Battle Of The Bands - Gil Evans Orchestra (The)

Advantages: A masterclass in arranging and playing
Disadvantages: None

...Gil Evans was at a creative peak when this was recorded in 1960. Having completed a trio of classic albums with Miles Davis (Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain), he was now bringing classical influences into his own work - with amazing results. Often these were in quite small but important details: the delicate use of woodwinds (the barely noticeable bassoon on "La Nevada", the flute on John Benson Brooks' attractive "Where Flamingos Fly"); the inclusion of Harry Partch-style homemade percussion on George Russell's "Stratusphunk"; and more evidently in the choice of material (in this case, Kurt Weill's "Bilbao Song" - arranged so that, perhaps unexpectedly, it's Ron Carter's bass that takes the identifying vocal line from the song's chorus). It's Evans' own piano that introduces the album, on his own composition... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A different approach to emo
Disadvantages: Some of the tracks drag on a bit

...Jimmy Eat World broke through with their excellent first album in 1993 and tracks such as 'The Middle' and the great tracks have kept following with this brilliant fifth, yes fifth album. From the very first notes of Futures to the final strum of the amazing (but long!) 23, these Emo rockers get you grooving and thinking. The first single taken from the album 'Work' is still one of the best tracks but this album is certainly not a 'one trick pony' with a few b-side chucked in. The album was produced by Gil Norton, who has worked on albums by Foo Fighters and the Pixies. Gil Norton is one of the greatest producers of modern rock albums and the bands themselves are awesome so just from this, you could say the album should be good. To top it off, the album packaging is great with a interesting photographs included so if you are into buying... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great songs - wonderful, popular tunes
Disadvantages: A few songs aren't as good as the others

...of Paganini's violin pieces, the one that found fame as the theme to LWT's 'The South Band Show'. This is really lovely; it has a great tune and great orchestra accompaniment to the main tune on piano. It is so calming and soothing - great for relaxing - absolutely wonderful. 15. Schubert: Piano Quintet "Trout" - fourth movement (06:58) This piece, played by Boris Berezovsky on piano as well as soloists of the Royal Opera house, Covent Gardens, is taken from the song written by Schubert in 1817 which tells the story of a trout's losing battle against a man. It is in the structure of theme and variations. Each variation has different instrumentation, with each instrument playing the main tune in at least one of the variations. The variations also change keys and have changing tempo. In the fourth variation the tune is lost... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful