Jazz & Blues > Smith, Bessie Jazz & Blues

Advantages: Original . earthy , leaves you wanting more .
Disadvantages: May not be to everyones taste .

...the title track , St. Louis Blues , just listen to the mournful rendition of Bessie and to the great cornet sound of Louis Armstrong. This review is only a small account of what Bessie Smith brought to the blues . She lived the blues and died with the blues. What she sang about happened to her every day of her life She earned some good money at times and she used most of it on drugs and booze , to kill the pain of the blues . She eventually was ...
...lost one of her arms . She subsequently lost her life a few days later and was buried in an unmarked grave . Much later , in 1970 , Janis Joplin commissioned a headstone to be placed on Bessie's grave. Bessie was loved in life for her music and still is today. If you can get a copy of this C.D .then I would advise you to do so . Listen to the old blues of Bessie Smith and I`m sure you`ll want to hear more. If , like me , you enjoy this original blues ... Read review

Advantages: Spans his entire career
Disadvantages: Spread over 2 disks

I put this album on my iPod from my dads copy about 2 months ago and since then several songs have made it onto my most played. This 2 disk compilation gives a very good representation of Gallagher's extensive career and shows off his natural ability very well. I goes from the more 'rock' songs such as 'Moonchild' and 'Philby' to straight blues classics like 'Bad Penny' and 'Bullfrog Blues. It also shows his more sensitive side with acoustic tracks ...
...live tracks that display the amazing energy in his performances he was renowned for, 'I Could Have Had Religion' goes off on a tangent into an 8 minute display of his amazing talent. This album is perfect for anyone interested in getting a good flavour of his career without spending too much on several albums. ... Read review

Advantages: Perfect album for anyone who appreciates jazz or music in general.
Disadvantages: None.

'Kind of Blue' is quite simply a modern day masterpiece and in my honest opinion, one of the greatest albums of all time, most certainly the greatest jazz album. Everything about it is just top class. From the personnel involved, to the music itself. Miles was not only a superb jazz musician but he was working with other musicians of that time who were not far from exceptional - John Coltrane, Adderly and Chambers to name a few. It was a formidable ...
...think they only spent 51 days recording this album is mindblowing. You don't even have to be a jazz fan to enjoy this album, I wouldn't say I was a massive jazz fan, I enjoy it and that's it. I have other jazz albums in my music collection, but 'Kind of Blue' always stands out as the definitive album. It's compelling, relaxing, spellbinding and just full of genius. I don't really understand jazz as a genre, I don't understand what it's about, but ... Read review

Advantages: Some cracking tracks by big names.
Disadvantages: Couple of tracks that do not belong.

The Jazz Album - 2003 I don't think it will come as a major surprise to anyone that reads my reviews that I am a bit of a Jazz fan so when I saw this double CD for 50p at Barnsley Sunday Market (like a boot sale only with stalls under cover), saw the discs were in good condition, I could not resist. Now it is true to say that I have many of the 36 tracks already, but even if there was one that I did not have, it is worth 50p, for goodness sake, ...
...front! To the jazz fan it would be good value at full price, but I suggest shopping around, not so cheap on Amazon new, but is okay 2nd hand. I am not going to review every one of the 36 tracks, which would bore the reader. I will give you a song list at the end for your perusal, and will now give you a flavour of what is good and not so good. ~~~The Tracks~~~ With the first three tracks by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong you ... Read review