length for an LP) the keynote here is diversity, as this little group shows off a wide variety of styles, ranging from the folksy atmosphere of "Tromso" to the knotty polyrhythms of "Back Arm & Blackcharge".

In between there's "Travelling Fast", which is probably the piece that'd be most easily recognized as a Metheny tune, featuring as it does his characteristic creamy guitar tone. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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River: The Joni Letters

by: Herbie Hancock

Release Date October 01, 2007
I agree with all the other reviews on the album , well nearly all . As my title says , why for Gods sake did H.Hancock and co put this has been in on what is a good listening album - but Leonard "let me open a vein to" Cohen on a Jazz album !!???? He can't sing - never could , never will , and the only reason that I can think of why he's on this album is because he's from Canada . The track is not "interesting" it's bloody awful and the producers should hang thier heads in shame .

CD-Charts Position 4
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January

by: Marcin Wasilewski

Release Date January 28, 2008
Whatever you are into, you've got to get this album. This is a real calm but not overly smoothe piano treat and I can't put it away.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Brad Mehldau Trio Live

by: Brad Mehldau Trio, Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier

Release Date March 24, 2008
There is no denying that Brad Mehldau is one of the most instantly recognisable jazz performers out there. Just a handful of notes - that sharp touch, the detached articulation in the right, the jabbed clusters in the left, the two-handed play and the moments his left wants to detach from his right - and you just know it is him at the piano.

Mehldau's playing has some real strengths. His ability to take a melody apart and put it back together again is in ample evidence on this live set from the celebrated Village Vanguard. It can be heard on standards such as 'The Very Thought of You' or 'More Than You Know': the themes will be familiar but chances are you will not have heard theme quite like this. And Brad deconstructs his own themes (the infectious 'Buddha ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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e.s.t. Leucocyte (Esbjorn Svensson Trio)

by: e s t

Release Date September 01, 2008
Just magnificent! A wonderful tribute to the work of a trio who pushed the boundaries of jazz. A wall of sound for the 21st century.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Shine

by: Joni Mitchell

Release Date September 24, 2007
A little late in the day to be sure sure but with good reason.

I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it but having bought the album
it then took me a good year to absorb its' wily charms.

'Shine' is a conceit of a sort you see.

The languidly marvelous orchestral excesses of'Both Sides Now' (2000)
and 'Travelogue' (2002) notwithstanding it has been almost
a decade since the last recording of new and original material and
'Taming The Tiger' (1998) could never be seen to have been a high point
in Ms Mitchell's long and illustrious career.

Having 'retired' from the business of strumming and singing in
2002 her muse lay dormant for a while but we can be glad that
she has set her paintbrushes aside ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Quartet

by: Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau

Release Date March 12, 2007
EXCELLENT,LOVE THIS SOUND...TAKES MY HEAD TO A DIFFERENT PLACE...FEEL WARM IN THE DARK...RECOMENDED BY ME

CD-Charts Position 9
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The New Crystal Silence

by: Chick Corea & Gary Burton

Release Date February 25, 2008
EXCELLENT,LOVE THIS SOUND...TAKES MY HEAD TO A DIFFERENT PLACE...FEEL WARM IN THE DARK...RECOMENDED BY ME

CD-Charts Position 10
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My Foolish Heart

by: Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette

Release Date October 22, 2007
Apparantly this concert had sound difficulties for the players and it was very hot. In true professional manner they pulled off an amazing concert.
We have come to expect a very very high standard from this trio. Encapsulated in here is a mini history of jazz piano with nods at Fats Waller, Thelonius Monk and Bill Evans, maybe even Bud Powell and Art tatum. The few standards that have been done before on other trio albums are given different treatments here so don't bring any pre conceptions here, they work well in these newer workings. The stride like piano pieces alla fats waller are fun and show these guys can do it straight too and still make their own inimitable mark on the music. I found the drumming of Dejohnette wholly appropriate in these settings and it gave the pieces momentum and excitement. ... Read More: