Complete At Newport [Remastered] - Duke Ellington

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: It's Steely Dan
Disadvantages: None come to mind

...Be warned this re-issue from 1999 of the 1974 release of the “Steely Dan” album “Pretzel Logic” only clocks in at just over 34 minutes long. This collection of 11 tracks has as always has been written by Becker and Fagen except 1, the instrumental track by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley called “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo is the only cover version on this album. But what an album in only that length of time the men from “Dan” have created a masterpiece, as with Steely Dan’s albums the opening track is one of the strongest of this short assemblage of songs. “Rikki don’t lose that Number” with the opening lines of the chorus “Rikki don’t lose that number, You don’t wanna call nobody else, Send it off in a letter to yourself”, a really memorable song... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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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