Album Notes: Sidney Bechet (1897-1959), who managed to be recorded even before his contemporary and occasional musical partner, Louis Armstrong, remains one of jazz's most important and distinctive soloists. Though a great clarinetist, Bechet was best known for his intense, vibrato-laden tone on the soprano saxophone (an influence on musicians as diverse as Bob Wilber, Johnny Hodges, and avant-gardists Steve Lacy and Albert Ayler). While he never progressed beyond the traditional New Orleans/Dixieland style, Bechet was always a colorful and vibrant presence on the scene, and MASTERS OF JAZZ makes for a fine introduction to this master's later recordings.
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 SidneyBechet. 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...
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...like myself, these have a sunny and heartfelt sincerity which rings far truer than his misanthropic moaning. 'See Me Through Part II (Just a Closer Walk with Thee)' is based on the traditional hymn, sung gospel-style. Van adds, magically, an invocation of his Belfast origins and musical roots - from SidneyBechet to Hank Williams.
Several more conventional love songs also help redress the balance. 'Carrying a Torch', 'Green Mansions', and 'Quality Street' are tender ballads, wrapping pastoral imagery in organ, piano and lush synthesisers. 'I Can't Stop Loving You' plants a soulful version of the Don Gibson standard firmly in Celtic soil with the Chieftains' violins, pipes and whistles.
Don't look for great originality here. Several of the songs are retreads of others in the Morrison songbook, and the musical styles, although diverse...
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Advantages: relaxing yet upbeat! Disadvantages: not too all tastes
...jamie cullum proves himself to be a master of performance, composition and arranging in his debut album, which combines a mixture of new and covered tunes.
the sound is refreshing and relaxing, ideal for a quiet night in or a romantic evening.
despite the youth, (commented upon in one of his songs) his style is shown to be mature and measured, showing a variety of jazz styles, including slow ballads, smooth jazz and even samba.
the album as a whole has a happy feel, and features a number of revitalised jazz classics, including 'endless love' (lionel richie) and 'old devil moon', and 'i get a kick out of you'.
in comparison to his second album, twentysomething is a more classical-jazz, with a big bad influence more than accoustic.
a small criticism (and it is small) is that while cullum incorporates a wide range of styles, the album...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 28.04.2006
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27.11.2005
28.04.2006
