Mingus - Joni Mitchell

Advantages: superb singer songwriter
Disadvantages: takes a little patience to listen too

...This album from 1991 saw Joni Mitchell and her ex-husband Larry Klein in the producer’s chair, for her first release in the 90’s. The album opens with the atmospheric title track written in 1988 “Night ride home”. The impression of the night is conveyed to the listener by the use of a sound sample, which is that of chirping cicadas, the sound effect runs for the whole length of the song. This sound is what holds all the instruments used on the track along with the signature sound of Joni’s acoustic guitar playing style. At the start of the track along with the opening lines “Once in a while, in a blue moon, there comes a night like this, like some surrealist, invented this, 4th of July, night ride home” as the artist finishes this line the sublime bass playing of Larry Klein begins adding... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic display of Jazz composition
Disadvantages: Jazz isn't for everyone

...Charles Mingus - In a Soulful Mood. Charles Mingus, also known as "The angry man of Jazz", is a fantastic jazz bassist and composer. He was born in 1922 in Arizona and picked up the Double Bass in high school. He had previously learnt to play the cello and trombone so many of his cello skills were converted to double bass. In his early years he was composing incredibly advanced jazz pieces, some of which to be recorded later on. Over his career Mingus recorded in excess of 70 records with various musicians passing through his often unconventional bands. He tended to focus on the personality, as well as the ability, of a musician to see how he would fit into the band. He ran a jazz workshop that included around 8 members and shaped musicians into unconventional ways that explored their improvisational talents. Pieces... Read review

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Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: none

.... The gift that Joni Mitchell as is that of making you feel that the songs are for you, that she is singing them for you. It is a very personal experience. Joni Mitchell went on to make other great record; 'Court and Spark' (1974), the more jazz influenced 'The Hissing on Summer Lawns (1975), Hejira (1976) and Mingus (1979) as well as more recently the more pop orientated 'Dog Eat Dog' (1985) and 'Taming The Tiger' (1998). But 'Blue' remains probably her most perfect record. 'Blue' was rated No.28 in NME's all time best albums ever and No. 9 in best albums of the 70's. It has also been included in Q magazine's Best Chill-Out Albums of All Time and Vibe magazine's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century If you don't know Joni Mitchell 'Blue' is a good place to start.... Read review

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