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Pop
and Contemporary Music
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Shawn
Colvin - Cover Girl
Columbia 477240 2 Reviewed by RG
What is it about cover versions? Why are there so many that are better
than the originals? Devo might have got canned off the stage at Knebworth
for daring to cover Satisfaction, but if anyone had stopped to listen,
they would have realised that, far from sacrilege, the off beat Americans'
version knocks the Stones' for six. Which is kind of how I feel about
Ms Colvin's cover of 'Every Little Thing (He) Does Is Magic'. This is
a whole new song. And absolutely brilliant it is too. In fact the album's
worth it just for this. Even better news, there are some other corkers
as well. Steve Earle's 'Someday' gets the treatment, and so does The Questionnaires'
'Window On The Worlds'. Even Talking Heads respond to her country/rock
enthusiasm. Recording quality varies from good to clumsy (overdubs added
to live tracks!), but the album still makes great listening. Colvin's
voice has character, a million miles from the sterile purity of Mary Chapin
Carpenter, who duets on 'One Cool Remove', and her history as a New York
husker is plain in her direct and emotive performance. Great album! Oh,
and don't forget her debut outing 'Steady On' - much more minimalist,
and really well recorded. |
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The
Congos - Heart of the Congos
Blood & Fire BAFCD009 Reviewed by JM
'Send us another Moses to lead Jah nation/The hungry must be fed so there'll
be no more sufferation…' they implore during Children Crying. Its righteous
reggae at its most spiritual. As pious as Hildegaard of Bingen but with
a lot more swing, the gunja addled apocalyptic theology of Rastafarianism
is voiced in a series of classic roots reggae songs and chants. Produced
by Lee 'Scratch' Perry at Black Ark Studio and originally released in
1977 this is a recurring of great depth. The Congos were a vocal duo of
Cedric Myton (falsetto) and Royden Johnson (tenor) long since fallen into
obscurity. At this time Perry's house band The Upsetters featured some
of Jamaica's finest, including drummers Sly and Mikey Boo, bassist Boris
Gardiner, organist Winston Wright and guitarist Ernest Ranglin. Perry's
recording and production on 4 track Teac with Echoplex reverb and Mutron
phaser mixed and mutated through a Soundcraft board is exemplary. Scratch
is the only man in the world who could place bovine farmyard effects in
the mix and get away with it. Like dread say - 'Hail natty, have you any
herb my brotherman?/Yes my brother yes, ten crocus bags...' |
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Dave
Alvin - Blackjack David
Hightone Records HCD 8091 Reviewed by RG
Until this disc appeared I'd never heard of Dave Alvin. Now I'm scrambling
to discover what else he's done. You'd be right to conclude that I'm impressed.
Now, I know that country music tends to send certain people running for
cover, but hear me out. The country/pop fusion initiated by the likes
of Nancy Griffiths, has snowballed into a genre all by itself. And that's
squarely where I'd place Mr Alvin. If you liked Storms I reckon you'll
like this. His singing voice has that 'lived in' quality that suits the
material, and the playing in first class. Production is understated, favouring
natural perspectives over the sonically spectacular, with the sweet and
slightly soft top end that I associate with a lot of HDCDs. All but one
of the songs are self penned, and deal with the normal run of American
working class life. No surprises there. But the quality of the writing
and performance make this a recording which bears repeated listening.
And I have been! |
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George
Martin - In My Life
Echo LP20 Reviewed by RG
On the face of it, an album of Beatles covers featuring the musical talents
of Goldie Hawn, Jim Carey and Robin Williams, might best be avoided. Not
exactly a confidence inspiring line-up, even with George Martin at the
controls. To be honest, when I first saw it, my initial reaction was to
take the piss out of the proud new owner. How wrong you can be! 'A Hard
Day's Night' Las-Vegas style, is a pretty weird concept, but it really
works. Jim Carey makes a fabulous Walrus, and Robin Williams and Bobby
McFerrin certainly 'Come Together'. Okay, so there's the odd low point.
Jeff Beck's air guitar interpretation of 'A Day In The Life' would be
more at home on an album of great musical cliches. But the majority of
these tracks demonstrate just how much Martin's production and arrangements
brought to the Beatles. If you've got any sort of love for the Beatles'
music, and you want to hear what a more creative mind than Noel Gallagher
can do with the legacy, then give this a whirl. I can guarantee that you'll
be surprised. |
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Gomez
- Bring it On
HUTDLP49 Reviewed by JH
Gomez might be the latest 'big thing', but for once the plaudits are well
deserved. Bring It On recently won a Mercury Prize, and the fresh faced
five piece are surfing the crest of a wave. The album it full of contrast
and subtlety. Complex edgy rock, the band aren't afraid to incorporate
some unusual influences, Tijuana to name but one. Further interest is
provided by the two singers, who alternate the lead across the album,
one all cigarettes and too much whisky, the other softer but no less expressive.
The songs are immediately attention grabbing, and the band really work
together. A feat which escapes most modern groups, this is one of the
main strengths of Gomez. The recording quality is excellent and production
is refreshingly unobtrusive, allowing the music and performance through
your system and into the room. The vinyl issue is well pressed, flat with
low surface noise and very good dynamic range. The CD quality is also
excellent so don't worry it you don't have a turntable. This is a very
fine album (great sleeve too)! If you are in the market for thoughtful
contemporary pop, don't miss out. |
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Lo-Fidelity
Allstars - How To Operate With A Blown Mind
Skint BRASSIC8CD Reviewed by JM
Big beat was not so much a new dance genre as a rebranding of the old
dance-rock crossover long championed by Meat Beat Manifesto, Renegade
Soundwave, Revolting Cocks et al.. Whatever you want to call it - and
big beat is way too simplistic - we have here some hard driving breakbeat
rock-n-roll. The sheer motive force occasioned by the beats is supplemented
by some powerful but intricate bass-playing from a chap glorying in the
monicker A One Man Crowd Called Gentile. Overlaid is a catholic selection
of treated samples and creative deck work from The Albino Priest, while
vocalist The Wrekked Train takes us into the darker recesses of his poetic
imagination. Here is a man who realises the English - of whatever ethnic
origin - are congenitally unable to rap convincingly and instead gives
us a kind of Cockney visionary schtick like Johnny Rotten declaiming William
Burroughs (as translated out of the American by William Blake.) Thus -
'Filled with viscous demented fluid...He dreams of being the scorpion
who never sweats, and quite frankly I am appalled to find this individual
in my head space... Stick em up motherf**ker!'. Could be the Big Beat
benchmark. |
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Madonna
- Ray Of Light
WEA 9362-46847-2 Reviewed by RG
Life clearly begins at 40, at least as far as Madge is concerned. This
is her best, and most consistent album by a mile, down in no small way
to the inspired choice of William Orbit to produce. In fact, the only
weak track on the album is the only one he had nothing to do with. Take
Madonna's unerring grasp of the great hook, and her feel for a groove,
and combine them with Orbit's multi-layered complex power pop mixes, and
the results are almost overwhelmingly intense. He simply piles on the
mix, drawing from acoustic instruments, synths, samples, the kitchen sink
if it comes to hand. But it's done with a sure hand, and the strands weave
a textured, undulating and constantly shifting vault of sound, around
and behind the fragile vocals. Is this a dance album? You'd better believe
it. If this doesn't get you moving then you're overdue a health check.
You're dying from the feet up! Play loud and enjoy. Yes, it's a dance
album, but it's so much more as well. |
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Various
Artists - September Songs, The Music of Kurt WeiII
Sony SK63046 Reviewed by JM
In which New York producer Hal VVilner gets to grips with the peculiar,
impressively sordid, world of Brecht and Weill. This is his second, improved
attempt at the Weill canon, the first 'Cry Beloved Country' of 1985 (A&M
vinyl] is doubtless now deleted. Lou Reed is back in action on 'September
Songs' and his slow-burning take on the title track remains as incisive.
Joining him on the diverse collection are such as Nick Cave who, as you
might expect, wrests 'Mack The Knife' from the Las Vegas crooners and
wrings every last drop of sadistic glee from the quivering remains. Elsewhere
PJ Harvey offers a beautifully sensitive reading of 'The Soldiers Wife',
while Elvis Costello gives vent to a broken-voiced 'Lost In The Stars'.
An ancient, crackling recording of the bizarre tones of Lotte Lenyas 'Pirate
Jenny' is reproduced to great atmospheric effect, as if a honkers rendition
of 'Mack The Knife' by Brecht himself (he doesnt sing in key or in time
- but hey, its his song). Yet the most demented performance here would
be a toss-up between David Johansens' 'Alabama Song' and William Burroughs'
'What Keeps Man Alive?' while The Persuasions close--harmony 'Oh, Heavenly
Salvation' is well, heavenly. A dramatic, juicily perverse album. |
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The
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - ACME
ACME Mute ACDSTUMM154 Reviewed by JM
Aptly titled, this would indeed seem to be the acme of Spencers mission
- which began with the seminal NYC band Pussy Galore in the mid 80s. His
rock-n-roll and blues deconstructions have sometimes seemed just too haphazard
for comfort. He previously brought a kind of anarchy to bear on the traditional
forms which seemed to be a commentary on the state of rock music itself
(i.e. dead and decaying fast). But Acme is a visionary statement of future
rock-n-roll. The album was recorded on analogue by Steve Albini in Chicago,
then farmed out to a wide range of producers and treatment-artists including
T Ray (Cypress Hill), Dan Nakamura (Dr Octagon), Alec Empire (Atari Teenage
Riot), Nick Sansano (Sonic Youth / Public Enemy), Chris Shaw (Butthole
Surfers / Weezer) and the venerable Jim Dickinson (Big Star / The Cramps
/Panther Burns etc. etc.). Acme is infused with country, gospel, blues,
rock-n-roll and hiphop broken down and reassembled with added sleaze and
perversion, tectonic sub bass and crystalline guitar. Guests like Luscious
Jacksons' Jill Cunniff and Dub Narcotics' Calvin Johnson give a wide range
of vocal stylings from growling swamp blues to effervescent gospel. Possibly
the funkiest white blues album since 'Exile On Main Street'. |
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RZA
Presents Wu-Tang - Killa Bees The Swarm Volume 1
Wu-Tang Records/Play It CD Again Sam WT001CD Reviewed by JM
A more succinct offering than the sprawling, slightly gruelling epic double
album 'Wu-Tang forever' and all the more accessible for than. It is the
hardcore shit, however, with old-skool (i.e. raw) production values and
the emblematic minimalist strings sampled and inexorably looped. RZAs
instinctive (and in the traditional sense, unmusical) grooves and beats
imbue the backing with some heavyweight atmosphere. Often melancholic,
frequently unsettling, and very seldom relaxing, the ambience sets the
mood for the various Clan members to deliver a series of raps which vary
in theme but are never less than righteous. This is serious stuff. Perhaps
the most extraordinary cut is Never Again, a deeply sympathetic and angry
lyric from Remedy concerning the - hardly typical rap subject - of the
Holocaust. Hanging with the Wu (as I believe the terminology has it),
is an experience very far removed from the vacuous commercial rap that
spends its time regurgitating old songs on Top of The Pops. It is from
the heart and furthermore, it gives you something to think about while
you're jumping up and down like an idiot. Arguably the best hiphop album
of 98. |
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Grosse
Pointe Blank
London Records U.S.A. 828 867-2 Reviewed by RP
Thriller? Black Comedy? Love Story? George Armitage's cult movie criss-crosses
the genres through its bizarre and eccentric characters. Not least among
mew are John Cusack's nearly' reformed hit-man, Martin Blank, and Minnie
Driver's 'jilted small-town DJ'. Their tenth anniversary High School reunion
provides focal print for the action, in which potentially explosive twists
and turns of plot and scheme are nailed by a soundtrack that has real
80's attitude. The CD opens with 'Blister in the Sun', a sparse song,
pared back to the essentials of guitar, drums and voice. It shows the
Violent Femmes at their intense and angst-ridden best. Coupled to some
great tracks from The Clash, The Beat, The Jam and The Specials they create
a distinctive cipher for the lone figure of Martin Blank. Nor have the
lighter romantic moments been neglected. 'Let My Love Open The Door' is
one of Pete Townshend's better solo efforts. But the soundtrack (like
the film) also exhibits a perverse sense of humour. Never more so than
in Guns N' Roses' memorably outrageous cover version of 'Live & Let Die'
The Bands incongruous bucking harmonies crack me up every time. |
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Belle
and Sebastien - The Boy With The Arab
Strap Jeepster Records JPRLP 003 Reviewed by JH
If you are already a Belle and Sebastien fan then you know what to expect
from this. If you're into Lo-Fi as a genre, then you'll feel right at
home. And if you want to dip a toe into the Lo-Fi pool, then this is a
nice accessible place to start. Me? I think this is a cracking album.
Despite the eight members, the band's sound has an organic, small-scale
feel, mixing acoustic guitar and Moog style synthesisers. Twin vocalists
deliver the thoughtful but often rather depressing lyrics, and the songs
are generally built around a story, but not necessarily one you feel comfortable
hearing. The voices are soft, and the male vocalist in particular, employs
extremely limited dynamic range. This blends well with the relaxed feel
of the whole album. Some may find this a bit pretentious, in a distinctly
French/60s throwback vein. Here's a band who fancy themselves as new intellectual
poets. But it's a carefully put together album, and an ideal introduction
to both the band and Lo-Fi as a style. |
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Diamanda
Galas - Malediction and Prayer
Mute CDSSTUMM163 Reviewed by JM
In which the Bride of Satan sits at a grand piano and sings. And does
she ever sing. If Janis Joplin had been put through Conservatoire training
she might have sounded like this. Beautifully recorded live by Blame Dupuy
on the world tour of 96/97, La Galas here embarks on a series of powerful
old blues songs interspersed with more exotic fare. The credits span both
Son House (Death Letter) and Charles Baudelaire (Abel et Cain) taking
in Phil Ochs (The Iron Lady) and Pier Paolo Pasolini (Supplica a mia Madre)
along the way. If the songs are powerful then her performance renders
them just about invincible. Her reading of Willie Dixon's Insane Asylum
for example is a majestic bout of frenzied scat singing taking us from
the depths other four-octave range to its scarifying summit (and when
this woman screams you know about it - indeed, they know about it in the
next county). In Abel et Cain the phrasing brings to mind Piaf, while
the Spanish (Si Ia Muerte) and Greek songs utilise Moorish ullulation.
Here are songs of love, death and madness imbued with lurid Orthodox religiosity
and deep blues passion by the Diva of Disease. |
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Dr.
John, The Night Tripper - Gris-gris
Atco 7567-80473-2 Reviewed by JM
1968 was when the flowery hippy bubble burst and things began to get dark.
The Stones were at their Satanic peak and the bad drugs were taking hold.
A New Orleans session man called Mac Rebennack conceived of Dr. John,
and released Gris-gris in all its narcotic voodoo glory and it had the
sound of evil running through its veins. Somehow, all these years later
- after post Modern readings of his grooves found commercial favour through
Trip-Hop - it still does. This is bad trip psychedelia imbued with ritual
chants and voodoo sorcery and its atmosphere is so spiced with the midnight
boneyard you can smell it. Musically a coupling between trad Creole and
swamp blues the album culminates in the 7-minutes of sinister wonderment
which is the oft-covered 'Walk On Gilded Splinters' (most recently by
Paul Weller). When the good Doctor tells you that his band - flute, bottleneck,
tambourine, congas, 'funky-knuckle skins' bass, sax and mandolin - 'were
dredged up fresh from the Rigolets by the Zombie of the Second Line, under
the Eight Visions of Professor Longhair' - you can believe it. |
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Elliot
Smith - XO
Bong Load records BL35 (US lmport) Reviewed by JH
Why do singer songwriters find it so hard to make it, when certain other
performers are laughing all the way to the Swiss bank? Is it because they
crave credibility? I doubt any of them would turn away success. Is it
because the songs are challenging and the dumbed down audience are incapable
of understanding? Possible. But whatever the reasons, Elliot Smith is
doing his best to overcome them. And you never know, he might just drag
a few lost listeners with him. XO is his fourth LP, and will be by far
his most successful. It rides on his popularity following the film Goodwill
Hunting, for which he received an Oscar nomination (he lost to Celine
Dion, so you can see what I'm getting at!). A quiet performer, his whispered
vocals often rely on simple acoustic guitar for accompaniment. Occasionally
he stretches out to embrace other, mainly acoustic instruments. The songs
are built on melody, with some vocal harmonies, and the lyrics are topical,
and tend to the angst ridden. Elliot is clearly struggling to make sense
of the world (you would too, if you'd had to follow Celine Dion home).
His music might best be described as melancholy Beatles, and that's no
bad thing. This is a very good album and I highly recommend it. It might
even lead you into Mr Smith's back catalogue. |
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OIu
Dara - In The World
Atlantic 83077-2 HDCD Reviewed by DD
From the first notes of 'Okra' with its chiming guitars, street cries
and infectious South African beat you immediately feel part of a warm,
musical experience. Drawing on a rich mix of African, jazz, and blues
influences, OIu Dara, whether he's on vocals, guitar, trumpet or cornet
holds it all together remarkably well, bringing a real cohesion to the
band, whatever they're playing. In some respects reminiscent of Taj Mahal,
in others recalling Ellington's 60's band, and sometimes sounding like
pure delta blues, there's still something unique about the album. Maybe
because of the sheer variety of influences presented with a common warmth,
feeling and sheer sense of enjoyment. In addition to 'Okra' standout numbers
include the straight ahead blues of 'Rain Shower' the laid back jazzy
'Harlem Country Girl' and a track pretty much guaranteed to bring a smile
to even the most cynical listener 'Your Lips'. Sound quality is good rather
than outstanding at least on my non-HDCD player. (It takes a definite
step up the scale on an HDCD capable machine. Ed.) After 20 years in music,
this is Darn's first release. More please. |
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Ella
Fitzgerald - Sings The Cole Porter Song Book
DCC GZS(2) 1079 Reviewed by RG
When Ella first strayed from the straight and narrow of 'trad jazz', aficionados
held up their hands in horror. But to the rest of us, the Songbooks represent
one of her finest hours, and the Cole Porter is my favourite. Recorded
in 1956, the sound is just what you'd expect, warm and immediate. The
DCC gold discs don't have the presence and dimensional quality of my original
Verve records, but they don't have the surface and tape noise either.
Given the scarcity and price of decent second-hand copies, this is a welcome
reissue. All the greats are here. The track listing reads like a potted
history of Broadway snow stoppers: 'Anything Goes', 'I Get A Kick Out
Of You', 'Let's Do It', 'You Do Something To Me', the list goes on. These
are timeless songs that offer the perfect showcase for Ella's vocal talents.
If you've never heard her sing and you're wondering what all the fuss
is about, you could do a lot worse than starting here. Broadway may not
seem like your cup of tea, but great music will break down your pre-conceptions.
And this is some of the best. |
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Jazz
Music |
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Bill
Frissell - Gone, Just Like A Train
Nonesuch 7559-79479-2 Reviewed by DD
First the artwork. It's great. At least it's great if you're into dreamlike
surrealist cartoon imagery. Created by Jim Woodring, Frissell believes
it evokes the spirit of the music and he's right. The session, recorded
with bassist Victor Krauss, and (a first for Frissell) with drummer Jim
Keltner, as a spacey, dreamlike quality throughout. It often has something
of a soundtrack feet to it (Twin Peaks/ Paris Texas ?), and there's a
gently rolling quality underpinned by Krauss' bass lines, and offset by
crisp fills from Keltner. This is not to say that the music doesn't cook.
The opener, 'Blues for Los Angeles' builds beautifully, with Frissell's
guitar soaring over a solid foundation. Frissell swaps between electric
and acoustic instruments throughout the album, and the combination of
his strong melodic sense, coupled with outstanding playing from all three,
holds everything solidly together. Whether it's cod reggae, 'Egg Radio'
or a gentle, vaguely French sounding acoustic number, 'Ballroom', there's
an almost unique consistency to the whole album. The sound quality is
outstandingly good for CD. Warm, spacious and very natural. Frissell says
that for him this was 'a dream project come true'. He's right. |
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Sonny
Clarke - Cool Struttin'
Blue Note re-issue LP 1588 Reviewed by DD
After Bud Powell, Sunny Clarke is regarded as one of the very best hard
hop pianists, and Cool Struttin' is his masterpiece. Together with an
outstanding band comprising Jackie McClean, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe
Jones, everyone is on peak form. Clark is brilliant throughout, but since
the band is so tight and together, no single player dominates. Standout
numbers include the title track inspired by Clark's wife, which includes
the first of several bowed bass solos from Chambers, and particularly
the Davis tune 'Sippin' at Bells' ', a 12 bar blues with numerous changes,
which is packed with great solos. Of the four tracks (on the LP), the
only relatively weak number is 'Deep Night' which sounds just a little
pedestrian (apologies for the pun) against the other tracks. My old(ish)
CD (Blue Note 0777 7 465 1325) sounds relatively thin and one dimensional
when compared to the Blue Note 180g re-issue album, but does contain an
extra two numbers from the original sessions. Great black and white cover
shot too, which looks even better on the LP. |
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Yamamoto,
Tsuyoshi Trio - Midnight Sugar
X8CD TBM-XR-0023 Reviewed by DD
From the opening notes of the title track you're immediately struck by
the stunning recording quality. From the solid snap and fingerwork of
Fakui's bass, through to the solidity and attack of the piano, this is
the sound of a real band occupying a tangible acoustic spate. Originally
released on LP in 1974, Three Blind Mice and JVC have done a great job
in transferring this recording to XRCD. It's also something of a major
endorsement for the XRCD process, in that this sounds very close indeed
to a great vinyl recording, and brings the very best from the CD format.
So, it sounds great, but what about the music? The album couples two numbers
by Yamamoto with three standards. For me the strongest track is the Yamamoto
penned 'Midnight Sugar', which has a blues quality, and comes across with
more feeling and depth than the standards. These are very well played,
but offer just a hint of supper club jazz. The other Yamamoto track 'Sweet
Georgia Blues', using improvisations around another standard, falls into
the same trap. The playing is of a very high standard, but with the exception
of the title track, it's all a bit cool and clinical.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186 |
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Sonny
Rollins - Rollins Plays For Bird
JVC XRCD XR-055-2 Reviewed by DD
Recorded in '56, the same astonishingly productive year as the Rollins
classics Tenor Madness and Saxophone Colossus, Plays for Bird is not up
there with either of those masterworks. But it is, none the less, a thoroughly
entertaining album. Recorded with the then current Max Roach Quintet,
the album opens with a medley of familiar Parker tunes. Both Roach and
Kenny Dorham had played with Bird, and whilst Rollins is hardly evocative
of Parker, that's not the point. Firstly, Rollins is unmistakably Rollins,
and secondly, this is really an affectionate tribute to Parker. As such
it works very well. The opening medley of Parker tunes starts well with
Remember You' and builds beautifully, taking in a fine honking solo from
Rollins in 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'. All in all it's a good,
but not great, Rollins album. Of course that still places it pretty high,
so it's recommended if you've already got the above mentioned classics,
along with his best later work, and want to hear more. My only quibble
is the slightly miserly playing time of under 43 minutes. A couple of
alternate takes wouldn't have gone amiss JVC. The sound is glorious, in
the room mono, and all the better for it.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186 |
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John
Coltrane - The ultimate Blue Train
BlueNote 724385342806 Reviewed by DD
This enhanced CD version of Coltranes classic 57 recording
is the one to have. Leading a superb band featuring Lee Morgan, trumpet,
Curtis Fuller, trombone, and a dream rhythm section comprising Kenny Drew,
Paul Chambers and Philly Jo Jones, they can do no wrong. The playing throughout
is stunning. Four of the five compositions on the album are Coltranes
and aside from the title track, include numbers soon to be classics such
as Lazy Bird and Locomotion. There are also alternate
takes of two numbers. The CD is very nicely presented in a card slip case
and the 20 bit Super Bit Mapping has clearly been worthwhile. But what
really sets this version apart, and makes the small price premium so worthwhile,
is the interactive content. Assuming you have a fairly standard spec.
PC the interactive section is a treat. Titled At Least Listen
you can watch Coltrane execute a beautiful solo as part of Miles Davis
band in 59, whilst the rest of the band look on. You can sample
an interview with Rudy Van Gelder You can listen to excerpts from other
band members recordings along with looking at the album sleeves, and much
more. Its very easy to navigate, but most importantly, it is absolutely
in keeping with Blue Notes house style. As youd expect, its
full of great photography. Highly recommended.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186 |
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Count
Basie Meets Oscar Peterson - The Timekeepers
JVC XRCD2 JVCXR-0206-2 Reviewed by DD
Recorded is '78, this is one of three albums that paired these two masters
of jazz piano that year. Accompanied by Louis Bellson, drums and John
Heard, bass, Basie and Peterson are stylistically different enough to
wake this an interesting prospect. The key question on sessions like this
is do the two result in something equal to or better than either individually?
The answer Is this case has to be no. The dominant player throughout is
Peterson who carries most of the numbers, underpinned by Basie's inimitable
phrasing, sounding distinctly laid back set against Peterson's rapid frills
and arpeggios. The whole thing is held together by great playing from
Bellson and particularly Heard. The faster numbers like 'After You've
Gone' come over most successfully, but overall the album doesn't stand
serious comparison with either pianist's individual small group recordings
from (roughly) the same period. For example, At Montreaux, or Nigerian
Marketplace from Peterson, and Kansas City 3, For The Second Time from
Basie. The way to consider the album is probably just as it was intended,
as a fun session. Sound quality on this XRCD2 recording is good, and like
earlier JVC efforts, has probably done as much as possible with this tape
and the CD format.
Supplier: Vivante - www.vivante.co.uk (44)(0)1293-822186 |
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