Reviews of Jazz & Blues »

Musical Cheese, and I'm not crackers!!!

Advantages: Full of Christmas cheer!!
Disadvantages: Full of Christmas cheese!!

...comes a time every year, when the frantic shopping is done, when we all just want to get home, close the doors, turn the fire on and snuggle down with our nearest and dearest to enjoy a warm, family Christmas. There are many factors that make this happen - good company (obviously), great presents (materialistically), fine food and drink and a great soundtrack that sets the mood, and adds a happy lift to the house. For a few years now one of the soundtracks ...
...He is at his best when swinging out a great tune and he gets plenty of opportunity with the range of tracks on this album. It is amazing to listen to such a strong, mature singing voice and realise that he was only 26 when he recorded this album. The Background to the Album Having graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, Harry was signed to the Columbia label and released his first, self titled, album in 1987 at the age of 20. This album consists ...

stevielad123 04.12.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of When My Heart Finds Christmas - Harry Connick Jr.

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The Jazz Club

Advantages: Beautiful, sexy voice, superb band, classic songs
Disadvantages: none

...soon became a great pianist. When she reached 16, Diana was given a scholarship to study music Berkley collage of music in Boston. She soon discovered her gift for jazz piano, she was also encouraged to sing and it soon became clear that Diana had a great gift for music and would be a successful artist. Diana moved to New York in 1990, where she met several musicians and began playing gigs with a regular trio. In 1993 she began recording her debut ...
...to it! 4. When I Look In Your Eyes. This is the title track, and is very easy listening. The orchestra play a big role in this one, and Diana’s voice sounds lush and gravely. A very slow track, with only guitar accompanying the orchestra. 5. Popsicle Toes. This is a comical song, jazzy with lots of chords from piano and guitar. The lyrics are quite rude! This is a song about being naked with the one you love: ‘How come you always load ...

joannahudson 23.08.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of When I Look In Your Eyes - Diana Krall

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Value for Money

A Great Archive Let Down By Sequencing

Advantages: Fidelity is great, songwriting, guitar playing and vocals superb, thorough research
Disadvantages: Sequencing - the track order is frustrating

...music fans a like. The Complete Robert Johnson comes across like a standards song book, the contents of which has given birth to numerous cover versions from acclaimed and esteemed bluesmen and rockers from across the globe spanning six decades. There is however, one glaring disappointment with this set and that is with the sequencing. This is the most comprehensive collection of Johnson's material and as such there are alternate takes included. ...
...by side with their original counterparts which makes the whole very hard to listen to as each track is repeated, albeit a variant of the original. It still baffles me as to why the alternates were not on a separate disc from the originals. Even for me, a hardened fan of the genre, it makes for difficult listening if you using an old fashioned CD player. This is a wonderful and comprehensive archive but unfortunately does not work as a listening experience ...

Nixu1980 03.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Complete Recordings, The (All 41 Recordings) - Robert Johnson

Originality

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Rising Star

Advantages: Lie to me
Disadvantages: may seem commercial to strict blues listeners

...after hearing the bluesy rock LIE TO ME on a guitar mag CD. I was so impressed that I went out and bought the album. As a young guitarist he's obviously a marketing dream as he's not bad looking but when you hear his voice and his playing you'll realise where the real talent is. The album comprimises twelve blues tracks mostly covers including MATCHBOX by ike turner and GOOD MORNING LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL by Sonny Boy Williamson. Out of all the tracks ...
...no weak tracks on this album. Its not solid blues so if you are strict on listening then this is going to sound more commercial yet it could provide a refreshing change.If you love this album then you'll probably also enjoy his latest one WANDER THIS WORLD which shows Lang defining his style. Definitely a rising star. ...

simoriah 24.07.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Lie To Me - Jonny Lang

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Dream on!

Advantages: suave and very moody
Disadvantages: don't like track 7!

...voice. The title track , Dreamland is on a different plane and much more upbeat and verging on pop-rock. The two different tracks here penned by the artiste do demonstrate a versatility that other more well known artists seem to lack. The album does contain a variety of styles and each track takes you on a voyage of discovery. "Muddy water" is sung in a downbeat fashion and the very next track is more swinging jazz with a strumming banjo and much ...
...the listener - what's coming next -and the trick works as you can't wait for the next track to come on to see what is served up! (At least I can't!) This is perhaps not as good as the latest album but you can't go wrong if you like light jazz with a slightly husky vocal. Track 7 ( A prayer) is a bit too religious sounding for my liking but the rest I can't stop listening to! "I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter" is sung in a fabulous ...

averycrossman 24.09.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Dreamland - Madeleine Peyroux

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