Best Of The African Jazz Pioneers, The - African Jazz Pioneers

Advantages: Real feel good album with fantastic vocals
Disadvantages: None

...Mina Agossi - Zaboum. By far the greatest Jazz album I have ever listened to and I might add one of the first. Miss Agossi was born in Besancon in France to French and West African parents. She started off singing Blues and vocals in a New Orleans Swing band and then became immersed in more modern forms of Jazz. This comes accross in the Zaboum as it's not your regular Jazz album. She has won many awards and has had rave reviews throughout her career. The album starts with the track Aint Misbehavin' which to be honest is the best track on the album which gives it a good start. The Bassist Alexandre Hiele is one of the most amazing musicians and really brings a deep feel throughout Zaboum. Zaboum takes you from nodding your head to actually getting up and dancing which for a jazz album is a real accomplishment. Twelve tracks aren... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Amazing Jazz improvisation, great sound and beautiful harmony
Disadvantages: None.

...Jazz in Africa is an excellent example of complex swing rhythms and fruitful harmony combined with witty and playful melodies. Instruments of a classic Jazz setup with a drumkit, double bass, piano, Saxophone and Trumpet. This Album is a personal favourite with some really special tracks on it. Track 2 Yardbird Suite is a great introduction to jazz, its full of life with a controlled expressive saxophone solo. Track 12 Gafsa Gypsies, a piano solo is a brilliant piece showing the piano in its more dreamy side. I think the questions when buying music in particular are: How tight is the music? How good is the sound quality? and is it really an positive experience into another culture? I think with Jazz in Africa Volume One I can really vouch for this album. Fair enough some of it may sound like a bit wild, wandering off the point... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: SImply Brilliant music
Disadvantages: Slightly too short

...Some people say that jazz is either a thing you love or hate, personally I fall into the first category. I am a huge fan, and this particular album was the first I ever bought, so I thought it should get a special mention on Ciao! When I was sixteen I was playing the saxophone in a local band and working in a restaurant. One night while I was working 'take five' began playing and I just fell in love with Dave Brubeck. This was five years ago but I am still in awe of the sheer brilliance of the music upon this CD. I would highly recommend this as a great starter CD for anyone who likes jazz. It is an extremely easy listen, with a number of tracks that you might recognise. Dave Brubeck was a pioneer of jazz, mainly in terms of his methods of changing time. His famous 9/8 time signatures can be seen in a number of tracks featured... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful