Brilliant Corners

Amazon.com essential recording
Few composers or improvisers can match the originality of pianist Thelonious Monk. Quirky yet rigorously logical, Monk's playful but always purposeful choice of skewed melodies and interrupted rhythm patterns gave the bebop movement, and jazz in total, a new sound that was totally modern. Although he created a surprisingly limited body of compositions, his impact on the vocabulary and canon of jazz is second to none, including such prolific giants as Duke Ellington. Brilliant Corners is a triumph of both performance and conception: the two small-group sessions, anchored by Monk, drummer Max Roach, and the bass work of either Oscar Pettiford or Paul Chambers, feature superb front-line performances by saxophonists Sonny Rollins and the tragically under-recorded Ernie Henry, as well as trumpeter Clark Terry. The title track, which centers the collection, is one of Monk's most unconventional pieces, skirting whole-tone, chromatic and Lydian scales; a version of "Pannonica" finds Monk doubling on celeste, while the band stretches out on "Bemsha Swing" and the blues "Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are." --Fred Goodman

Product Description
Digitally remastered using K2 bit technology, this is a Japanese reissue of the great pianist's 1956 album for the Prestige label in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to the initial pressing only. Five tracks. The All-Music Guide gave the album four & a ha --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Brilliant Corners,Thelonious Monk,Ojc,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

Average customer rating: Great Packaging! Great Remastering As Well! Rightly praised classic, however at times lacking Monk's signature brilliant, yes mahn Pannonica Which Monk Cd should I choose ?

Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk Manufacturer: Ojc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mingus Ah Um Monk's Dream A Love Supreme Moanin' Somethin' Else ASIN: B000000Y1H Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Amazon.com essential recording

Few composers or improvisers can match the originality of pianist Thelonious Monk. Quirky yet rigorously logical, Monk's playful but always purposeful choice of skewed melodies and interrupted rhythm patterns gave the bebop movement, and jazz in total, a new sound that was totally modern. Although he created a surprisingly limited body of compositions, his impact on the vocabulary and canon of jazz is second to none, including such prolific giants as Duke Ellington. Brilliant Corners is a triumph of both performance and conception: the two small-group sessions, anchored by Monk, drummer Max Roach, and the bass work of either Oscar Pettiford or Paul Chambers, feature superb front-line performances by saxophonists Sonny Rollins and the tragically under-recorded Ernie Henry, as well as trumpeter Clark Terry. The title track, which centers the collection, is one of Monk's most unconventional pieces, skirting whole-tone, chromatic and Lydian scales; a version of "Pannonica" finds Monk doubling on celeste, while the band stretches out on "Bemsha Swing" and the blues "Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are." --Fred Goodman

Album Description

Digitally remastered using K2 bit technology, this is a Japanese reissue of the great pianist's 1956 album for the Prestige label in a miniaturized LP sleeve limited to the initial pressing only. Five tracks. The All-Music Guide gave the album four & a ha

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring 20bit K2 Mastering and Limited Edition LP Style Slipcase for Initial Pressing Only.

Customer Reviews:

Great Packaging! Great Remastering As Well!.......2006-10-02

This along with "Criss-Cross" have been roundly acknowledged as among the best the Monk has ever done. Considering he had recorded dozens of albums, that's no small praise either. This version of the classic album is a work of art in itself. The mini-lp sleeve replica is very well done and it reproduces very faithfully the cover art on the original lp release. In addition, all the tracks have been very well digitally remastered so that the sound quality is really very, very good. This is by far the best version of this album that is currently out there.

Recommended for all fans of Monk and of great jazz in general.

Rightly praised classic, however at times lacking Monk's signature.......2006-05-15

This is one of those ominous recordings that manages to somehow steal the spotlight away from some of the more in depth work of the artist due to this album's attempt at "getting everything right". Don't ask me to explain what that means, all I know is that there are many albums that achieve legendary status due to their pitch perfect recipe that delivers all of the prescribed ingrediants in the right order. Somehow that formula for sucess yielded many jazz classics, but overshadowed more personal, detailed work. This applies to most artists then, and as a general forwarning into gageing many composer's true strengths when it comes to buying most recommended titles. They are often ideal first purchases when discovering someone, but usually misleading as well.
This album itself is perhaps 1/2 dominated by the man of the hour, giving way to yes..some brilliant corners. There are some amazing musical concepts going on brought on undoubtedly by a total collaboration at times with some pretty free form plotting by all players. As exciting as some of the swingin tunes can be, the problem of overshadowing genius cannot be remedied when tunes like "I surrender Dear" are played, the depth of that writing on display towers over the majority of the disc's mood of playfullness. Nonetheless, this is one of his more popular albums for a reason, each track on this album has stood the test of time and will continue to represent such a special hybrid of piano induced, frenzied yet organized beauty in it's 5 eclectic compositions that go everywhere from avant garde to ballad to bee bop to solo.

brilliant, yes mahn.......2006-03-11

This is a fantastic monk recording, because there is so much soul in the tracks. Monk's unorthodox style is interpreted well by all the other players as is immediately evident on the first track. The tempo shifts continually and the song takes on a completely eccentric life of its own. Rollin's sax solo about 4 minutes into the track has a playful, whimsical, blues feel and roache's drum play is among the best i have ever heard on any jazz track, the way he shifts tempo during his solo is wonderfully energizing. The intros and exits to both the first two tracks will hang in your head for the rest of the day. Henry and rollins simultaneous play during these periods suggests a light-hearted, take-it-as-it-comes approach to life. The bass solos are equally playful, like the one on "Ba-lue..." From head to toe the musicians surrounding monk do a fantastic job assuming his style and create a recording that is the epitome of monk.

As far as monk's play, i am partial to his solo about 4 and 1/2 minutes into track two. It sums up the feel of the entire album: cool, playful and confident. Monk's choice of celeste-play on "pannonica" is another deviation from tradition that hangs a mystical mood around a somewhat earthy track that couldn't be done without it. I am also a big fan of monk's classical style and track four is rich and romantic.

This disc is a wonderful way of looking at the world that has never been done quite the same. It is an optimistic recording that you will leave in a good mood after hearing it...every time. "Brilliant corners" is one of those recordings that makes you thank fate that monk and the all-star cast that joined him created it and you happened to hear it after the session became history.

Pannonica.......2005-08-09

From the wonderful documentary "Straight, No Chaser", we know that the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter was born a Rothschild, flew bombers during WWII in de Gaulle's resistance, then came to New York and became one of the foremost patrons of jazz, close friends with Parker, Thelonious, and countless others. Complex lady. Complex tune as well, and one of Monk's most beautiful.
This record was Monk's third for Riverside, but the first to feature his compositions. The title track "Brilliant Corners" is notorious for its strangeness of melody and its doubling of tempo. But the highlight of the record is the ballad "Pannonica", for two reasons... first, Monk doubling on the celeste. I think it must be the only time he ever played another instrument on record, let alone two instruments at once, but he must've been aiming for an ethereal quality for this recording and achieves it in his intro and in his solo, where he alternates between celeste and piano. And second... Sonny Rollins. This was made during Sonny's high point, around the time of "Saxophone Colossus", and I think it is probably his strongest ballad solo, and the strongest saxophone solo anyone has played behind Monk, past Rouse and Johnny Griffin and even Coltrane. As great as Rouse is, whenever he is playing the tune, you can hear him get caught up in the trickiness of the bridge, and he invariably runs back to the theme for safety. Sonny, during his solo, has truly possessed and internalized Monk's composition, and brings all of his astonshing self to the solo. Doesn't falter once. And listen towards the end when he throws in those five consecutive ascending glissandos. Then listen to Monk affectionately duplicate them when he gets into his solo. Then listen to some of the other recordings of "Pannonica" over the next 15 years and you'll hear Monk working this phrase in again. A small, wonderful exchange between two artists. The rest of the tunes on "Brilliant Corners" are great, but "Pannonica" is one of those rare ones that is itself worth the price of admission. One can only wish that Monk and Rollins had played and recorded more together-- then I think there would be no question of Monk's supremacy in modern jazz or of Sonny's supremacy on the tenor saxophone.

Which Monk Cd should I choose ?.......2004-12-30

That is one of life's more difficult questions because the more you listen to Monk the more you hear. Certainly that is true on this Cd. It ranks as one of my favorites because the music is so unpredictable and the musicians that are on this particular Monk recording do an amazing job interpreting Monk's compositions. Every cut is different and each has something that just blows me away every time I hear it. Pannonica , the 3rd track is one of Monk's more understated and underrated tunes. His piano playing on that number can only be descibed as sweet. The Blues turnarounds on Bal-Lue Bolivar with Monk and Sonny Rollins are knock-outs and Monk's version of I Surrender Dear is especially unique.
I would be remiss not to mention Max Roach's drumming on this entire cd is fantastic but he particularly shines on Bemsha Swing. Then the icing on the cake is a beautiful trumpet solo on that cut by Clark Terry.
This is certainly one of Monk's finest recordings and on certain nights it is my all-time favorite. Don't miss it.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk Manufacturer: Jvc Victor ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000FZDN4K Release Date: 2006-08-07

Tracks:

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk Manufacturer: Riverside ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Monk's Music Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery Cannonball Adderley Quintet in San Francisco Portrait in Jazz ASIN: B0001Z4OVA Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Average customer rating: Shines Like A Diamond Stunning. Brilliant Sound Title is a perfect description Bach's one-uppance and a deserved classic

Brilliant Corners (20 Bit Mastering) Thelonious Monk Manufacturer: Riverside ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Monk's Music (20 Bit Mastering) Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall Mingus Ah Um Saxophone Colossus Monk's Dream ASIN: B00005R8DB Release Date: 2001-11-27

Tracks:

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Customer Reviews:

Shines Like A Diamond.......2006-06-11

It is almost impossible to listen to the title track of this masterpiece without thinking of the cubist paintings of Braque, Picasso, and Duchamp. In the same way these fearless innovators tried to deconstruct painting into primary elements and start from scratch, Monk seems to be breaking the musical language into fragments and pasting it back together. But painters work alone. Monk had to make his revolutionary vision comprehensible to fellow players, accounting for the twelve takes required to get the title composition on tape and the observation by one sound engineer that, "After working with Monk I'll never be afraid of anything ever again."

A jazz milestone, Brilliant Corners is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The album was given to me as a gift a few years after being released and even after repeated playing I truly had no idea of what the heck I was hearing. What's so strange is that it still sounds "modern" and abstract today, off-kilter, cattywhumpus, and a bit otherworldly. The 20bit re-mastering is glorious and offers a glistening precision my old Riverside LP never had, that much is certain.

Not only has Sonny Rollins never sounded better, he must be given special consideration for walking into Monk's world and making sense of it. Known for angularity and disjointed construction, Monk can also be one of the most emotionally compelling of composers and players. This is abundantly in evidence on Pannonica, an original composition, and on the standard, I Surrender, Dear, which is unrecognizable by the time Monk is through with it. (Solo Monk interpreting standards is three degrees away from heaven, there are many examples scattered throughout his body of work.)

Bemsha Swing returns the tone home to the "expect-the-unexpected" style we met in the introductory bars. Max Roach, who performs the Herculean chore of providing a rhythmic bed for Monk's creations throughout, really shines here, demonstrating that he too is comfortable throwing in accents precisely where you would never expect them and right where they satisfy most. Because this CD is such a lasting jewel in the history of jazz, purchasing this technically superior version is recommended.

Stunning........2005-10-04

In 1956, Thelonious Monk was still not widely known. Revered by musicians, his reputation with the public sat on a handful of compositions, a few sideman dates, a bunch of sides for Blue Note and a handful of albums. It was into this that he recorded on his best, 1956's "Brilliant Corners". His first album for Riverside to be by and large a feature for his compositions (only "I Surrender, Dear", a solo piano piece, is a standard, and you wouldn't know it by listening) recorded with a supportive band, this is Monk beginning to peak, and it shows.

One thing that's pretty clear throughout the album is many of the things that make Monk's music what it is-- the fractured rhythms, the bizarre harmonies, that dry swing he mastered. Even the standard he performs is totally enveloped in his sound and concept. The first three cuts feature a band with reedmen Ernie Henry (alto) and Sonny Rollins (tenor), bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Max Roach. From opener "Brilliant Corners", you can see the music is inspirational to the sidemen-- the odd harmony implies a third part, and both Rollins and Roach take remarkably powerful and lyrical solos. The remainder of the session finds the leader in rare form, with a slow, patient and breathtaking solo on blues "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are".

And speaking of features for the leader, his arrangement of "I Surrender, Dear" is angular, exciting and extremely advanced, even for Monk. The album closes on a slightly different note, the ecstatic and exciting "Bemsha Swing", with trumpeter Clark Terry and bassist Paul Chambers joining Rollins and Roach for what turns out to be a stunning performance.

This edition features breathtaking sound-- this remastering process clearly worked wonders, and includes the original liner notes essay.

As far as essential Monk goes, this piece is one of them, even for those who don't particularly care for Monk, this one is well worth the investment. Highly recommended.

Brilliant Sound.......2004-09-15

The K2 remaster of Brilliant Corners is one of the most dynamic sounding CD's I now own. I am not that big a fan of Monk's but bought this on the AMG 5 star rating and the fact that it was out on K2. Most all of the Fantasy Records K2 editions are fabulous sounding. I own most of them. This has to be the best. The music speaks for itself. I find a lot of Monk's stuff sounds the same. He did after all re-record most of his original compositions he did for Blue Note, countless times for other labels. I would give the content a 4 and the sound a 5. AMG was right.

Title is a perfect description.......2003-09-12

The title track is a perfect Monk-style masterpiece... edgy, dynamic, and captivating. It's obviously a difficult song to play, but I'm glad Monk had the patience to do it. "Bolivar" is a stately blues, and "Pannonica" is another catchy blues. "I Surrender" is a Monk solo song, and the 20-bit recording sounds great. "Bemsha Swing" is the liveliest of the group, with Max Roach's tympanis providing the swing. Sonny Rollins plays sax on this, and is of course superb.

Bach's one-uppance and a deserved classic.......2003-02-01

Thelonius Monk is one of the few musicians to create his own true musical universe, not unlike what Bach did in the 18th century, paving classical music structure in the process. But while Bach's apparent concentration was to maintain a tidy, logical ship, Monk's musical universe consisted of pushing the envelope of the musical consensus to near breaking point on a consistent basis.
Listening to this album, starting with the punishingly beautiful title track (my all-time jazz favorite), you will be challenged with one of the most cerebrally unique in-your-face complex musical statements of all time. Monk was a master juggler of tension, luring you forward, and taking you aback with creative precision. I must have listened to it so many times that I have practically learned every musical nuance of the song (even the improvised solos) and now view it as a classical piece in itself.
The rest of the album follows suit, with "Panonnica" being another particular standout. Every chord change of that song seems to send you further into the twilight, With Monk's Celeste adding a misty taste.
This album is an absolute cure from the conventional. Whenever I get disillusioned which direction the zeitgeist is heading at any particular moment, This album provides a much-needed change of perspective. I bought Monk's 15-CD Complete Riverside Recordings box set, but this album is still his best. Not really for Celine Dion fans, but may be a solution to that and similar afflictions.

Average customer rating: ron carter ron carter ron carter

Monk Suite Manufacturer: Savoy Jazz ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Ellington | Ellington, Edward Duke | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Kronos Quartet | ( K ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Music of Bill Evans Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra ASIN: B0002BO0L2 Release Date: 2004-07-06

Tracks:

1. Well, You Needn't
2. Rhythm-A-Ning
3. Crepuscule with Nellie
4. Off Minor/Epistrophy - Ron Carter, The Kronos Quartet
5. 'Round Midnight
6. Misterioso
7. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
8. Black and Tan Fantasy - Chuck Israels, The Kronos Quartet,
9. Brilliant Corners

Customer Reviews:

ron carter ron carter ron carter.......2007-02-03

i'm not sure why amazon lists this cd under chuck israels's name, a bass player who appears with a drummer on 2 or 3 numbers.

i'm also not sure why the kronos quartet took hits for recording the music of monk. monk's music works well with a string quartet.

ron carter's playing is definitively superb on the monk suite composition. very lucid. his playing is worth the price of the cd.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Corners Thelonious Monk Manufacturer: Riverside ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005GWGM Release Date: 2003-08-21

Tracks:

1. Brilliant Corners
2. Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are
3. Pannonica
4. I Surrender, Dear
5. Bemsha Swing

Album Details

Part of the 'masters of Jazz: The History Series 1949-1969'. 20 Bit Digitally Remastered.

Average customer rating: Masterpiece "Brilliant" is right! Further Adventures in Progressive Explorations Willis Leonard Holman innovates again!

Brilliant Corners: The Music of Thelonious Monk Bill Holman Manufacturer: Jvc / Xrcd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Bill Holman Band Live In a Jazz Orbit In My Time The Fabulous Bill Holman Turn up the Heath ASIN: B000040OHH Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

1. Straight, No Chaser
2. Bemsha Swing
3. Thelonious
4. 'Round Midnight
5. Bye-Ya - Bill Holman
6. Misterioso
7. Friday the 13th
8. Rhythm-A-Ning
9. Ruby, My Dear
10. Brilliant Corners

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2006-09-29

This is a straight-up masterpiece.

If you are in the least open-minded to big band jazz, this is worth tracking down. (I found it in the public library...can you say Inter-Library Loan?) I don't know what this XRCD technology is that JVC uses here, but it sounds gorgeous in my ordinary 10-year-old Marantz CD player, and it should be illegal to shrink these tracks down to mp3. The band plays superbly, with energy and touch, and the arrangements are as good as anything Gil Evans, or whoever you want to name, ever did.

It might not be good driving music, and it's definitely NOT good background music, but if you have a room where you've got a listening chair properly positioned between two pretty decent speakers, you really should take this disc for a spin. Your system will love you for it.

"Brilliant" is right!.......2002-10-20

Few arrangers have dealt with Monk's music, and none have treated it so exceptionally as Bill Holman. The liner notes for the CD are right on: the previous big band treatments of Monk's music have simply been orchestrations of Monk's solos, plus space for new soloists. Bill Holman, however, does what a true jazz arranger should do: be faithful to the composer, yet inject new life into the music. It's 100% Thelonius Monk and 100% Bill Holman. The performance by Holman's band is amazing. The recording quality is among the best I've ever heard. You will keep this one in your CD player for a long time, and won't be able to get enough!

Further Adventures in Progressive Explorations.......2002-05-15

To begin, I've never had a refined enough ear to fully appreciate Monk, despite my untutored appreciation for the vast innovations and expansions he brought into jazz. Further, I was somewhat apprehensive upon opening this disc--it was the only Holman in the store when I was first motivated to get into him, having heard on the radio a couple of tracks from another album that truly hooked me. My first hearing of this disc was one of the most genuinely apocalyptic experiences of my life, so addictive in its multi-textured layerings of sound, so indefatigably passionate in its execution, so precise, so together, so perfect in every way. In the past I've noted my general difficulty in listening to a disc straight through, but this was one of those rare moments in which I could not touch the previous or next track button on my remote--it was that mesmerizing a listen.
I continue to think of Bill Holman as the uncrowned king of contemporary large ensemble music, and in retrospect, the success of Natalie Cole's "Unforettable" album, arranged and conducted by Holman, should never have seemed a surprize. My only complaint about Holman is that it's been too long since his last production. I've tried to search for more of his stuff , but it just ain't out there. Although my life is greatly enriched by his few albums, I just wish there were more coming from him. I probably listen to something by him every day, and I really can't say that about too many, if any, other artists.
My sentiments above duly registered, I also love this album. Not particularly sympathetic to avant-gardist "blue" notes, I was enthralled by the "tonal counterpoints," even more by the relentlessly perfect sense of rhythm and timing. EVERY tune insinuates itself into your consciousness, with its ever-expanding layers of sound providing an almost three-dimensional raid upon your sensibility. And like the greatest art, it manages both to tease the listener into liking the difficult and new, managing to both entertain and educate.
I have not expanded by much my collection of Monk, but I have come to regard him with a fonder ear, thanks to the seductive charms of Willis Leonard Holman, whose reconstruction of some of the jewels of the Monk canon should come as no surprize to anyone remotely familiar with Holman's genius.

Willis Leonard Holman innovates again!.......2000-05-12

This is a wild album. Even if you are familiar with the music of Thelonius Monk, get ready for plenty of surprises. All of the charts are recent save "Rhythm-A-Ning" which dates from the late '70's, though you'd hardly know it.

Bill's arrangements have always managed to reward both critical listeners and the less sophisticated alike, with intricate counterpoint, rhythmic subtlety, advanced harmonies, and rich timbral shadings coexisting with readily apparent form and swinging forward motion. This recording is perhaps a bit more challenging than most big band outings, Holman's included, but well worth the attention of open ears and minds.

From the opening cut "Straight No Chaser", a popular small group tune but rarely found in big band books, we realize soon we're not in Kansas anymore. The line itself eventually puts in an appearance to great effect near the end. The liner notes suggest influences from Bartok at work, although I'm not so sure. It works splendidly in any case.

There are many other highlights: the melody of "'Round Midnight" stated initially by bass clarinet, played with great expressiveness by Bob Efford; many fine solos including Bill Perkins heard on alto, Ron Stout and Bob Summers sharing trumpet solo duties, and Pete Christlieb's ever exciting tenor.

But the main rewards for me are in the writing which continues to amaze, nowhere less than the final and title track. Bill Holman's creativity and daring show no sign of flagging and should inspire us all. Thanks to all involved, and especially JVC, for enabling a project like this to happen. Highly recommmended.

Average customer rating: Marvelous!!!

Two Roads Brilliant Corners Manufacturer: MAXJAZZ ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music ASIN: B000006PX6 Release Date: 1998-04-14

Tracks:

1. Struttin' With Some Barbequed Tofu
2. Interloper
3. On The River
4. Sidesteppin'
5. Gray Clouds
6. Waking Up Is Hard To Do
7. Still The Same
8. Two Roads

Customer Reviews:

Marvelous!!!.......1998-10-19

This album made me fall in love with jazz all over again. The cut 'On the River' entices my mind to wonderful imagery. There is refreshing original music with all the "right stuff" to make good jazz happen. A true delight to any music lovers ear..and if you're not a jazz lover by nature, this is one will get you started

Average customer rating: edgy twee Brilliant British pop

Joyride & 6 & S S 20 Collector Brilliant Corners Manufacturer: Magadad ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000002SVT Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. You Don't Know How Lucky You Are
2. Emily
3. This Girl
4. Nothing
5. Grow Cold
6. Hemingway's Black
7. I Didn't See You
8. Accused By The Angels
9. Why Do You Have To Go Out With Him When You Could Go Out With Me
10. Shangri-La
11. Things Will Get Better
12. Goodbye (My Love)
13. Ghost Of A Young Man
14. When The Blossom Falls
15. She's Got Fever
16. Black Water
17. Big Hip
18. Tangled Up In Blue
19. My Baby's In Black
20. Rope In My Hand
21. Everything I Ever Wanted
22. Funniest Thing

Customer Reviews:

edgy twee.......2006-04-25

I've recently been mining the eighties looking for lost, smiths-era gems, and this is one of the best I've found, along with The Weather Prophets Blue Skies and Free Rides and Alan McGee's Biff Bang Pow. I don't agree with the other reviewers analogy to the TV Personalities. I do hear a definite postcard label influence--Orange Juice and Josef K., with the expected sensitive, intelligent lyrics of a Smiths-era indie band. If I remember right, they were included on NME's famed C-86 cassette, but they're much edgier than the Shop Assistants and early Primal Scream. In fact, twee music with an edge might serve as an apt description of their sound. Recommended for all with an interest in 80s indie pop.

Brilliant British pop.......2004-08-25

This one is worth picking up, even if you must pay a little more for it. If you like bands like the Jetset, TV Personalities, and other acts that do charming British pop, then you'll love this. I also recommend "Somebody Up There Likes Me" if you can find it. Another great collection of sing along gems, with witty lyrics.

Average customer rating:

BBC Sessions Brilliant Corners Manufacturer: Vinyl Japan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000509HZ Release Date: 2007-01-08

Tracks:

1. What Can I Do?
2. Sweet Brendan
3. I Never Said That
4. Happy Capital
5. Arlington Villas
6. Would It Be Sad?
7. Anticipation
8. Trust Me
9. Oh!
10. Please Please Please
11. I'll Never Be the One to Break Your Heart
12. Teenage
13. Honey Whispers None
14. Across the Border
15. Nine Out of Ten Unbelievers
16. Hidden Snakes
17. Tangled up in Blue
18. Sixteen Years
19. My Baby's in Black
20. Trash

Album Description

Jangly trumpet-driven indie pop from sessions recorded between 1984 and 1987. 20 tracks (12 recorded with John Peel, 4 with Andy Kershaw and 4 with Janice Long) including, 'What Can I Do?' and 'Sweet Brendan'. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

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