Milestone

Track Listings
1. Break Even    
2. The Oscar Song    
3. Hurricane    
4. Venice Skies    
5. All That I Wanted    
6. Crack of Light    
7. Oh Morgan    
8. Milestone    

Editorial Reviews
Post- Magazine
"She's got a soaring siren's voice, smooth acoustic guitar riffs, and a whole lotta spunk."

About the Artist
Rebecca Pronsky grew up in Brooklyn, New York and was a typical child of the eighties. She began studying voice with a local New York City rock artist at age eight. Rebecca's first public performance came at a school recital in 1989, where she sung "The Locomotion" in sunglasses, a pink vest, and spandex tights. The somewhat reserved audience was both shocked and charmed by Rebecca's apparent disregard for the conventions of a serious recital setting.

Ever since then Rebecca has continued to... read more

Album Description
"Milestone" is the debut acoustic album from 22 year old Rebecca Pronsky. "Milestone" is, in many ways, a personal history of Rebecca's last 4 years, spent in college, studying life and music. Her sound combines elements of a jazz, folk, and pop. Audiences dig her distinctive voice, which can be both elegant and soft, as well as strong, hard-edged, and powerful. Her songs are smart, straightforward, and uniquely personal.

Milestone

Milestone, Music, Rebecca Pronsky
Power to the People
Average customer rating: 0 out of 5 stars
  • If You Liked In a Silent Way
 Power to the People
Joe Henderson
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NJL08E
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Tracks:

  1. Black Narcissus
  2. Afro-Centric
  3. Opus One-Point-Five - Joe Henderson
  4. Isotope - Joe Henderson
  5. Power to the People
  6. Lazy Afternoon
  7. Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite in Three Movements)

Amazon.com

Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson (1937-2001) was the elliptical alternative to John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter when these sessions were recorded in 1969 on the Milestone label under Orrin Keepnews' production, with Miles Davis' sidemen: Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter on electric and acoustic piano and bass and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Their jazz-fusion sound is evident on the super-bopped "Afro-Centric" and the ostinato-anchored title track, which both featured the little-known trumpeter Mike Lawrence. The angular, radioactive blues "Isotope" and the lilting waltz "Black Narcissus," which debuted on this date, are two of the leader's compositional contributions to the jazz canon. The standard "Lazy Afternoon" and Ron Carter's darkly moody "Opus One-Point Five" are the only non-Henderson contributions. The last track, the pianoless, spontaneously-created "Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite)," previews the groundbreaking trio recordings Henderson made for the Blue Note and Verve labels in the 1980s and '90s, when his genius was fully appreciated. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars If You Liked In a Silent Way.......2007-04-09

Okay first of all forget the title. This is not a revolutionary free jazz diatrebe. What you get though (and nicely remastered with intelligent liner notes) is a classic fusion album along the vein of "In a Silent Way". This actually is closer to a Herbie Hancock album and has much of the same players as "The Prisoner", his album for that year which was rather uneven. However, "Power to the People" does not have those flaws. Nice ambient jazz work that still remains within a post bop tradition. Electric keyboards are used but piano also enters the mix. With Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Jack De Johnette, all Miles alumni you have a good thing going here and unlike much jazz fusion at the time or later on its not a bunch of flashy chops that is basically watered down rock trying to pass for jazz. Okay this is no "B-Brew" or "On the Corner" but as fusion it succeeds. Joe Henderson would later get into full blown fusion that was closer to jazz funk and then jump back to hard bop but "Power to the People" and the acoustic hard bop albums that preceeded it by Joe Henderson are part of the essential jazz roster.
Supertrios
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Too much of a good thing?...no, not in this case
  • McCoy's finest - and what a player...
  • Killer stuff
  • Typically beautiful Tyner performances! 4 1/2 stars!
 Supertrios
McCoy Tyner
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000XWL
Release Date: 1989-07-11

Tracks:

  1. Wave
  2. Blues On The Corner
  3. I Mean You
  4. The Greeting
  5. Prelude To A Kiss
  6. Moment's Notice
  7. Hymn-Song
  8. Consensus
  9. Four By Five
  10. Stella By Starlight
  11. Lush Life
  12. Blues For Ball

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Too much of a good thing?...no, not in this case.......2006-07-04

By the time I bought this album about a year and a half ago, I already owned about 10 McCoy Tyner CDs. "Supertrios" quickly became one of my 2 or 3 favorite out of those. I played the first track, "Wave," for a friend who was impressed enough to buy his own copy shortly afterward. This friend later told me that he's not always in the mood for this album, because as he put it, "There's so much going on...so many notes, so much piano! It's a little too much at times."

So much piano indeed. For me, the power of Tyner's piano on this recording is one of its great strengths. Tyner was on fire during these sessions--his playing is especially robust, especially focused, and he moves from hard groove-oriented playing to excursions of freer playing (with his trademark right-hand flurries of notes). Another pleasure of this album is the way Tyner's piano is presented sonically in the recording. The production gives Tyner's piano a huge, rich sound--you might say the piano sounds "larger than life." This kind of engineering may not appeal to all listeners, but for me it certainly adds to the visceral excitement of the music. (And of course McCoy's playing stands up to such exposure).

For this recording, Tyner is presented as a member of 2 trios: he plays with Ron Carter and Tony Williams on the first half, and Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette on the second half. McCoy was certainly spurred on by the focus and enthusiasm of his bandmates during these recordings. It is beside the point to argue which trio setting works more effectively--the point is the contrasts (some obvious, some subtle) between the two trios, and the fact that both sound great.

Listeners familiar with Tyner's more Coltrane-influenced recordings will find this album a satisfying change. But all fans of Tyner's music should have this outstanding album. Too much piano?.....no, not for me.

5 out of 5 stars McCoy's finest - and what a player..........2001-10-26

This is an astounding record. It is the best McCoy Tyner stuff I've heard, and it is actually quite hard to get hold of, so it's impressive that it's stocked here and it is well worth the price. The two different trio line-ups both allow Tyner's incredible energy and power to come through, and they all stimulate remarkable invention. The real revelation to me though was the bass playing of Eddie Gomez, who I now consider to be highly under-rated. So there's plenty of surprises on this record, all of them good ones.

5 out of 5 stars Killer stuff.......1999-10-05

This is McCoy at his best. He was playing with total inspiration and high energy. The selections with Ron Carter and Tony Williams are among his best ever. For example, "Moment's Notice" is quite listenable and enjoyable but also very heavy in terms of musical content. Exciting, rewarding music which reveals more on repeated listenings.

4 out of 5 stars Typically beautiful Tyner performances! 4 1/2 stars!.......1999-08-06

Buy the album. The price is worth it. If you love McCoy's style of playing, then you will absolutely love this album. However, this is a terrific joy to listen to period. Both of the trio settings featured on this album form cohesive, tight units.
Nightlife in Tokyo
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Eric Alexander almost reached greatness on NLIT...
  • The search is over . We have another great Tenor sax player.
  • I think he's reached critical mass
  • It's A Keeper
 Nightlife in Tokyo
Eric Alexander
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009QG7B
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

  1. Nemesis
  2. I Can Dream, Can't I?
  3. Nightlife In Tokyo
  4. I'll Be Around
  5. Cold Smoke
  6. Island
  7. Big R.C.
  8. Lock Up And Bow Out

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Eric Alexander almost reached greatness on NLIT..........2007-02-20

This is a brilliant CD that belongs on the shelves of any sax-loving jazz afficiondao, but it's also frustrating how close Alexander came to greatness on this particular album but fell short. In fact the first 4 tracks have a compunctory by-the-numbers feel that really prevents them being anything more than sterile showcases for Alexander's technical virtuosity on tenor saxophone. On the second half (tracks 5-8) the band starts to cook, with Alexander and the rest of the quartet improvising more freely, playing more as a unit than as a four guys taking turns soloing. This is when the magic really happens and why the CD is brilliant. Unfortunately I still couldn't escape the feeling that Alexander is playing more from his head than his heart. If he'd trusted the music more ("use the Force, Luke!") and gone with the flow on these jams I think thuis would have been a jazz album for the ages.

5 out of 5 stars The search is over . We have another great Tenor sax player........2006-11-11

This album clearly demonstrates Eric Alexander's virtuosity. He belongs amongst the tenor sax giants; John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson and Sonny Rollins. In my view he is the best 'new' Sax giant around.

This album is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. Apart from Alexander's phenomenal tone and dexterity, he is a polished musician who has created a superb album with 'Nightlife in Tokyo'.

He is accompanied by Harold Mabern on piano, who clearly revelled in the making of this cd. His playing is extraordinarily satisfying and enjoyable.

Do I need to say anything about Ron Carter on Bass? It is self-explanatory.

Joe Farnsworth is on drums and creates a great groove.

Like 'Longboard Jazzer" this album carries my highest recommendation. I feel unable to add much to his excellent review below which I endorse.

5 out of 5 stars I think he's reached critical mass.......2004-01-25

Some guys work at it forever, learn the idiom, become quite competent, and that's about it. They never really find their own distinctive voice. Other guys just seem to have it right from the beginning. Somehow, they intuit the entire history of jazz early on, emerge on the scene as full-blown monster musicians, and everyone's shaking their heads as these cats transform the music as twenty-somethings.

Then there's guys like Eric Alexander. I'd pegged him for a journeyman--a guy with significant chops who knew the hard-bop/post-bop language inside out, but didn't really have much original to say conceptually, tonally, or compositionally. A better-sounding and higher-echelon journeyman, but still a journeyman.

Until this date.

Granted, I haven't heard every single disc he's put out over the years, but I've heard my share. And I must say that, at least to these ears, he's experienced a quantum leap forward, vaulting himself out of the vast swamp of saxophonic proficiency into the highest plateaux of wind instrument brilliance. There's simply so much more substance, res, power, ease of execution, maturity of conception, tonal and timbral depth, sheer authority, and brash confidence here than ever before that he hardly seems the same player.

It's like he's suddenly become an Old Soul.

A Sax Master.

An Overnight Sensation (albeit a decade-plus--and scores of discs as leader and sideman--in the making).

Let's start with his tone. OK, he's not Pharoah Sanders yet, but he's darn close. He's finally come into that huge fullness of tone that characterizes the best tenor sax players. And he's worked hard to nail the tone center throughout his instrument's register. Indeed, he sounds just as authoritative up high as in the middle or lower registers.

Then there's his compositions. There's a fairly major Milesish/Tyneresque modal/Latin thing happening here ("Nemesis," "Cold Smoke," in 5/4, I believe)--and Harold Mabern has McCoy's moves stone down, but in his own unique voice. But there's a lot more going on as well--an Afro-Cuban groove on "Island," with it's entirely authentic Caribbean Calypso vibe; heavy blues ("Big R.C."); and very nifty post-bop ("Lock Up and Bow Out"). The thing about these compositions is how natural they sound. There's none of that "Hey, watch me, I can do Wayne Shorter!" vibe. Or, "Look how many idioms I've mastered!" thing happening. Instead, there's such complete familiarity with all major jazz languages that his compositions come out sounding absolutely effortless, almost instinctual, like instant classics. That's what endless hours on the bandstand as well as major woodshedding will get you, if you've got the right stuff.

You can always tell a major session. Everyone seems to play just a little bit better; there's an uncanny electricity combined with warmth and intimacy. The leader's in a zone, and the rest of the guys sense it and find a way to lock into the extraordinary thing that's going down. That's what I sense here. And it can only happen when a player has reached a certain level of maturity. This may be the most important aspect of this disc--Anderson's emergence as a brilliant leader. One sure sign of this is that everyone plays at the top of their capability--and beyond. Now understand, this is a very accomplished band: the great but underappreciated Harold Mabern (piano); Ron Carter, perhaps THE premier bassist of his generation, sounding as good as I've ever heard him; and the simply stunning Joel Farnsworth giving the young lion drummers (of whom there is certainly no shortage) a lesson in swing, coloration, and polyrhythmic dexterity.

Conceptually, there's nothing radical going on here--just highest-order playing from young and old jazz masters. No hip-hop, trip-hop, trance, dance, house, alt-rock, or any other alien influences. Nothing to hide behind. Nothing to give the music some exotic sheen that will fool the unwary listener into thinking more's happening here than really is. Just the classic, naked jazz quartet. It takes consummate musicianship, chutzpah, and conversational interaction of the highest order to separate a disc like this from the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of similar sessions released during any given year. That's one reason, I'm sure, so many guys are (quite successfully, in many cases) resorting to expanded musical palettes and soundscapes. But it's harder--and therefore in a weird way probably more significant--to make great-sounding music in this pared-down environment.

That's why I'm giving this disc my absolute highest recommendation. Do check it out.

4 out of 5 stars It's A Keeper.......2003-09-23

An excellent setting for tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. A wonderful group which includes legend Harold Maybern on piano. Eric studied with George Coleman in New York and it shows, reworking of standard "I Can Dream Can't I?" allows Alexander's melodic sense to really blossom. A world class band playing jazz as it was meant to be....swung.
September Ballads
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • BALLARDS SUNG WITH MUCH EMOTION
  • A strong experience but not for those lazy ears!
  • Murphy's Ballads
  • State of the Art
  • Listening to Murphy is like Drinking Wine: Take it Patiently
 September Ballads
Mark Murphy
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000XSK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. September Fifteenth
  2. When She Is Mine
  3. When This Love Affair Is Over
  4. Night Life
  5. Sack Full Of Dreams
  6. Crystal Silence
  7. I Never Went Away
  8. Sausalito
  9. Para Nada
  10. Spring Is Where You Are

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BALLARDS SUNG WITH MUCH EMOTION.......2005-07-11

This is one of Marks best albums...a recording you can sit back relax and listen to without all the stunts that he sometimes pulls on his recordings....mellow yet full of fire marks voice is rich and full...and takes you to places that are in your dreams...a beautiful cd sung by a master vocalist when he dosnt try to over sing it.. well done Mark you would make Sarah Vaughan proud of this one!!!! way to go....

5 out of 5 stars A strong experience but not for those lazy ears!.......2002-02-12

That's great, that's very great! That's Murphy! I hated this record when I first listened to it. What a fool of me! Then one day, some six months ahead, I had a sudden sensation of wonderful discovery. It's just a different Murphy but it's the very same great Murphy, always brilliant. But look: don't even drink Coke while you listen to it.

4 out of 5 stars Murphy's Ballads.......2001-06-09

Recently discovered this gem of a recording. Though the title suggests all slow sad songs, many of the ballads contain that energy that only Mark can give to a standard. Sausalito was written(words and music)by Mark. Also an Eliane Elias brazilian flavored tune graces this albumn. Definitely check this out, even if you're new to Mark Murphy!

5 out of 5 stars State of the Art.......2001-03-10

This is a stunningly beautiful album. Artful, sophisticated, lyrical jazz singing that, with every tune, touches the heart.

5 out of 5 stars Listening to Murphy is like Drinking Wine: Take it Patiently.......2000-07-10

It's not easy to listen to Mark Murphy: his sound is not for unprepared ears. It's just like drinking true "beaujoulais" wine: don't drink it once and fast, enjoy each drop calmly. BTW, this is the overall mood in this great CD. Pat Metheny and Larry Dunlap are also briliant in their solos. Murphy as always in great shape.
Great Day
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Staple Singers -- a treasure
  • 11 stars! ESSENTIAL! Haunting! #1 Best album of all time.
  • Fantastico
  • They never go wrong
 Great Day
The Staple Singers
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000000XW7
Release Date: 1991-10-15

Tracks:

  1. Gloryland
  2. Everybody Will Be Happy
  3. Hear My Call, Here
  4. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
  5. I'm Willin' (Part 1)
  6. I'm Willin' (Part 2)
  7. Great Day
  8. Do You Know Him?
  9. New-Born Soul
  10. Dying Man's Plea, A
  11. New Home
  12. Wish I Had Answered
  13. Better Home, A
  14. Old Time Religion
  15. Swing Down, Chariot
  16. Motherless Children
  17. Gamblin' Man
  18. I Know I've Been Changed
  19. Jesus Is All
  20. You Got Shoes
  21. What Are They Doing (In Heaven Today)
  22. Will The Lord Remember Me
  23. My Dying Bed
  24. Let Jesus Lead You
  25. Praying Time
  26. I Can't Help From Cryin' Sometime
  27. Masters Of War

Amazon.com essential recording

Recorded in the early '60s for the Riverside label, these 27 songs mark the move toward a more folk-based sound for the Staple Singers. The bass and drums throughout anchor the group's etheral tendencies but still keep them floating heavenward. On the two-part "I'm Willin,'" Pops's liquid, echoing guitar lines and the high-pitched, clipped group backing vocals play off the simple, jazzy drumming and subtle bass playing. This formula provides both Mavis's rumbling, muscular voice and Pops's celebrated tenor a secure setting from which to fully explore their vocal ranges. The arrangements of traditional spiritual material are innovative, sparse, uncanny, from the rousing "Swing Down, Chariot" to the laconic "My Dying Bed" and the chilling "Will the Lord Remember Me." Dylan's "Masters of War," the sole song without the gospel theme, presages the Singers' move toward more secular protest and "message" songs. A percussively strummed guitar lays down a marching rhythm, the backing vocals are subtle, incorporeal "whoohs," and Pops's croon is the very definition of "wizened." --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Staple Singers -- a treasure.......2007-02-10

This album is the very best of the very best of the marvelous Staple Singers. Virtually every cut is jewel-like. They do Dylan's "Masters of War" better than he does. Much as I love how the Staple Singers do Dylan, this album is about gospel and it is a brilliant showcase. Listen especially to "A Dying Man's Plea" and the superb rendition of "Swing Down, Chariot." This is an album to be savored again and again over the years.

5 out of 5 stars 11 stars! ESSENTIAL! Haunting! #1 Best album of all time........2005-01-04

Great Day is the link between the Born-in-Bethlehem stone gospel " Vee-Jay" Staples (PRAY ON)... and their classic and timeless anthemic 60's FOLK-HIPPIE-SOUL message songs like Respect Yourself, and I'll Take You There
Simply exquisite heavenly music. I found a CD copy in Japan ...probably 15 years ago now...after having worn out a few vinyl copies.
This music will live on forever... Could angels in heaven sound any more beautiful than Pops, Mavis Staples, and her brother and sisters Pervis, Cleotha and Yvonne?
There's a very strong secular raw blues and west african vibe here that takes the spiritual level far above expectations. In the lyric on "PRAYING TIME" Pops breaks into a riff singing "You go and I'll go with you" straight out of Howlin' Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson then the kids kick in an otherworldly backup: "My Lord!" Scary and riveting.
Every song is a wonderful gem and they all segue into eachother beautifully, but I agree with the reviewer who singled out DYING MAN'S PLEA especially Pops guitar and delivery on that solo intro is so pure... Robert Pete Williams, Blind Willie Johnson...then the stone soul gospel groove kicks in.("one kind favor i'll ask of you... 'see that my grave is kept clean, dig my grave with a silver spade, ease me down with a golden chain...") Whee-ew!
Oh yeah and have another listen to the organ on " I Can't Help from Cryin' Sometime" (played by Maceo Wood) Holy Smokes(!) this is some kind of FUNKY magic. Hypnotic and haunting. GREAT DAY just sounds better and better as time goes by.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastico.......2004-08-14

Ho-boy, what a barn burner this one is. The instrumentation is not just good, it's supernaturally great. The haunting twangy guitar and the spare backup packs a big punch and sticks in the heart. Three tracks stand out: A Dying Man's Plea, Wish I Had Answered and Pop's masterful and superior cover of Dylan's Masters of War. Masters of War particularly makes the hair stand on the back of the neck.

Too bad the amazon preview tracks don't include any of these, but no worries, since all of these songs are unbelievably great.

5 out of 5 stars They never go wrong.......2001-12-03

This CD is magnificent from beginning to end. I tried to pick my favorite song - it is impossible ! All songs have a steady rolling beat and feature the wonderful singing of the Staples family.
I have a soft spot for Pops Staples' voice. It has to be loved by anyone who likes both Gospel and Blues. HIs guitar playing is perfect for this context.
When I saw Bob Dylan's song - "Masters of war" - I thought that here the Staples Singers surely must flop. But they tackled it beautifully, and made it sound as if it was their own.
I recommend this CD to all music lovers. This is a music that rewards you for coming in contact with it as few others do.
This Is What I Do
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This Is What I Do
  • Rollins still on top form
  • DID YOU SEE HAROLD VICK ?
  • THE MASTER'S NEW MASTERPIECE ! 2002 GRAMMY WINNER
  • Great Melodic Improvisation
 This Is What I Do
Sonny Rollins
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004Z3ZD
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

  1. Salvador
  2. Sweet Leilani
  3. Did You See Harold Vick?
  4. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
  5. Charles M.
  6. The Moon Of Manakoora

Amazon.com

With his nephew, Clifton Anderson, on trombone, Stephen Scott on piano, longtime partner Bob Cranshaw on electric bass, and Perry Wilson and Jack DeJohnette on drums, Sonny Rollins's big sound and genius for thematic improvisation are in full effect on This Is What I Do. "Salvador," a calypso-samba tribute to the Afro-Brazilian city, is a rhythmic ancestor of his celebrated "St. Thomas." The gospel-tinged version of "Sweet Leilani" and his midtempo rendition of "The Moon of Manakoora"--from the films Waikiki Wedding and The Hurricane, respectively--both highlight Rollins's humorous side and his genius for turning corny pop tunes into jazz vehicles. Rollins also salutes dearly departed comrades with the funky "Did You See Harold Vick" and the sanctified stirrings of "Charles M" in honor of Charles Mingus. What tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins has done for the past 50 years is reign as one of jazz's most thrilling improvisers. This is further proof why. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars This Is What I Do.......2007-06-10

This Is What I Do~ Sonny Rollins is a more great saxophone playing from the "immortal" Sonny Rollins. Listening to this album is soothing and it is like therapy for the soul. I am not going to say that I am a Jazz expert by any means. However, I do like good music and this certainly is it. Higly recommended indeed and it gets 4 well deserved stars.

5 out of 5 stars Rollins still on top form.......2007-05-19

This late album from Sonny Rollins shows that the man still has it. Recorded in August 2000, you may only get 6 tracks, but Sonny is still in blinding form on Tenor. The rest of the band are good but none are in the same class.

The whole album is summed up for me by the brilliant opening track "Salvador". A classic Rollins calypso composition. The opening Tenor solo lasts two minutes and following a Piano solo Rollins takes a few more choruses. by the end of this 8 minute track you know you've just been listening to one of the greatest tenor players in the history of Jazz.

The rest of the band are:
Clifton Anderson - Trombone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Bob Cranshaw - Electric Bass
Jack DeJohnette or Perry Wilson - Drums

The track listing is:
1. Salvador
2. Sweet Leilani
3. Did you see Harold Vick?
4. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
5. Charles M
6. The Moon of Manakoora

My only criticism of the album is the production, which is a little to clean for my liking. This is very much a personal thing though and it doesn't warrant a downgrading from 5 stars. If you have already got this album and you're a Sonny Rollins fan you should definetly get it. If you're not a fan you should get it to find out what you've been missing.

5 out of 5 stars DID YOU SEE HAROLD VICK ?.......2006-03-03

SONNY ROLLINS LOVES TO PUT "DIDDIES" IN HIS TUNES, AND THOSE HUMOROUS NOTES AND MELODIES IS A HALLMARK OF SONNY'S PLAYING STYLE. DID YOU SEE HAROLD VICK ? IT'S COMICAL AND HAS A GROOVE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO DANCE. SONNY HAS A LOT OF ALBUMS YOU CAN BUY TO LISTEN TO, BUY THIS ONE FOR THE " GROOVE".HAROLD VICK IS A TENOR PLAYER OUT OF CHICAGO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS TITLE IMPLIES

5 out of 5 stars THE MASTER'S NEW MASTERPIECE ! 2002 GRAMMY WINNER.......2004-07-19

FIVE HUGE STARS!! "This is What I Do" is a HUGE CD and it's a Grammy Winner to boot. It's the continuation of Sonny Rollins' production of outstanding albums, decade after decade: from "Saxphone Colossus", "Freedom Suite", "The Bridge", "Our Man in Jazz","East Broadway Run Down", "Don't Stop the Carnival", "Global Warming", and many more, he does it over and over. "This is What I Do" is simply amazingly inventive and totally enjoyable from beginning to end by Jazz' Premier Elder Statesman.

Only Sonny Rollins could find fertile improvisational utility in esoterica like "Sweet Leilani"(delivered as a bluesy New Orleans funeral march) and "The Moon of Manakoora" (a starkly beautiful hip ballad) in the same CD. I have played these two songs over and over and they are breath-taking on each pass. "Salvador" finds Rollins in his full 'hide in plain sight' mode, changing the song with each pass over the main theme, giving a graphic demonstration of true thematic improvisation. The group, especially Stephen Scott and Clifton Anderson, is wonderful. Bob Cranshaw continues to be Rollin's solid bedrock on electric bass. And Jack DeJohnette is still THE MAN on drums.

Finding the 'quotes' from songs on the CD is fun because they are well hidden, but accessible. Can you find "I'm Just Wild About Harry" four times on "Did You See Harold Vick?" How about Scott's quote of "Shimmy Like Your Sister Kate" on "Sweet Leilani"? It's wild!!

6 decades into his wonderful career, I wish Sonny many more years of great production and CD's like "This Is What I DO". For Rollins, age is no factor. And if you have the chance to see him live, do it: it's one of Jazz' great experiences and it'll blow your mind. Don't miss this CD. Five HUGE Stars!!

5 out of 5 stars Great Melodic Improvisation.......2002-10-04

If you enjoy listening to melodic ideas, and improvisations on a theme, you'll like both Rollins' and Scott's work on Salvador, a very joyful tune. The Harold Vick song is a wonder; how Sonny comes up with all those ideas based on a simple four note/five note pattern, only heaven knows.

Many players are hard to connect with; they drive too fast, and try to say too much. These guys tell stories, using phrases, sentences, paragraphs and spaces.
Groove Brothers
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Groove Brothers
  • wes at his best
  • Great CD...but Guess the Tunes
 Groove Brothers
Wes Montgomery
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Soul-Jazz & BoogalooSoul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Groove Yard
  2. Wes Montgomery & the Billy Taylor Trio
  3. Movin' Along
  4. Far Wes
  5. Live in Belgium 1965

ASIN: B000006NQ9
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

  1. D-Natural Blues (Monterey Blues)
  2. June In January
  3. Buddy's Tune
  4. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
  5. Jingles
  6. Jeannine
  7. Snowfall
  8. Angel Eyes
  9. Barbados
  10. This Love Of Mine
  11. On Green Dolphin Street
  12. You Don't Know What Love Is
  13. Beaux Arts

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Groove Brothers.......2007-07-03

I really liked the CD. It is good quality Jazz, nice arrangements and a good example of the improvizational abilities of Wes plus his brothers were actually world class musicians in themselves.

5 out of 5 stars wes at his best.......2004-01-22

wes and his bros playing it like no one can. if you are a fan of jazz BUY THIS RECORD.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD...but Guess the Tunes.......2000-10-08

In my opinion, this is one of the better Wes Montgomery CDs. However, the track listing on my CD is in error and is different from the listings shown on this site. For instance, in addition to other listing errors, "Lover Man" is on track 2 and two tracks which aren't listed, "Grooveyard" and "If I Should Lose You," are on tracks 8 and 9, respectively. Track 14 is truly "hidden" since there's no indication of it on the CD listing. However, this collection with miscited and uncited work is still a gem, "hidden" as it may be.
Cleanhead & Cannonball
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Solid power
  • So downhome nasty blues
  • A sure thing!
  • Asbestos Gloves Required
 Cleanhead & Cannonball
Eddie Cleanhead Vinson , and Cannonball Adderley
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Oscar Peterson with Harry Edison & Eddie Vinson
  2. A Proper Introduction to Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson: Kidney Stew Blues
  3. Blues in the Night, Vol.1: The Early Show
  4. The Late Show
  5. Kidney Stew Is Fine

ASIN: B00006EXJJ
Release Date: 2002-08-20

Tracks:

  1. Bright Lights, Big City
  2. This Time
  3. Hold It!
  4. Arriving Soon (Instrumental)
  5. Kidney Stew (Take 3)
  6. Back Door Blues
  7. Person To Person
  8. Just A Dream
  9. Audrey
  10. Vinsonology (Take 2 - Instrumental)
  11. Cannonizing (Instrumental)
  12. Bernice's Bounce (Instrumental)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Solid power.......2005-02-21

The combination of Cleanhead with Cannonball produced solid results in this release. Vinson classics like "Kidney Stew" and "Person to Person" are done nicely here, but it's the tune "Hold It!" that is the standout. A very good date all around.

4 out of 5 stars So downhome nasty blues.......2003-02-12

A great teacher once told me the best jazz musicians are those that have a deep bag of tricks but use only a few on a given night. In that case the Cannonball Adderley Quintet is among the greatest, shedding its prodigious jazz chops in favor of simply nasty blues to support Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson's vocals and alto saxophone work. The selflessness of the group is further exemplified in the story of the creation of "Cleanhead and Cannonball." Simplified, Cannonball was working and Cleanhead was not, and when Cannonball realized that a legend such as Vinson had not recorded in several years he lined up the record label and volunteered his own band for the job. The results were excellent; the group sounds as if they had been backing Vinson for years.

Vinson sounds best on mid tempo tunes like "Kidney Stew" and "Back Door Blues" (a moderate hit upon its release in 1961 until church groups spoke out against the "immorality" of its lyrics). The clear tone and vibrato of his shouting blues style are all but gone in modern music. At first the ballad "Audrey" seemed the only miss but it grew oddly charming upon further listening. Jones and Vinson's own "This Time," driven by the preaching piano of Joe Zawinul, would sound at home on a Mahalia Jackson album. Bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes settle in to a raunchy shuffle on "Bright Lights, Big City" and are infallible throughout. The Adderley brothers' vibrant and joyous playing leads one to believe that this record was a good time in the making. On "Hold It!" Cannonball answers each line of Vinson's lyrics with an alto shout and Nat burns a cornet solo to follow. The two sound like a mini-Basie band on "Kidney Stew." The album's instrumentals, though still good, are less memorable than the vocal features. This is partially due to the fact the Adderley hands off lead horn duties to Vinson, an excellent alto saxophonist who suffers only from following Cannonball. After listening to several tracks featuring the commanding tones of Cannonball's sax and Vinson's voice the instrumentals with only Vinson's sax and no vocals are less exciting.

In the sea of "straight ahead" jazz reissues and new releases, "Cleanhead and Cannonball" is a welcome variation. The decidedly un-heady approach of this album is one of the rare post-big band examples of jazz as music for having a good time.

5 out of 5 stars A sure thing!.......2003-01-25

6 Stars. This is one of my favorite albums ever, period. Falling squarely between jazz and blues, this entire album just rips it up. Cleanhead is at the top of his game and the sax backup provided by Cannonball is spine-tingling (and the rest of the band is right there with them). You will assume they have been playing together for years, this whole thing is so tight. I'm on a Cleanhead crusade because nobody knows this guy and you hardly ever hear him on the radio, but he will blow you away. And when you buy this and love it, check out "Kidney stew is fine" or "Meat's too high", a more recent release (well, late 80's, before we lost him). Careful on the earlier stuff, though-it's a whole different sound, and Cleanhead sings a bit like Big Joe Turner (but if you're into that, you're set). You won't regret this........

5 out of 5 stars Asbestos Gloves Required.......2002-10-28

Stunning, awe-inspiring. Can we believe that Mr. Clean actually got into the studio with Cannonball?! No holds are barred. No prisoners are taken. Several volumes of The Riot Act are read. Clean sings on all but a couple of instrumentals. On the instrumentals Cannonball plays backup (!) and Mr. Vinson plays blistering blues alto sax. Burning. Smoking. Absolutely cosmic. Be careful about what you're doing when you put this on.
Mongo Introduces La Lupe
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • This is a CAN'T MISS!
  • HOT! HOT! HOT!
  • mongo at his very best
  • Mongo Santamaria exalted by LaLupe
 Mongo Introduces La Lupe
Mongo Santamaria
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

CubaCuba | Caribbean & Cuba | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Latin Music | Styles | Music
Latin PopLatin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Latin JazzLatin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Our Man in Havana
  2. Es La Reina (The Queen)
  3. Skin on Skin: The Mongo Santamaria Anthology 1958-1995
  4. Top Percussion
  5. Reina de la Cancion Latina

ASIN: B000000XU2
Release Date: 1993-09-15

Tracks:

  1. Besito Pa Ti
  2. Kiniqua
  3. Canta Bajo
  4. Uncle Calypso
  5. Montuneando
  6. Que Lindas Son
  7. Oye Este Guaguanco
  8. Este Mambo (This Is My Mambo)
  9. Quiet Stroll

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is a CAN'T MISS!.......2007-03-10

Mongo and La Lupe are smokin' hot insane on this CD!!!

5 out of 5 stars HOT! HOT! HOT!.......2005-09-01

la lupe is a great exotic singer adding rhythm and sabor to the music of mongo santamaria. I'm gonna dare to say that this collaboration was better than the one la lupe did with tito puente.

OYE ESTE GUAGUANCO!

5 out of 5 stars mongo at his very best.......2003-02-05

This is Mongo at his very best: lyrical, deep and compelling; hip and sexy; richly textured and complex yet easily accessible. I love this album.

5 out of 5 stars Mongo Santamaria exalted by LaLupe.......2000-06-04

Mongo Santamaria is already an essential in the afro-cuban music collector's library. If you're lucky enough to come across his recording with vocalist LaLupe, buy it! Their collaboration is perfect pleasure; ambient, lusty, completely joyous and at times, humorous!
Guitarras
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Early Pickings
  • Melodic and Inventive.
 Guitarras
Strunz & Farah
Manufacturer: Milestone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
FlamencoFlamenco | Latin Music | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
Fusion & World FusionFusion & World Fusion | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Frontera
  2. Americas
  3. Wild Muse
  4. Heat of the Sun
  5. Primal Magic

ASIN: B000000XS0
Release Date: 1991-10-15

Tracks:

  1. Curandero
  2. Chumash
  3. Suenos (Part 1)
  4. Suenos (Part 2)
  5. Zambalera
  6. Tropico
  7. Talisman
  8. The Feathered Serpent
  9. Mirage

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Early Pickings.......2007-07-07

Digging through my old cassettes the other day looking to listen to something I hadn't heard in a long time, I stumbled upon Guitarras. So I pulled it out and let it play continuously all day in the office. So, while there are some treasures here I have been missing out on, there are also a lot of cuts, pleasant and relaxing as they may be, which just don't qualify as everyday fare.
I first heard Strunz and Farah on an Austin radio station back when Primal Magic first came out. Now that is a stunning piece of work and one which brought the duo a bit of recognition. I liked that very much and also the subsequent album Americas which proved to me that they were more than just a one album wonder. So not only did I follow their music forward from that point, I went back to their beginnings as well.
First issued in the mid-1980s, Guitarras can be characterized as "early pickings" on which the fan can hear the genesis of their style. They search, experiment, and often just noodle around trying to find the chemistry that will eventually propel them to world music stardom and a place on the playlist of every coffee house and high-end Mexican restaurant in the country. That last is ironic, because neither the duo nor its music are Mexican, although some elements of Mexican styles can be heard throughout their now extensive oeuvre.
The best song is definitely Zambalera. Now that is something that I could hear with pleasure on a daily basis. At around just 40 minutes, this recording is short by today's standards and if there is a remastered reissue in the future, it behooves the record company to add some out-takes or alternate versions so that the listener can get his/her money's worth.
I give this only three stars because that's all it deserves when you measure it against what Strunz and Farah accomplished later. That may not be exactly fair but in no way is Guitarras of near the quality of Primal Magic, Americas, or Heat of the Sun. The lightning-fast guitars are front and center, but their melodic style here is relatively undeveloped.
I will listen to this in the future and maybe even buy the CD hoping for better liner notes than the cassette has. But if you are new to the duo and are looking for highlights, try out one of the others I mentioned before you buy this.

4 out of 5 stars Melodic and Inventive........2000-05-29

This CD came out right after "Frontera", which was truly a milestone in the recording history of this gifted duo. Although it does not reach the majestic level of "Frontera", nonetheless it has its share of brilliancy and creativity. It is a more intimate setting than the others, with Strunz playing acoustic nylon guitar for most of the CD, while Farah keeps to steel string. The result is a powerful blend of silk and steel that produces several unforgettable cuts: "Zambalera", based on a South American rhythm; "Sueños (Part I)" which starts out as a fantasy theme and delivers outstanding solos; and "The Feathered Serpent." Don't let the corny title fool you, this cut is just amazing, incorporating the sarod, brilliantly played by Ashish Khan. "Zambalera", in turn, features Enrique Cruz on zampoña and kena, and Hugo Pedroza on charango. These three gems well justify the purchase of this work. On the first listen, this CD might sound way too exotic and "out there", but it grows on you with further listening. Great job, guys.

Music Album:

  1. Moon Over 97th Street
  2. Music Is Magic
  3. Nightfall
  4. Oh My Little Darling: Folk Song Types
  5. On The Wrong Side of The Railroad Tracks
  6. Pan Pipes [Import]
  7. Pan Pipes of Andes [Import]
  8. Pilgrim
  9. Salutation Road [Import]
  10. Same Ol' Timeously

Music Album

Music Album