LibraryPreviews.com presents
new JAZZ CDs for
SPRING 2001
new JAZZ CDs for
SPRING 2001
new CDs
LINKS:
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J A Z Z
Previews and Reviews
J A Z Z
Previews and Reviews
BARGAIN JAZZ COMPILATIONS
"Jazz Music for: After Hours"
Various Artists - Jazz
...available here.
Next time you're in a late-night, romantic mood and want some music
appropriate for the occasion, we've got just the thing. Madacy's
"Jazz Music For" series of CDs, created in conjunction with "BET on
Jazz," offers 11 compilations of wonderful mood music from some of
the top jazz artists of all time, and each one costs less than $11.
Whether you want jazz for dancing, Sunday mornings, or after hours,
this series includes an album that will suit your occasion.
More Madacy jazz compilations
...available here.
POSTED 14 JUNE 2001
NEW AND NOTABLE RELEASES
"Action Figure Party"
Action Figure Party
...available here.
Greg Kurstin, the keyboardist from Geggy Tah, decided to have a jam
session with a few famous friends (Flea, Sean Lennon), and the
results can all be heard on "Action Figure Party." It's a wild,
weird, and groovy sonic trip, jazzy but with a distinct rock edge.
Read more
...available here.
"Let's Get Lost"
Terence Blanchard
...available here.
"Let's Get Lost" is Terence Blanchard's moving tribute to the
songwriting of Jimmy McHugh. This disc's recipe is blissfully
impressive: Blanchard's lyrical lines, four great female vocalists
(Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, and Jane Monheit),
and a collection of timeless tunes--"Sunny Side of the Street," "I
Can't Give You Anything But Love"--all add up to a great album.
Read more
...available here.
"Nearness of You: The Ballad Book"
Michael Brecker
...available here.
Michael Brecker delivers a soft-hued collection of jazz ballads
with "Nearness of You." Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden,
and Jack DeJohnette help out the saxophonist on this collection of
tunes, old and new.
Read more
...available here.
"The Essential Miles Davis"
Miles Davis
...available here.
"The Essential Miles Davis" gathers 23 prime Miles Davis cuts, from
1943's "Now's the Time" with Charlie Parker, right up through 1986's
"Portia" (with a stop along the way for "So What" from "Kind of
Blue" and a bunch of other must-haves). If you've just started your
Miles--or jazz--collection, this is the perfect introduction. Albums
are rarely so aptly titled.
Read more
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005JA24/ncdn">...available here.
"Paradise"
Tom Harrell
...available here.
Trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer Tom Harrell's "Paradise"
swings with a melodic beauty that's at once both familiar and
original. With a chamber group behind him adding some lush string
arrangements, Harrell has delivered one of his finest efforts.
Read more
...available here.
VOCAL WONDERS
"Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane"
Karrin Allyson
...available here.
Karrin Allyson's understated "Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane"
pays tribute to the saxophonist's classic 1961 album. Backed by ace
jazzmen James Carter, Bob Berg, Steve Wilson, and others, Allyson
doesn't try to steal the show here with vocal pyrotechnics or flash.
With her warm vocal style, she lets the spirit of the originals
speak for themselves.
Read more
...available here.
"Night Lights"
Nat King Cole
...available here.
"Night Lights" is the previously unreleased 1956 Nat "King" Cole
album featuring arrangements by Nelson Riddle. Funny thing is, this
album wasn't totally lost; we know many of these tunes as hit
singles, including the title track, "Too Young to Go Steady," and "I
Just Found Out About Love." With this release, Cole fans can hear
the rest of these charming sessions in their complete glory. In all,
you get a dozen previously unreleased tracks.
Read more
...available here.
"Come Dream With Me"
Jane Monheit
...available here.
Her vocal style is simply timeless, but the music heard on Jane
Monheit's "Come Dream with Me" is as adventurous as jazz discs get.
Anyone who can creatively sing "Over the Rainbow," "Waters of
March," Bread's "If," and Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" on the
same gorgeous album deserves some accolades. And in Monheit's case,
she deserves a lot.
Read more
...available here.
RECENT BOX SETS
"The Duke at Fargo, 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition"
Duke Ellington
...available here.
For good reason, this is one of the most admired Swing Era music
recordings around. "The Duke at Fargo, 1940" captures Ellington at
the peak of his career, and features a great ensemble, awesome
music-making, and energy you can still feel today, 61 years after
the fact.
"Hollywood All-Star Sessions [BOX SET]"
Art Pepper
...available here.
"The Hollywood All-Star Sessions" shows Art Pepper in the midst of
his mid-'70s comeback, less than a year before the legendary
saxophonist's passing. The five-CD set will be welcomed by fans;
Pepper is an imaginative and sensitive player, and he's joined by
some of the era's best (Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Shelly Manne).
BLUE NOTE SHELVES...
"Dance Lesson #2"
Karl Denson
...available here.
On his debut album for Blue Note, Karl Denson proves the world still
has room for one more funky saxophonist. "Dance Lesson #2" features
the talented player performing with Charlie Hunter, Chris Wood, DJ
Logic, and other noteworthies. The music? It's a mix of the smooth,
the groovy, and the wild, but it's all great.
"Phonography"
DJ Smash
...available here.
"Phonography" isn't just a showcase for the remix skills of DJ
Smash. Here, we get numerous jazz tracks--by Medeski Martin &
Wood, Bob Belden, Greg Osby, and others--remixed and revitalized by
Todd Terry, Guru, DJ Spinna, and others. Get on that dance floor.
"Revisite"
Erik Truffaz
...available here.
Continuing where Miles Davis left off, saxophonist Erik Truffaz
offers plenty of interesting remixes to his cool jazz sounds.
"Revisite" is as ambient as jazz discs get, but it doesn't
forget the beats, either.
RECOMMENDED CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
"Cruisin'"
Marc Antoine
...available here.
Marc Antoine's "Crusin'" may be the perfect jazz disc for long
drives. The smooth guitarist performs a bunch of innovative
originals, plus a blistering take on the legendary "Mas Que Nada."
"Live in South Africa [LIVE]"
Andy Narell
...available here.
Andy Narell's "Live in South Africa" features the steel-pan musician
in an exciting live setting. Across the two CDs, you can expect
plenty of solos, great grooves, and globetrotting fusion sounds.
"In Modern Times"
Spyro Gyra
...available here.
Spyro Gyra are one of contemporary jazz's best ensembles, and
listening to "In Modern Times," you'll hear why. Great arrangements,
lots of energy, and fine tunes all come together here to make one of
SG's smoothest albums to date.
"Freddie Ravel"
Freddie Ravel
...available here.
Keyboardist Freddie Ravel delivers what may be the keyboardist's
best disc yet. Ravel's trademark Latin sounds are all over this
disc, but it has plenty of funk, too!
"Twist of Marley: A Tribute"
Various Artists
...available here.
The Lee Ritenour-produced "A Twist of Marley" features smooth-jazz's
brightest stars--Gerald Albright, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, and
others--paying tribute to the reggae legend. Marley's classic tunes
are transformed into lyrical and soulful jazz instrumentals. Tribute
discs don't usually work; here's one that does.
MILES DAVIS SALE POSTED MAY 21, 2001
From now until May 28, you can save on some of Miles Davis's
best-loved CDs, at prices as low as $8.99. Looking for a deal on
"Kind of Blue," "'Round About Midnight," or "Birth of the Cool?"
Here's your chance.
Go to Miles Davis sale
...order here.
NEW & NOTABLE RELEASES POSTED 21 MAY 2001
"Freefall"
Kenny Barron
Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.98
...order it here.
The exuberant interplay between violinist Regina Carter and pianist
Kenny Barron on "Freefall" hearkens back to the chemistry of a
better-known jazz duo, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. With
repertoire that ranges from the sublime (Monk's "Misterioso") to the
ridiculous (Sting's "Fragile"), Barron and Carter shine. A gorgeous,
pared-down album that's refreshingly simple.
"Nocturne"
Charlie Haden
Our price: $12.58 | You save: $5.39
...order it here.
Charlie Haden's love for Cuban music permeates "Nocturne," but this
lush and unhurried disc is a far cry from the energized romps of the
"Buena Vista Social Club." Instead, the bassist--aided by Gonzalo
Rubalcaba, Ignacio Berroa, Joe Lovano, and Pat Metheny, among
others--focuses on the sweet lyricism of Latin America. The result
is typical Haden: melancholic, soulful, and sweet.
"A New Hot One"
David Krakauer
Our price: $16.97
...order it here.
Where does the Old World meet the Lower East Side of New York City?
On David Krakauer's "A New Hot One," a disc that is already proving
to be one of the strongest jazz albums of 2001. The sizzling klezmer
disc is as frenzied as they come, but clarinet virtuoso Krakauer
never forgets his musical roots. Not since the glory days of Naftule
Brandwein and Dave Tarras has this form of music felt so alive and
energized. Wonderful.
"Dear Louis"
Nicholas Payton
Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.98
...order it here.
With "Dear Louis," Nicholas Payton doesn't just pay tribute to the
music of Louis Armstrong, he lets it evolve. With vocal help from
Dianne Reeves and Dr. John, Payton reworks these classic jazz tunes
using a diverse array of styles and plenty of spirited New
Orleans-inspired playing. Thanks to Payton's trumpet and some truly
creative arrangements, Armstrong's finest--whether swinging and
bluesy, gritty or smooth--still sound fresh.
"Anthem"
Ralph Towner
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $3.98
...order it here.
The fingerstyle guitar work of Ralph Towner combines the moody
contemplation of Bill Frisell with the folksy playing of Leo Kottke.
But Towner's stark compositions on "Anthem" are thoroughly unique. A
cover of Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" closes this introspective,
technically flawless disc.
A MUSICAL TRIBUTE
"The Music of Eric Von Essen, Vol. 2"
Various Artists
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order it here.
Some of Los Angeles's finest jazz musicians deliver a second musical
tribute to Eric von Essen, the late bassist and composer. Von
Essen's compositions are hard to pigeonhole. His compositional
styles ranged from traditional piano trios to contemplative
jazz-folk fusions featuring acoustic guitar. But this diverse
collection, performed lovingly by Nels Cline, Alan Pasqua, Alan
Broadbent, Jeff Gauthier, and others, makes for a gripping listen.
VOCAL WONDER
"Over the Rainbow"
Little Jimmy Scott
Our price: $14.49 | You save: $1.48
...order it here.
Somehow, Jimmy Scott keeps delivering achingly beautiful CDs
featuring his trademark falsetto vocals and near-perfect sense of
timing. "Over the Rainbow" is as haunting and soul-searching as any
recent Scott effort, with wonderful production and a great selection
of tunes. If anyone can make "Somewhere over the Rainbow" sound
fresh, it's Scott, and he does just that.
RAGTIME REDUX
"The Past Is Yet To Come"
Craig Ventresco
Our price: $16.99
...order it here.
Guitarist Craig Ventresco is noteworthy for a couple of reasons.
First, he performed on the soundtrack to "Crumb," playing acoustic
ragtime works that fit perfectly next to Robert Crumb's vintage 78
rpm tunes. Second, Ventresco can play his guitar fast... really,
really fast. On his debut solo album, "The Past Is Yet to Come," the
guitarist delivers a dizzying array of early and original ragtime
tunes arranged for guitar. Incredible guitar playing and timeless
music.
JAZZ ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
John Coltrane
...order it here.
Miles Davis
...order it here.
Duke Ellington
...order it here.
Keith Jarrett
...order it here.
Diana Krall
...order it here.
Thelonious Monk
...order it here.
Amazon.com's complete Essentials by Artist
...order it here.
A NEW ORLEANS MUSICAL GUMBO
"Vol. 3-New Congo Square"
Los Hombres Calientes
Our price: $12.99 | You save: $3.98
...order it here.
The accurately titled Los Hombres Calientes project, featuring
percussionist Bill Summers and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, delivers a
musical tribute to the roots and offshoots of the New Orleans jazz
scene. Afro-beat, funk, Jamaican music, and Cuban jazz all collide
on the rhythmically driving and constantly globetrotting "New Congo
Square." As history lessons go, this is about as much fun as you
could ask for.
JAZZ BARGAINS
Fantasy Jazz for Under $7: A-G
...order it here.
Fantasy Jazz for Under $7: H-Z
...order it here.
"Goin' Yard"
Monty Alexander
...order it here.
Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander continues his reggae-meets-jazz
mission on "Goin' Yard." The tunes combine swinging rhythms and piano
with dub-inflected and reggae-tinged melodies. A live recording,
"Goin' Yard" takes you on a global voyage.
"Calle 54 [SOUNDTRACK]"
Original Soundtrack
...order it here.
A veritable who's who of Latin jazz stops by to groove on the
soundtrack to "Calle 54." From Gato Barbieri to Jerry Gonzalez and the
Fort Apache Band, "Calle 54" percolates with thick percussion,
high-flying horns, and an effervescence that's unforgettable.
"Acquainted With The Night [HDCD][ECD]"
Pieces Of A Dream
...order it here.
Once the discovery of saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., the band
Pieces of a Dream celebrate 25 years of contemporary jazz on
"Acquainted with the Night." Sultry, smooth, and groovy, the CD opens
with British guitarist Ronny Jordan and includes other noted guests,
such as Kenny Blake and vocalist Maysa.
"Passage Of Time"
Joshua Redman Quartet
...order it here.
A customer from Florida notes that Joshua Redman and his quartet "are
reaching a level that only a few of the great jazz bands in history
reached." "Passage of Time" is a hallmark release and shows ample
evidence of the saxophonist's stature.
SATCHMO'S SWING
"Disney Songs The Satchmo Way"
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
This celebration of Disney songs is like no other. For all the stuff
Louis Armstrong was presented to sing, he certainly seems to have
liked songs from the Disney realm. He imbues this selection with a
certain drama that's mirrored in great arrangements that rarely sound
obvious.
"What A Wonderful World (Decca)"
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
Lushly produced, "What a Wonderful World" finds Louis Armstrong in
some of his most pop-oriented performances. For the title track alone,
the CD is worth gold.
SUPER DEALS
"All For You: A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio"
Diana Krall
...order it here.
There are a lot of influences at play in the work of Diana Krall.
Here she dedicates her entire program to a prime influence, Nat "King"
Cole. The swing is lithe and undeniable. Krall's voice is rich and
nuanced and fantastic.
"Night Train (20-Bit Master) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]"
Oscar Peterson Trio
SEASONED CLASSIC
"The Complete Blue Note Sessions [Limited] [ORIGINAL RECORDING
REMASTERED]"
Don Wilkerson
...order it here.
Don Wilkerson might not have profited immensely from his days in Ray
Charles's band, but while there he sure did find a fantastic creative
voice. The band here includes Grant Green on guitar, and the tunes
have a churchy, soulful bustle driven upward by pianist Sonny Clark
and organist John Patton. A classic two-CD set.
ESSENTIALS BY STYLE
There was a time decades ago when bebop was the avant-garde. By the
1980s and '90s, though, bop-era music--including hard bop, soul jazz,
and more--had become mainstream fare. The crop of musicians playing
bop-inspired jazz in this era spans particular styles, and our Modern
Postbop Essentials call out some of the best. Check out Amazon.com's
list of Modern Postbop Essentials.
...order it here.
Browse all of our Jazz Essentials
...browse here.
"New Colors" on HIP BOP.
Freddie Hubbard, home page and also see Hubbard, Bio
The new one is a blend of contemporary and traditional jazz. (more to come)
"Doin' Something"
Soulive
...order it here.
Soulive's sophomore CD, "Doin' Something," follows their debut ("Turn It Out") with another righteously funky batch of grooves. Guest trombonist Fred Wesley thickens a stew already enriched by guitarist Eric Krasno and the organ and drums team of Neal and Alan Evans.
"Flights of Fancy"
Joe Lovano
...order it here.
Saxophonist Joe Lovano's "Flights of Fancy" features a roll call of greats, from trumpeter Dave Douglas to harmonica pioneer Toots Thielemans, playing in a variety of trio settings. Lyrical, pensive, and robust by turns, this is a great set.
"You're My Thrill"
Shirley Horn
...order it here.
Shirley Horn's penchant for smoldering, lush playing and singing is at full tilt on her new CD, "You're My Thrill." Late-night atmospheres drive Horn's latest, with Johnny Mandel's string arrangements adding burnished colors.
"Double Live From The USA & UK [LIVE]"
Dave Brubeck Quartet
...order it here.
At 80, pianist and bandleader Dave Brubeck is still amazing. "Double Live from the USA & UK" leans on classics such as "Take Five" but adds new twists aplenty with these exciting quartet recordings.
BRAZILIAN GROOVES
"Perpetual Emotion"
Flora Purim
...order it here.
Flora Purim's mix on "Perpetual Emotion" is evenly divided between Brazilian classics and the jazz-standards approach in which she thrives. Her vocals are more straightforward, and her band (with drummer Airto Moreira) is still awesome even after her five-year hiatus from recording.
"Vinicius"
Vinicius Cantuaria
...order it here.
Guitarist and songwriter Vinicius Cantuaria has the touch of the great Caetano Veloso, and on "Vinicius" he's also got a killer band. Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell, and Brad Mehldau add color and depth to these gorgeous Brazilian tunes.
FRESH AND SMOOTH
"Kisses In The Rain"
Rick Braun (Jazz)
...order it here.
Trumpeter and flugelhornist Rick Braun's "Kisses in the Rain" starts off funky and then switches between silky smooth mellowness and a more rhythmic bustle that smooth-jazz fans will dig.
"In A Heartbeat"
Chuck Loeb
...order it here.
An Amazon.com customer from Oklahoma loves Chuck Loeb: "Suffice it to say that, although Mr. Loeb has never released a less than brilliant album in his entire musical career, "In a Heartbeat" has to be his best yet."
FANTASY JAZZ'S COOL AND ACID JAZZ LEGENDS
"Chet"
Baker,Chet
...order it here.
This 20-bit remastering of trumpeter Chet Baker's classic album "Chet" brings the cool jazz sound to the fore brilliantly. Baker, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, and pianist Bill Evans add very different ingredients to this wonderfully chilled-out set.
"Poll Winners (20 Bit Mastering)"
Barney Kessel
...order it here.
Named after their sweep of jazz magazine awards in the 1950s, the Poll Winners included guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne. This set, remastered in 20-bit audio, is sleek, swinging, and altogether exclamatory as to why they won their respective polls.
Check out more Fantasy West Coast & Cool Jazz Classics
...order it here.
"Legends Of Acid Jazz"
Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones
...order it here.
Boogaloo Joe Jones slinked and grooved like no one else as the 1960s saw jazz factions moving away from each other. This collection includes two rare albums on one CD, and features Jones's blues-colored bop licks and Bernard Purdie's kicking, funky drumming. A classic in the growth of soul and acid jazz.
"Legends Of Acid Jazz"
Pucho & His Latin Soul...
...order it here.
Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers built a sturdy bridge between the funky, danceable soul jazz of the 1960s and the rhythmically propulsive Latin jazz of the bop era. This collection is hefty with riffs and solos and Latin beats that will tug you to the dance floor.
Check out Fantasy's Legends of Acid Jazz
...more here.
ESSENTIALS BY STYLE
Latin Jazz Essentials
From West Africa to Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and points beyond, Latin jazz revitalized bebop and virtually all jazz streams thereafter. Our Latin Jazz Essentials cover the territory, reaching back in time to classic recordings and forward to contemporary classics in the making.
...more here.
Browse all of our Jazz Essentials
...browse here.
BARGAIN JAZZ COMPILATIONS
"Jazz Music for: After Hours"
Various Artists - Jazz
...available here.
Next time you're in a late-night, romantic mood and want some music
appropriate for the occasion, we've got just the thing. Madacy's
"Jazz Music For" series of CDs, created in conjunction with "BET on
Jazz," offers 11 compilations of wonderful mood music from some of
the top jazz artists of all time, and each one costs less than $11.
Whether you want jazz for dancing, Sunday mornings, or after hours,
this series includes an album that will suit your occasion.
More Madacy jazz compilations
...available here.
POSTED 14 JUNE 2001
NEW AND NOTABLE RELEASES
"Action Figure Party"
Action Figure Party
...available here.
Greg Kurstin, the keyboardist from Geggy Tah, decided to have a jam
session with a few famous friends (Flea, Sean Lennon), and the
results can all be heard on "Action Figure Party." It's a wild,
weird, and groovy sonic trip, jazzy but with a distinct rock edge.
Read more
...available here.
"Let's Get Lost"
Terence Blanchard
...available here.
"Let's Get Lost" is Terence Blanchard's moving tribute to the
songwriting of Jimmy McHugh. This disc's recipe is blissfully
impressive: Blanchard's lyrical lines, four great female vocalists
(Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, and Jane Monheit),
and a collection of timeless tunes--"Sunny Side of the Street," "I
Can't Give You Anything But Love"--all add up to a great album.
Read more
...available here.
"Nearness of You: The Ballad Book"
Michael Brecker
...available here.
Michael Brecker delivers a soft-hued collection of jazz ballads
with "Nearness of You." Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden,
and Jack DeJohnette help out the saxophonist on this collection of
tunes, old and new.
Read more
...available here.
"The Essential Miles Davis"
Miles Davis
...available here.
"The Essential Miles Davis" gathers 23 prime Miles Davis cuts, from
1943's "Now's the Time" with Charlie Parker, right up through 1986's
"Portia" (with a stop along the way for "So What" from "Kind of
Blue" and a bunch of other must-haves). If you've just started your
Miles--or jazz--collection, this is the perfect introduction. Albums
are rarely so aptly titled.
Read more
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005JA24/ncdn">...available here.
"Paradise"
Tom Harrell
...available here.
Trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer Tom Harrell's "Paradise"
swings with a melodic beauty that's at once both familiar and
original. With a chamber group behind him adding some lush string
arrangements, Harrell has delivered one of his finest efforts.
Read more
...available here.
VOCAL WONDERS
"Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane"
Karrin Allyson
...available here.
Karrin Allyson's understated "Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane"
pays tribute to the saxophonist's classic 1961 album. Backed by ace
jazzmen James Carter, Bob Berg, Steve Wilson, and others, Allyson
doesn't try to steal the show here with vocal pyrotechnics or flash.
With her warm vocal style, she lets the spirit of the originals
speak for themselves.
Read more
...available here.
"Night Lights"
Nat King Cole
...available here.
"Night Lights" is the previously unreleased 1956 Nat "King" Cole
album featuring arrangements by Nelson Riddle. Funny thing is, this
album wasn't totally lost; we know many of these tunes as hit
singles, including the title track, "Too Young to Go Steady," and "I
Just Found Out About Love." With this release, Cole fans can hear
the rest of these charming sessions in their complete glory. In all,
you get a dozen previously unreleased tracks.
Read more
...available here.
"Come Dream With Me"
Jane Monheit
...available here.
Her vocal style is simply timeless, but the music heard on Jane
Monheit's "Come Dream with Me" is as adventurous as jazz discs get.
Anyone who can creatively sing "Over the Rainbow," "Waters of
March," Bread's "If," and Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" on the
same gorgeous album deserves some accolades. And in Monheit's case,
she deserves a lot.
Read more
...available here.
RECENT BOX SETS
"The Duke at Fargo, 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition"
Duke Ellington
...available here.
For good reason, this is one of the most admired Swing Era music
recordings around. "The Duke at Fargo, 1940" captures Ellington at
the peak of his career, and features a great ensemble, awesome
music-making, and energy you can still feel today, 61 years after
the fact.
"Hollywood All-Star Sessions [BOX SET]"
Art Pepper
...available here.
"The Hollywood All-Star Sessions" shows Art Pepper in the midst of
his mid-'70s comeback, less than a year before the legendary
saxophonist's passing. The five-CD set will be welcomed by fans;
Pepper is an imaginative and sensitive player, and he's joined by
some of the era's best (Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Shelly Manne).
BLUE NOTE SHELVES...
"Dance Lesson #2"
Karl Denson
...available here.
On his debut album for Blue Note, Karl Denson proves the world still
has room for one more funky saxophonist. "Dance Lesson #2" features
the talented player performing with Charlie Hunter, Chris Wood, DJ
Logic, and other noteworthies. The music? It's a mix of the smooth,
the groovy, and the wild, but it's all great.
"Phonography"
DJ Smash
...available here.
"Phonography" isn't just a showcase for the remix skills of DJ
Smash. Here, we get numerous jazz tracks--by Medeski Martin &
Wood, Bob Belden, Greg Osby, and others--remixed and revitalized by
Todd Terry, Guru, DJ Spinna, and others. Get on that dance floor.
"Revisite"
Erik Truffaz
...available here.
Continuing where Miles Davis left off, saxophonist Erik Truffaz
offers plenty of interesting remixes to his cool jazz sounds.
"Revisite" is as ambient as jazz discs get, but it doesn't
forget the beats, either.
RECOMMENDED CONTEMPORARY JAZZ
"Cruisin'"
Marc Antoine
...available here.
Marc Antoine's "Crusin'" may be the perfect jazz disc for long
drives. The smooth guitarist performs a bunch of innovative
originals, plus a blistering take on the legendary "Mas Que Nada."
"Live in South Africa [LIVE]"
Andy Narell
...available here.
Andy Narell's "Live in South Africa" features the steel-pan musician
in an exciting live setting. Across the two CDs, you can expect
plenty of solos, great grooves, and globetrotting fusion sounds.
"In Modern Times"
Spyro Gyra
...available here.
Spyro Gyra are one of contemporary jazz's best ensembles, and
listening to "In Modern Times," you'll hear why. Great arrangements,
lots of energy, and fine tunes all come together here to make one of
SG's smoothest albums to date.
"Freddie Ravel"
Freddie Ravel
...available here.
Keyboardist Freddie Ravel delivers what may be the keyboardist's
best disc yet. Ravel's trademark Latin sounds are all over this
disc, but it has plenty of funk, too!
"Twist of Marley: A Tribute"
Various Artists
...available here.
The Lee Ritenour-produced "A Twist of Marley" features smooth-jazz's
brightest stars--Gerald Albright, Marc Antoine, Rick Braun, and
others--paying tribute to the reggae legend. Marley's classic tunes
are transformed into lyrical and soulful jazz instrumentals. Tribute
discs don't usually work; here's one that does.
MILES DAVIS SALE POSTED MAY 21, 2001
From now until May 28, you can save on some of Miles Davis's
best-loved CDs, at prices as low as $8.99. Looking for a deal on
"Kind of Blue," "'Round About Midnight," or "Birth of the Cool?"
Here's your chance.
Go to Miles Davis sale
...order here.
NEW & NOTABLE RELEASES POSTED 21 MAY 2001
"Freefall"
Kenny Barron
Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.98
...order it here.
The exuberant interplay between violinist Regina Carter and pianist
Kenny Barron on "Freefall" hearkens back to the chemistry of a
better-known jazz duo, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. With
repertoire that ranges from the sublime (Monk's "Misterioso") to the
ridiculous (Sting's "Fragile"), Barron and Carter shine. A gorgeous,
pared-down album that's refreshingly simple.
"Nocturne"
Charlie Haden
Our price: $12.58 | You save: $5.39
...order it here.
Charlie Haden's love for Cuban music permeates "Nocturne," but this
lush and unhurried disc is a far cry from the energized romps of the
"Buena Vista Social Club." Instead, the bassist--aided by Gonzalo
Rubalcaba, Ignacio Berroa, Joe Lovano, and Pat Metheny, among
others--focuses on the sweet lyricism of Latin America. The result
is typical Haden: melancholic, soulful, and sweet.
"A New Hot One"
David Krakauer
Our price: $16.97
...order it here.
Where does the Old World meet the Lower East Side of New York City?
On David Krakauer's "A New Hot One," a disc that is already proving
to be one of the strongest jazz albums of 2001. The sizzling klezmer
disc is as frenzied as they come, but clarinet virtuoso Krakauer
never forgets his musical roots. Not since the glory days of Naftule
Brandwein and Dave Tarras has this form of music felt so alive and
energized. Wonderful.
"Dear Louis"
Nicholas Payton
Our price: $14.99 | You save: $2.98
...order it here.
With "Dear Louis," Nicholas Payton doesn't just pay tribute to the
music of Louis Armstrong, he lets it evolve. With vocal help from
Dianne Reeves and Dr. John, Payton reworks these classic jazz tunes
using a diverse array of styles and plenty of spirited New
Orleans-inspired playing. Thanks to Payton's trumpet and some truly
creative arrangements, Armstrong's finest--whether swinging and
bluesy, gritty or smooth--still sound fresh.
"Anthem"
Ralph Towner
Our price: $13.99 | You save: $3.98
...order it here.
The fingerstyle guitar work of Ralph Towner combines the moody
contemplation of Bill Frisell with the folksy playing of Leo Kottke.
But Towner's stark compositions on "Anthem" are thoroughly unique. A
cover of Mingus's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" closes this introspective,
technically flawless disc.
A MUSICAL TRIBUTE
"The Music of Eric Von Essen, Vol. 2"
Various Artists
Our price: $14.22 | You save: $0.75
...order it here.
Some of Los Angeles's finest jazz musicians deliver a second musical
tribute to Eric von Essen, the late bassist and composer. Von
Essen's compositions are hard to pigeonhole. His compositional
styles ranged from traditional piano trios to contemplative
jazz-folk fusions featuring acoustic guitar. But this diverse
collection, performed lovingly by Nels Cline, Alan Pasqua, Alan
Broadbent, Jeff Gauthier, and others, makes for a gripping listen.
VOCAL WONDER
"Over the Rainbow"
Little Jimmy Scott
Our price: $14.49 | You save: $1.48
...order it here.
Somehow, Jimmy Scott keeps delivering achingly beautiful CDs
featuring his trademark falsetto vocals and near-perfect sense of
timing. "Over the Rainbow" is as haunting and soul-searching as any
recent Scott effort, with wonderful production and a great selection
of tunes. If anyone can make "Somewhere over the Rainbow" sound
fresh, it's Scott, and he does just that.
RAGTIME REDUX
"The Past Is Yet To Come"
Craig Ventresco
Our price: $16.99
...order it here.
Guitarist Craig Ventresco is noteworthy for a couple of reasons.
First, he performed on the soundtrack to "Crumb," playing acoustic
ragtime works that fit perfectly next to Robert Crumb's vintage 78
rpm tunes. Second, Ventresco can play his guitar fast... really,
really fast. On his debut solo album, "The Past Is Yet to Come," the
guitarist delivers a dizzying array of early and original ragtime
tunes arranged for guitar. Incredible guitar playing and timeless
music.
JAZZ ARTIST ESSENTIALS
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
John Coltrane
...order it here.
Miles Davis
...order it here.
Duke Ellington
...order it here.
Keith Jarrett
...order it here.
Diana Krall
...order it here.
Thelonious Monk
...order it here.
Amazon.com's complete Essentials by Artist
...order it here.
A NEW ORLEANS MUSICAL GUMBO
"Vol. 3-New Congo Square"
Los Hombres Calientes
Our price: $12.99 | You save: $3.98
...order it here.
The accurately titled Los Hombres Calientes project, featuring
percussionist Bill Summers and trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, delivers a
musical tribute to the roots and offshoots of the New Orleans jazz
scene. Afro-beat, funk, Jamaican music, and Cuban jazz all collide
on the rhythmically driving and constantly globetrotting "New Congo
Square." As history lessons go, this is about as much fun as you
could ask for.
JAZZ BARGAINS
Fantasy Jazz for Under $7: A-G
...order it here.
Fantasy Jazz for Under $7: H-Z
...order it here.
"Goin' Yard"
Monty Alexander
...order it here.
Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander continues his reggae-meets-jazz
mission on "Goin' Yard." The tunes combine swinging rhythms and piano
with dub-inflected and reggae-tinged melodies. A live recording,
"Goin' Yard" takes you on a global voyage.
"Calle 54 [SOUNDTRACK]"
Original Soundtrack
...order it here.
A veritable who's who of Latin jazz stops by to groove on the
soundtrack to "Calle 54." From Gato Barbieri to Jerry Gonzalez and the
Fort Apache Band, "Calle 54" percolates with thick percussion,
high-flying horns, and an effervescence that's unforgettable.
"Acquainted With The Night [HDCD][ECD]"
Pieces Of A Dream
...order it here.
Once the discovery of saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., the band
Pieces of a Dream celebrate 25 years of contemporary jazz on
"Acquainted with the Night." Sultry, smooth, and groovy, the CD opens
with British guitarist Ronny Jordan and includes other noted guests,
such as Kenny Blake and vocalist Maysa.
"Passage Of Time"
Joshua Redman Quartet
...order it here.
A customer from Florida notes that Joshua Redman and his quartet "are
reaching a level that only a few of the great jazz bands in history
reached." "Passage of Time" is a hallmark release and shows ample
evidence of the saxophonist's stature.
SATCHMO'S SWING
"Disney Songs The Satchmo Way"
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
This celebration of Disney songs is like no other. For all the stuff
Louis Armstrong was presented to sing, he certainly seems to have
liked songs from the Disney realm. He imbues this selection with a
certain drama that's mirrored in great arrangements that rarely sound
obvious.
"What A Wonderful World (Decca)"
Louis Armstrong
...order it here.
Lushly produced, "What a Wonderful World" finds Louis Armstrong in
some of his most pop-oriented performances. For the title track alone,
the CD is worth gold.
SUPER DEALS
"All For You: A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio"
Diana Krall
...order it here.
There are a lot of influences at play in the work of Diana Krall.
Here she dedicates her entire program to a prime influence, Nat "King"
Cole. The swing is lithe and undeniable. Krall's voice is rich and
nuanced and fantastic.
"Night Train (20-Bit Master) [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]"
"The Complete Blue Note Sessions [Limited] [ORIGINAL RECORDING
REMASTERED]"
ESSENTIALS BY STYLE
There was a time decades ago when bebop was the avant-garde. By the
1980s and '90s, though, bop-era music--including hard bop, soul jazz,
and more--had become mainstream fare. The crop of musicians playing
bop-inspired jazz in this era spans particular styles, and our Modern
Postbop Essentials call out some of the best. Check out Amazon.com's
list of Modern Postbop Essentials.
Browse all of our Jazz Essentials
"Doin' Something"
"Flights of Fancy"
"You're My Thrill"
"Double Live From The USA & UK [LIVE]" BRAZILIAN GROOVES
"Perpetual Emotion" "Vinicius" FRESH AND SMOOTH
"Kisses In The Rain"
"In A Heartbeat" FANTASY JAZZ'S COOL AND ACID JAZZ LEGENDS
"Chet" "Poll Winners (20 Bit Mastering)"
Check out more Fantasy West Coast & Cool Jazz Classics
"Legends Of Acid Jazz"
"Legends Of Acid Jazz"
ESSENTIALS BY STYLE
Latin Jazz Essentials
From West Africa to Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and points beyond, Latin jazz revitalized bebop and virtually all jazz streams thereafter. Our Latin Jazz Essentials cover the territory, reaching back in time to classic recordings and forward to contemporary classics in the making.
Browse all of our Jazz Essentials
Oscar Peterson Trio
SEASONED CLASSIC
Don Wilkerson
...order it here.
Don Wilkerson might not have profited immensely from his days in Ray
Charles's band, but while there he sure did find a fantastic creative
voice. The band here includes Grant Green on guitar, and the tunes
have a churchy, soulful bustle driven upward by pianist Sonny Clark
and organist John Patton. A classic two-CD set.
...order it here.
...browse here.
"New Colors" on HIP BOP.
Freddie Hubbard, home page and also see Hubbard, Bio
The new one is a blend of contemporary and traditional jazz. (more to come)
Soulive
...order it here.
Soulive's sophomore CD, "Doin' Something," follows their debut ("Turn It Out") with another righteously funky batch of grooves. Guest trombonist Fred Wesley thickens a stew already enriched by guitarist Eric Krasno and the organ and drums team of Neal and Alan Evans.
Joe Lovano
...order it here.
Saxophonist Joe Lovano's "Flights of Fancy" features a roll call of greats, from trumpeter Dave Douglas to harmonica pioneer Toots Thielemans, playing in a variety of trio settings. Lyrical, pensive, and robust by turns, this is a great set.
Shirley Horn
...order it here.
Shirley Horn's penchant for smoldering, lush playing and singing is at full tilt on her new CD, "You're My Thrill." Late-night atmospheres drive Horn's latest, with Johnny Mandel's string arrangements adding burnished colors.
Dave Brubeck Quartet
...order it here.
At 80, pianist and bandleader Dave Brubeck is still amazing. "Double Live from the USA & UK" leans on classics such as "Take Five" but adds new twists aplenty with these exciting quartet recordings.
Flora Purim
...order it here.
Flora Purim's mix on "Perpetual Emotion" is evenly divided between Brazilian classics and the jazz-standards approach in which she thrives. Her vocals are more straightforward, and her band (with drummer Airto Moreira) is still awesome even after her five-year hiatus from recording.
Vinicius Cantuaria
...order it here.
Guitarist and songwriter Vinicius Cantuaria has the touch of the great Caetano Veloso, and on "Vinicius" he's also got a killer band. Marc Ribot, Bill Frisell, and Brad Mehldau add color and depth to these gorgeous Brazilian tunes.
Rick Braun (Jazz)
...order it here.
Trumpeter and flugelhornist Rick Braun's "Kisses in the Rain" starts off funky and then switches between silky smooth mellowness and a more rhythmic bustle that smooth-jazz fans will dig.
Chuck Loeb
...order it here.
An Amazon.com customer from Oklahoma loves Chuck Loeb: "Suffice it to say that, although Mr. Loeb has never released a less than brilliant album in his entire musical career, "In a Heartbeat" has to be his best yet."
Baker,Chet
...order it here.
This 20-bit remastering of trumpeter Chet Baker's classic album "Chet" brings the cool jazz sound to the fore brilliantly. Baker, baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, and pianist Bill Evans add very different ingredients to this wonderfully chilled-out set.
Barney Kessel
...order it here.
Named after their sweep of jazz magazine awards in the 1950s, the Poll Winners included guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne. This set, remastered in 20-bit audio, is sleek, swinging, and altogether exclamatory as to why they won their respective polls.
...order it here.
Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones
...order it here.
Boogaloo Joe Jones slinked and grooved like no one else as the 1960s saw jazz factions moving away from each other. This collection includes two rare albums on one CD, and features Jones's blues-colored bop licks and Bernard Purdie's kicking, funky drumming. A classic in the growth of soul and acid jazz.
Pucho & His Latin Soul...
...order it here.
Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers built a sturdy bridge between the funky, danceable soul jazz of the 1960s and the rhythmically propulsive Latin jazz of the bop era. This collection is hefty with riffs and solos and Latin beats that will tug you to the dance floor.
Check out Fantasy's Legends of Acid Jazz
...more here.
...more here.
...browse here.
editor, Andrew Bartlett © 2001 amazon.com and ncdn associates of amazon.com,bn,tower,cdnow
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