Olympia May 13th 1961 (Second Concert) - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

Advantages: Sublime music and musicianship
Disadvantages: None

...This is the original score to the 60s film Alfie, composed and played by Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest tenor sax players. I watched this film several times before really appreciating the score, being so intent on the story and film locations, and later checked yes, it was Rollins playing, and he also wrote it. WHO IS SONNY ROLLINS? If you like jazz you don't need me to provide a biog. Sonny [Theodore Walter] Rollins was born in 1930 in New York, arguably one of the best jazz tenor saxophonists of all time. He was already playing with one of the greats, Thelonious Monk before he was 20, and later performed and recorded with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Art Blakey. In 1955 he joined the Clifford Brown / Max Roach quintet. He was known for his improvisations, sometimes highly imaginative takes on relatively moribund... Read review

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Advantages: Jeffs unique style, his ethereal voice and power of live delivery
Disadvantages: Raw performance is not the sound of 'Grace'

..., informative and in depth inlay booklets. It tells the whole story of this period of his career, and if you have the other 'Legacy' editions, this will compliment your collection sublimely. The art work is second to none; the front cover has Jeff posing, challenging the camera in blue hue, and inside are several well chosen backstage shots in the same colour range. The materials used, matt card, not plastic, folded over to encase the cd within, just make you feel like this is something classy. The concert From the start, this is an engaging and personal show. As the concert opens up, he addresses the crowd in french, and the response, whilst not the roar of 'Kiss: Alive' or Led Zep playing Stairway on the live album, 'The Song Remains the Same', is an intuitively easygoing and warm one. Indeed, Mr Buckley intentionally chose smaller, intimate... Read review

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Advantages: Wouldnt know it was made 30 years ago
Disadvantages: Art Work

...King Crimson should never be referred to as a band, the only way to view and refer to these guys is as a progressive rock group. A group that has passed the test of time; for around 30 years these guys have been on and off the music scene, yet somehow evading most public press. At one stage in their early career, beginning on January 13th 1969, they were ear-marked to be the next Beatles. King Crimson did better; staying out of the public focus enabled them to create truly magnificent masterpieces. In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson's debut album, originally released in 1969 was to set the standards for progressive rock for the next decade. The distinctive cover art should not put anyone off; I don't want to analyse the art as I feel it's better if you analyse it yourself and put your own twist upon it. Containing only... Read review

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