At The Octoroon Balls/Fiddler's Tale Suite - Wynton Marsalis

Advantages: Great trad Country, Bluegrass and Cajun Music
Disadvantages: Subject Matter Can Get To You

...I can't better the bloodshot records description of this fine ensemble so here it is "The Pine Valley Cosmonauts were recruited for inter-planetary fame by Jon Langford. They are a loosely organized musical collective that sprouts periodically, like a rare orchid out of the desert sand, to deliver unto the world records of vision, of tribute, of unfettered revelry. The core of the group includes Steve Goulding (Waco Brothers, Mekons), Tom Ray (Devil in a Woodpile, touring with Kelly Hogan, Neko Case), multi-instrumental genius John Rice and Jon Langford at the shaky helm. Joining this tight ensemble is an ever-growing cast of fiddlers, horn players, steel guitarists, and whoever else fit the riotous and rollicking moment. Joining them on vocal duties is always an astounding array of guest singers." The Executioners last Songs Volume... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great songs, lyrics
Disadvantages: none; try it!

...A perfect mix of jazz and sophisticated rock, played with consummate skill by all the band members. This is what it's all about! Memorable tracks such as 'Be Still My Beating Heart' and 'This Lazarus Heart' leave you gasping at the musicianship and humming the melody for days! Branford Marsalis is much in evidence throughout, a sublime jazz player flexing his 'fusion' muscles. 'They Dance Alone' is timeless.. a wonderful song, marvellous playing by all, politically correct and a wonderful double-time samba outro.. 'An Englishman In New York', Sting's tribute to Quentin Crisp is also a highlight; the song has more twists and turns than a grand prix circuit! After The Police, this is the direction I hoped he would take. This album is marvellous - may he never dance alone!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: Outstanding music from outstanding musicians
Disadvantages: None

...In Kind of Blue, Miles Davis created a timeless album which epitomised the period of 'cool jazz' between bebop and fusion. The personnel list is impressive - Cannonball Adderly on alto and Coltrane on tenor were also in extremely productive periods at the time, and their solos on Kind of Blue, especially the two alternate Flamenco Sketches takes, are great examples of their styles, which both contrast and complement the other's. Although "So What" is remembered as the highlight of the album by most, I think Freddie Freeloader and Blue in Green are the outstanding tracks. The decision to use his new pianist Wynton Kelly instead of Bill Evans on Freddie Freeloader was inspired - Kelly's solo is sublime. This wasn't my introduction to jazz, but it was the album which sold the genre to me. Miles, forever the innovator, later said he couldn... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful