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Andre Ward Crystal City Jazz Music CD Review

Posted by admin on September 9th, 2009 No Comments

Crystal City is the latest Jazz CD released by the highly talented Andre Ward who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Andre Ward fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.

It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all, with each song standing tall on it’s own.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall Crystal City is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 2 – Wishful Thinking – (with Barbara Fowler), track 3 – Andre’s Theme – (with Yasha), and track 10 – I Dont Want To Be In Love – (with Marc Nelson).

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 12 – When Nightime Comes. This is a great track!

Crystal City Release Notes:

Andre Ward originally released Crystal City on April 24, 2007 on the Orpheus Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. They Keep Calling Me

2. Wishful Thinking – (with Barbara Fowler)

3. Andre’s Theme – (with Yasha)

4. Chicago (Here We Go)

5. When You’re Alone

6. Abstract

7. It’s Written All Over Face

8. New Orleans Lights

9. More Than Friends

10. I Don’t Want To Be In Love – (with Marc Nelson)

11. Crystal City

12. When The Nighttime Comes

By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Posted in Jazz Festivals

Weather Report Heavy Weather Jazz Music CD Review

Posted by admin on September 6th, 2009 No Comments

The exceptionally talented Jazz group Weather Report have released their CD entitled Heavy Weather. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Weather Report fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Heavy Weather their artistic excellence is on full display as they have once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be their best work to date.

I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD for review that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Heavy Weather. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Heavy Weather is a nicely varied, mix of 8 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly superb musicians. With many of the songs displaying a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

Listen to this CD and I believe you’ll find there’s not much to dis-like about it. The songs are inspired, the production is simply outstanding, and this is clearly the work of a group of musicians in top form. So much so that if you’re even mildly into Jazz music you’ll enjoy this CD.

While the entire CD is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 2 – A Remark You Made, track 5 – Rumba Mama, and track 8 – Havona.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Birdland. This is a great track!

Heavy Weather Release Notes:

Weather Report originally released Heavy Weather on September 23, 1997 on the Legacy Recordings label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Birdland 2. A Remark You Made 3. Teen Town 4. Harlequin 5. Rumba Mama 6. Palladium 7. Juggler, The 8. Havona

Weather Report: Joe Zawinul (vocals, piano, synthesizer, melodica); Jaco Pastorius (vocals, fretless bass, mando-cello, drums, steel drums); Manolo Bandrena (vocals, percussion); Wayne Shorter (soprano & tenor saxophones); Alex Acuna (drums, percussion).

Recorded at Devonshire Sound Studios, North Hollywood, California. Includes liner notes by John Ephland.

By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Posted in Jazz Festivals

Kenny G "Ultimate Kenny G" Smooth Jazz Music CD Review

Posted by admin on September 5th, 2009 No Comments

Grammy award winner Kenny G is still the man when it comes to smooth jazz saxophone and his latest collection of hits and popular selections, entitled Ultimate Kenny G simply adds to his previous official best of collection.

Ultimate Kenny G truly lives up to its title. Basically, it’s an updated version of the Greatest Hits CD released in 1977. Only with an even stronger song selection.

I myself have been a huge Kenny G fan since the release of his breakthrough 1986 album Duotones.

The Ultimate Kenny G CD includes two unreleased tracks, including G’s rendition of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On which is a track that had only been available as a free giveaway single with the initial pressings of the Greatest Hits CD.

The stand out track among the vocals is the classic What A Wonderful World. Performed with the late great Louis Armstrong’s original vocal track.

Of course his trademark ballads Songbird, Silhouette, Forever in Love and The Moment are all included here as well as tracks from his last studio album Paradise and his 1999 tribute to the standards Classics In The Key Of G.

Also included are the rare tracks Everlasting and Jasmine Flower which had only been available previously on the Japanese version of The Moment.

An impressive list of vocal contributors on the CD include include Smokey Robinson, Chante Moore, Peabo Bryson and Lenny Williams.

Truly I have to say this is The Ultimate Kenny G CD, and is sure to please both longtime fans and newcomers to the Kenny G sound.

Overall Ultimate Kenny G is very good listening and is certainly a CD that smooth jazz fans, and fans of Kenny G in particular, will definitely want to add to their collection of smooth jazz CDs.

Release Notes:

Kenny G originally released Ultimate Kenny G on June 10, 2003 on the Arista record label.

CD track list follows:

1. Everlasting

2. Havana

3. Brazil

4. What A Wonderful World

5. The Look Of Love

6. Silhouette

7. One More Time

8. Theme From ‘Dying Young’

9. Forever In Love

10. We’ve Saved The Best For Last

11. Songbird

12. Jasmine Flower

13. The Girl From Ipanema

14. By The Time This Night Is Over

15. The Champion’s Theme

16. Don’t Make Me Wait For Love

17. The Moment

18. My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From ‘Titanic’)

19. The Wedding Song

By: Clyde Lee Dennis

Posted in Jazz Festivals
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