Battle Of The Bands - Duke Ellington/Count Basie

Advantages: Great jazz tunes from the Golden Age
Disadvantages: None

...Parker. Doggin' Around, is another By Royal Appointment tune, this time from the orchestra of Count Basie. A rather lush, full sound, perhaps a little less avant-garde than Duke Ellington? Out of Nowhere by Coleman Hawkins makes use of jazz guitar (many of the jazz bands didn't) but this, combined with the other "traditional" instruments make for a satisfying jazz classic. Eventually Jango Rhinehart, the Gypsy/Roma jazz guitarist would change all that… Lester Young's Sad Eyes, is a no-nonsense jazz piece, with more than a nod to the Blues. Moving, firm piano, which moves round a central theme, soon joined by the other instruments to show how to make Sad Eyes glad again. Whose Honey Are You, by Fats Waller and his Rhythm starts with a smattering of scat singing, and then uses piano, rhythm, and jazz guitar to back a song sung by man asking... Read review

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Advantages: Superb playing and well-written music, cliche free
Disadvantages: Nothing

...I've been reluctant to write about this CD, since I generally can't string together two words about it. However, it is hands down my favourite Duke Ellington CD, so I thought I'd share my thoughts with you all! 'Such Sweet Thunder' is dedicated to the Stratford, Ontario Shakespearean Festival, and all the pieces are based on Shakepeare characters or sonnets. This has absolutely no reflection in the music though, so it's best just to sit back and enjoy the ride. Track Listing (HUGE, bear with me) 1. Such Sweet Thunder, 2. Sonnet for Caesar, 3. Sonnet to Hank Cinq, 4. Lady Mac, 5. Sonnet in Search of a Moor, 6. The Telecasters, 7. Up And Down, 8. Sonnet for Sister Kate, 9. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 10. Madness in Great Ones, 11. Half the Fun, 12. Circle of Fourths, BONUS TRACKS: 13. The Star-Crossed Lovers, 14. Circle of Fourths, 15... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful Lady with a Beautiful Voice
Disadvantages: None

...I found this CD a couple of years ago in my mum's collection when I was looking for something to listen to as I was bored. I was pleasently suprised when I discovered it had lots of pieces that I already knew. I have been brought up surrounded by classical, jazz, blues etc as my parents are fanatics and to be honest I prefer classic singers to modern music (which is quite unusual for a 20 year old!). She was born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25th, 1917 and died on June 15th, 1996. In her lifetime, Ella won 13 Grammy awards and also sold over 40 million album, working with Jazz ledgends such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Nat King Cole. She was born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25th, 1917 and died on June 15th, 1996. Ella Fitzgerald has a warm, romantic style of singing and sounds sooo relaxed when she's singing and you... Read review

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