Jazz Message, A [Remastered] - Art Blakey Quartet

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

...a little something to this pure piece of jazz-blues piano work that makes up this excellent tune. Solitude by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra begins strangely with what sounds on this recording by what sounds like some off-key piano playing. Then the rest of the orchestra slowly join in. I fear that this recording is marred by damage to the masters, as it seems to have some problems. Even so, it shows what Duke an his court could do. Speaking of royalty in jazz, the next track is King Oliver with Rhythm Club Stomp. This is re-mastered for digital stereo and seems to have benefited from the experience. It could be this might be one of the accidental stereo recordings that was discovered. Apparently it was the habit of some record producers to use two sets of recording equipment on a recording session, as insurance against an equipment... Read review

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Advantages: SImply Brilliant music
Disadvantages: Slightly too short

...on this CD. Born in 1920 Brubeck is one of the world's foremost jazz pianists. This recording comes from an early part of his career when he was the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and was released originally in 1959 to much critical acclaim (indeed it was his first platinum selling album). Following this he went on to work mainly for a jazz American radio station, but continued to write many well known pieces. In 2006 he was awarded the BBC's jazz lifetime achievement award. THE TRACKS- what you can expect to find on this album 1) BLUE RONDO A LA TURK- A great introductory track, featuring many archetypal Brubeck sounds, mainly the 9/8 time signature. This is a classic jazz piece, with all four soloists in the band contributing. It is fast paced and loud, exactly what you would expect from a jazz piece. It begins loud and fast... Read review

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

.... Although equally sophisticated as If You Wee Mine, it is a somewhat different, more melancholy style. The lyrics are slightly corny, it has to be said, though Frankie does well with them. The next song is also by Buck Clayton and his Orchestra and Frankie Laine. It is a version of My Old Flame. I am sorry, but since I heard the spike Jones version of My Old Flame, I really haven't been able to take this song as seriously as it deserves. (Spike Jones mangled the song to include a psychotic killer (sung as a passable impersonation of Peter Lorrie) Although somewhat bizarrely, Frankie Laine remains totally mute during the Buck Clayton version of My Old Flame! The next track is by the Benny Goodman Quartet, featuring Benny Goodman on clarinet, with fantastic swinging backing from the rest of his band, including jazz xylophone. Stompin... Read review

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