Articles about the Jazz

This is my favourite play at the moment, I guess that I am a little late in trying Mr Buble's music, but I am a convert. Think of a nicely warmed, quality single malt, good crystal glass, this is that smooth, just slides down, leaving a pleasant glow behind. Good in the car, great on the MP3 player, nice in the background during dinner with friends. This album has a great selection of tracks, well known classics of the genre, and others, new to me at least. Just try it!

Not so much a review - just wondering if anyone else's set is missing the fifth disc containing additional music and interviews? Bizarrely, there doesn't appear to be room in the outer cardboard box to contain a fifth disc! Unless it's supposed to be tucked inside the fourth disc's individual packaging - in which case, where's the track listing?
VERY frustrating! I shall, of course, be returning it and hope to receive a COMPLETE replacement...!

the best Xmas cd on the market at present - but not as good as the red cover Best Christmas Album in the World Ever which came out in 1995ish. To be fair this one has virtually everything but misses several key tracks - Shakin Steven's Merry Christmas Everyone, The Pretenders 2000 Mile and the Wham version of Last Christmas. It would be in bad taste for me to complain that theres no Rock and Roll Christmas by Gary Glitter but there you go. Other than these exceptions it has everything.

I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

It has already been said here that this album is usually found in non-jazz fans' collections alongside Bob Marley's greatest hits and most probably David Gray's entire ouvre. Perhaps it stands sentry there unplayed, just so its spine can be read, head tilted sideways, begging to impress upon whoever it is browsing through their collection some ill-gotten measure of sophistication? Perhaps they did play it once then decided no, they were right about jazz all along?

Modal, understated, and (aaargh!) cool, or tedious, cicuitous and under-cooked? Amongst aficionados, the most fiercely debated issue with the session is whether you are appreciating it at the correct pitch (an issue with the tape playback speed when it was mastered). That sums up the excitement levels for you. Hardly a dynamic recording to bolster enthusiasm for a novice jazz listener.

Personally, I feel sad for Bobby Timmons. Who? The pianist in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers who wrote 'Moanin'' the year previous to this release. If he had had the temerity to just repeat the head to that tune up a semitone and then back down again as Miles practically does here (on 'So What'), it would be that album redundantly nestling in millions of style magazine-reading cretins' cd collections rather than this (somehow I picture Robert Elms owning 2 dozen copies). I find modal jazz to be a device that is prone to being abused as a way to stretch out lame ideas for twice as long as they need to be, and Miles was always fond of waiting until the cab ride to the studio to write the material. Just saying.

Just so this is not completely written off as a Davis-hating rant, here are my pointers for a few other jazz albums (from the exact same time frame as this: 1958-9) for the uninitiated to peruse rather than this stultifyingly obvious choice. Beware neophytes; no one musical genre can be defined by (and thus written off by) one album and I really do want to encourage more people to listen to jazz. These just strike me as being as accessible as Kind Of Blue.

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'
Horace Silver - Blowin' The Blues Away
Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin'
Lou Donaldson - Gravy Train
Gil Evans - The Complete Pacific Jazz Sessions
Bennie Green - Soul Stirrin'

My noted Blue Note bias is definitely a factor in this list. But from my own experience, being compelled to study this album as a rock-loving music student, I was put off jazz for several years by its meandering pace and lack of excitement. It took me another 5 years to discover there was more to jazz than Miles.

I'd been really looking forward to this release, unfortunately I have to say it's the worst of Damon Albarn's career.

I was equally disappointed with the opera itself, which I saw last weekend. A few parts were very very good, but on the whole it's really dull.

Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

This is the second main album from Canadian Virgo, Mr Michael Bublé.
It lasts 49 minutes 17 seconds, doesn't come with song words and contains 13 songs:

1. FEELING GOOD - 3:57. A slow song - 10/10.
2. A FOGGY DAY (IN LONDON TOWN) 2:32. A fast, big band number with a fabulous ending! - 9/10.
3. YOU DONT KNOW ME - 4:14. A slow song - 9/10.
4. QUANDO, QUANDO, QUANDO - 4:45. A duet with Ms Nelly Furtado - 10/10.
5. HOME - 3:45. Bublé's own composition, a great driving song - 9/10.
6. CANT BUY ME LOVE - 3:15. A song with lots of tempo changes - 8.5/10.
7. THE MORE I SEE YOU - 3:48. A long intro, but it's worth it! 10/10.
8. SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME - 3:39. Up-tempo! 10/10.
9. TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS - 4:06. A slow, beautifully orchestrated song -8/10.
10. HOW SWEET IT IS - 2:59. # I needed the shelter of someone's arms, And there you were, I needed someone to understand my ups and downs, & there you were, With sweet love and devotion, Gently touching my emotion # 11/10.
11. A SONG FOR YOU - 4:43. Excellent vocals and excellent musicianship - 8/10.
12. IVE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN - 3:40. # I've got you deep in the heart of me, So deep in my heart, that you're really a part of me. # 8/10.
13. YOU AND I - 3:55. A slow song - 8/10.

This album contains a thank you from Mr Bublé to his fans, which reads - "I have the greatest fans in the world, thanks for being there, enjoy!"

If you or someone you know adores the big band sound, or you're just a fan of fabulous music, then this album is for you.
Bublé makes all the songs on this album his own, and even people who aren't fond of the Rat Pack sound will definitely be converted!

Any or all of his music would make perfect Valentines Day / anniversary gifts,

Utterly fabulous!

If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but no one has ever matched her performance (even my hot favourite Stacey Kent...I hate to admit this). You can sense Ella's love for New York, and her soft voice makes you long to be there.

Open your fridge and pour yourself a glass of nice cold beer. Open the window, and sit by the window. Close your eyes, and flow with the music. All the troubles you have in your mind will be washed away. Be content for now.

I've been a Amy fan since the start, so maybe i'm a bit biased when I say I prefer her debut album to her current one (which is still very good) but I always find myself listening to this album over her current one. I just think it's a bit more raw and authentic (and therefore maybe won't appeal to mainstream music fans as much?) and it really comes through on the album..defo a more jazzy vibe but I love it and it suits her vocals really well :) I did buy her new album which i also think it's brilliant but this is still my personal preference!