Jazz In The Space Age - George Russell & His Orchestra

Advantages: Some really good tracks
Disadvantages: Some are "so-so"

...-talented and multi-styled Coleman Hawkins and His All Star Jam Band. It is still a swinging example of jazz, yet has more than a touch of elegant sophistication about it. The next track on the CD is by Nat King Cole and the Jazz All Stars. What's that? Nat King Cole? Singing jazz? Wasn't he a sophisticated crooner? Well, yes, towards the later years of his illustrious career, yet here we have a fine, stomping prime example of jazz with the Bugle Call Rag. In fact, Nat (Nathanial) Cole does not sing on this tune, he provides some of the hottest jazz piano I have heard in ages. Nat was, first and foremost, a fantastic jazz pianist. This version of the tune was recorded in 1944. Listen to this and you will now EXACTLY where Bill Hailey and the rest of the rock and rollers got their inspiration from! And also some of their licks, too! The next track... Read review

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

...This is real jazz, from the real Golden Age of Jazz. It's got the pace, the rhythm, the fluid trumpet playing, the relentlessly enthusiastic, rolling piano playing and the clear diction of some excellent singing of vocalists who could not only hold a tune, but who could capture your heart and soul, too… There's musicians with such great names as Muggsy Spanier, Meade Lux Lewis, King Oliver and Sidney Bechet. You do not get musicians called Muggsy nowadays. I wonder why? As well as straight out jazz such as the Dippermouth blues, there's also the dreamy and melodic April in Paris from Charlie Parker. Some jazz aficionados reckon that Charlie Parker eventually sold out. Well, perhaps he did. But some of his earlier work still stands the test of time. Jack Teagarden is on this CD, with So Many Times, a rather nice, well... Read review

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Advantages: A historical score on all levels; over 100 minutes of utter splendour
Disadvantages: Sound not as full due to age; the Empire is lacking strong accompaniment

...into the right place, and this included the music by John Williams. John Williams was already an established composer with two Academy Awards under his belt (one for the adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof and one for Jaws). Steven Spielberg was the one that originally introduced Williams to George Lucas and the results were breathtaking. Williams' approach was a notable departure from the music that was being composed at the time. By the 1970's electronic music and pop-based scores were getting more and more dominative apart from a few composers efforts. What Williams did was take a full symphony orchestra and paint on an epic canvas with powerful themes, exciting action and so much diversity that there must have been nobody leaving the theater without humming at least one of the tunes. Williams decided to hark straight back to the old style... Read review

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