Alan Davie Music Workshop, The - Alan Davie Duo & Tony Oxley

Advantages: Beautiful and relaxing. An outstanding band.
Disadvantages: A little short.

...This 1969 Miles Davis effort was one of his first explorations of electric sounds, and it would have been understandable if he had stopped after this outstanding album. It is short, clocking in at only forty minutes, but what a forty minutes it is. The music has a great feeling of space and relaxation, and it has an ambient feel. This does not detract from the fine solo work that Miles, Wayne Shorter and the rest of the band, however. Tony Williams is in particularly fine form on the drum kit, and John McLaughlin's guitar work is sublime. If you have never experienced Miles' electric period before, this would be a perfect starting point, since it is groundbreaking without being overly challenging, like Bitches Brew.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Reinvigorated Davis, awesomely funky, with a superb band.
Disadvantages: You're kidding right?

...boxer who destroyed all of his opponents, and lived life in the fastest of the fast lanes. Cars, women, fine clothes, newspaper headlines, and a nation that baulked as a negro stood at the pinnacle of his profession. There was an awful lot for Miles to identify with. The energy on this record is palpable. A tangible electricity flows through the 2 tracks that make up the standard edition release. Davis was never just Davis though, in the early days of be-bop he was in the shadows of Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker, with the birth of cool jazz it was Davis and Gil Evans and his quintet with Coltrane, Bill Evans, 'Cannonball' Adderley, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Later came the groundbreaking quintet sitting alongside Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter and perhaps most importantly of all, in the producer's booth... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Unique tone poems
Disadvantages: None

...Gustav Holst: The Planets: Egdon Heath Introduction The Planets is one of the most popular pieces of classic music in Britain. There are countless numbers of recordings. Because of the inclusion of Egdon Heath – Holsts’ own favourite, I have chosen the recording on the Teldec label, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Chorus. Released in October 1994. It is my view that Sir Andrew Davies interpretation of Holst is one of the best. The Composer Gustavus Theodore von Holst was born in Cheltenham on 21st September 1874 (by happy coincidence this is also my birthday well the month and day but not the year.). He had a musical upbringing. His father was a piano teacher and from an early age Gustav was encouraged to practice the piano daily. He also studied the violin and trombone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful