Classic New Orleans Jazz Vol.1 - George Lewis & The Mustache Stompers

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

...-performed and fluid love song. Sadly the female singer with the honey-dripping tones is not credited on this CD. There's Harry James and his Orchestra with a waltz time piece called Carnival of Vencie, with some trumpet playing that is straight out of the trumpet section of a classical orchestra. There's Moonlight in Vermont sung by Ella Fitzgerald. If you haven't heard her sing, hear this song and you'll know why Ella Fitzgerald is so well-loved to this day by people from all over the year. Prisoner of Love by Teddy Wilson is good, solid jazz fare. A simple rhythm, slightly muted trumpet and lilting piano. Eventually, the music is joined by a female singer with a voice that is slightly reminiscent of Mae West. Closing Hour Blues by Meade Lux Lewis is a blues jazz cross-over. Somehow the crackles from the original master recording just add... Read review

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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

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Advantages: Great cover versions
Disadvantages: They're only cover versions

...It's hard to remember now what was going on with George Michael in the mid 90s. After refusing to appear in the video for Freedom '90 in support of the "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" album, Sony almost gave up on him completely. Without going into the details of the court case, George felt, that the company that he had signed his contract with had been completely swallowed up by a merger with Sony and that this substantial change voided his original contract. As a result he refused to record any new music for them until the case was resolved. For the fans this was the same kind of thing that happened to Muhammed Ali when he refused his draft. A champion in his prime gives up the best years of his life for a principle. It was during this period of recording studio inactivity that Freddie Mercury died and the remaining members of Queen... Read review

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