Legendary [Import]

Disc: 1
1. Sara Smile
2. Do What You Want, Be What You Are
3. Rich Girl
4. Back Together Again
5. Bigger Than Both of Us
6. It's a Laugh
See all 17 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Private Eyes
2. Looking for a Good Sign
3. I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
4. Unguarded Minute
5. Did It in a Minute
6. Head Above Water
See all 17 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. Dance on Your Knees
2. Out of Touch
3. Cold Dark and Yesterday
4. Method of Modern Love
5. Bank on Your Love
6. Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid
See all 16 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Words And Music
American Pie
Since I Don't Have You
Maybe Baby
Crying
Castles In The Air
If I Only Had A Match
Your Cheatin' Heart
And I Love You So
Vincent
Winterwood
If We Try
Everyday
Wonderful Baby
Crossroads
Jerusalem
Dreidel
Headroom
Have You Seen Me
Just To Hold My Hand
Empty Chairs

Customer Reviews:

Don McLean at his best.......2007-07-13

This is a beautiful CD, easy listening, I think one of my very favorites is " And I Love You So ", of course "Vincent" is McLean's masterpiece.
Crossroads, is beautiful.
Empty Chairs is a beautiful song with great guitar.
Don McLean is one of my all time favorites, and ranks high on my list.
I am going to purchase more of this CD for Christmas gifts.
Ann in Houston TX.

5-Starry Starry CD.......2007-07-04

This CD will forever be one of the favorites in my whole collection! Partly because it has so dang many truly great songs, but also because each song is so dang well re-mastered! I have a high end music system that can deliver most of the beautiful harmonic nuances that you'd hear if you sat inside the artist's studio during the recording. That only happens IF those nuances are recorded onto the CD, and such is the case with Legendary Songs of Don McLean.

This CD is a fabulous showcase of multi-faceted talent. In the first place, Don McLean must be considered one of the era's most eloquent songwriters. His lyrics are great poems by themselves...intelligent and very elegant expressions of the romanticism of the story he's telling. Secondly, his melodies are perfect complements to the words. "Vincent", (Starry Starry Night, to some) is a superb, classic example of what I'm saying here. Spectacular! It brought tears to my eyes. I'm a former boxer, Harley rider, and three-time-wounded combat infantryman...so tears don't come easy for me.

And then there's McLean's voice quality. Incredible smoothness, pitch, range, and appropriate emotion for each song! To me, his voice mimics a fine cello or clarinet in the hands of a master. Roy Orbison is known as "The Voice" -very well deserved- but McLean's version of Orbison's "Crying" certainly is on a perfect par...no easy feat! "Since I Don't Have You" is another song that exemplifies Don McLean's amazing (Legendary) voice quality. It's so beautiful that you can't help but sing along...but try to hit all of the high notes and you'll end up needing to call the doctor to repair your vocal chords.

Legendary Songs of Don McLean is one of the best collections of melodies you can buy, but you'll also get some great rhythm/rock songs like "Dreidel" and "Headroom", and even some smokey jazz in "If I Only Had a Match". And there's some bop and doo-wop too! Hear this CD and feel like you've strolled through the 40's, 50's, 60's...right up to the present decade...and McLean is somehow able to stitch those styles and eras seamlessly!

Finally, let me say that one of my very penny-pinching friends heard this CD when I got it, and he left with an insatiable itch to buy his own copy...Scrooge McDuck sprinting away to the store! This CD really is a Must Have!

A most intelligent song- writer and beautiful singer .......2007-06-13

Don MacLean is one of the most intelligent of all singer- song- writers. One of his greatest hits, 'Vincent' shows real understanding of the work and person of Van Gogh. Two of his other songs 'And I Love you so' and 'American Pie' have also I believe entered the category of 'classics'.
This is popular music at its best.

Legendary Songs of Don McLean.......2007-05-12

I wasn't sure what I would be getting for the price (extremely reasonable!!) but I was very pleased with the CD when it arrived. It's a wonderful mix of his classics and some new songs that reflect Mr. McLean's poetic talent. I highly recommend this CD to Don McLean fans.

The Best Compilation Currently Available.......2006-07-12

Contains 21 original hit recordings nicely remastered. One note: the song Castles In The Air was a hit twice, the original 1970 recording from his first album was a hit in 1972 as the b-side of Vincent; and a different re-recorded version was a hit in 1981. The version included here is the re-make from 1981.

Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording

Average customer rating:

Lost is Found, finally
Martha Argerich CD
Fabulous recording
Excellent
A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog

Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Martha Argerich
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Debut Recital / Martha Argerich
Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich
Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra
Chopin: 26 Préludes, etc / Martha Argerich

ASIN: B00000IWVS
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I. Allegro maetoso
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III. Largo
Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto
Mazurka No.36 In A Minor, Op.59 No.1
Mazurka No.37 In A-flat, Op.59 No.2
Mazurka No.38 In F-sharp Minor, Op.59 No.3
Nocturne No.4 In F, Op.15 No.1
Scherzo No.3 In C-sharp Minor, Op.39
Polonaise No.6 In A-flat, Op.53

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Record-label politics prevented this awesome recording of Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich from being released for 34 years. The spitfire musician delivers a powerful set of Chopin's best-loved works that still sounds riveting today. Intense and gorgeous. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

How can it be that a recording by one of today's indisputably unequaled pianists performing some of her prime repertory--made fresh within months of her triumph in the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition--could languish for decades in the vaults before its official release? Chalk it up to the exclusivity clauses of rival recording companies and legal constraints from which not even Wotan with the help of Loge could extricate himself. Thankfully this belated EMI release--recorded in a few sessions at the Abbey Road studios--is finally available.

It's a significant complement to Argerich's other accounts of Chopin on disc. From the white-hot intensity of Argerich's way with the composer, you can easily extrapolate a sense of what had recently wowed the jury in Warsaw. The Argentinean pianist undertakes the Third Sonata as a vast, big-voiced, far-reaching statement that encompasses both molten power and moments of almost unbearably intimate lyricism (listen closely to her gestures of illumination in the Largo). With a characteristically unforced spontaneity, Argerich sounds the shattering chords that launch the finale (recorded in one take); her sense of flow in the Nocturne No. 4 is a perfect mesh for the illusion of improvising that is so central to Chopin. She commands the logic--both emotional and musical--of the composer's skittish turns in the Scherzo No. 3 and crafts three of the mazurkas into perfectly chiseled character pieces. The sheer force of Argerich's personality might seem overwhelming to those accustomed to a tamer Chopin--listen to how she dives into the A-flat Polonaise--but it's always at work dusting off tired clichés and uncovering the music's expressive wealth. For those who know about Argerich's artistry, this disc is indispensable; anyone who has yet to make that enviable discovery will find it (together with the Argerich anthology in Philips' Great Pianists series) a great place to begin. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Lost is Found, finally.......2007-07-08

This Argerich Chopin performance, recorded by EMI in 1965 while she was actually under contract to DG is formidable for an artist so early in her career. Both the artistry and sound are superb and it's a shame we fans had to wait so long for this recording to appear. These Chopin performances completely justify the competition judges decision to award her the grand prize at the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition. It's a collection must have!

Martha Argerich CD.......2007-06-12

Excellent service -- speedy, just as described, well-packaged. I'd definitely buy from this seller again.

Fabulous recording.......2007-04-12

A most interesting history in the liner notes and a fabulous recording. One of the best for a piano CD collection.

Excellent.......2007-04-12

Only one word: Excellent.
Though someone might have different feeling, I'm crazy on this 1965 recording.

A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog.......2006-09-03

If I had to pick a single CD to win awed admiration for Martha Argerich, this Chopin recital would be it. Only 24 when she made these long-suppressed recordings, Argerich's musicality and dazzling technqiue defy belief. Every ounce of praise for her Third Sonata is deserved--it's spontaneous, flexible, intense, by turns tender and declamatory. The most blessed quality is that she doesn't bang or harangue us--not always the case in later years. Her sense of urgency doesn't become eckless; the bursts of excitment aren't oerly explosive.

My only caveat would be for audiophiles. Although an Abbey Road studio recording, you get the feeling somewhat that Argerich is performing in a boomy hall. Also, in the loudest fortes there's mircophone shatter. For many listeners these drawbacks won't matter a whit, not in the face of an undisputed keyboard genius.

Average customer rating:

Bobby Darin sold his songs without even trying--and that's no small feat !!!
Extraordinary!
Darin Had More Natural Ability Than Sinatra or Bennett
Bobby Darin ROCKS!!
Swingin' Bobby Darin

The Legendary Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Hit Singles Collection
Darin at the Copa
Aces Back to Back (Audio CD & DVD)
Swingin' the Standards
The Ultimate Bobby Darin

ASIN: B0002VYPEO
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Tracks:

Once In A Lifetime
More
/11/73)
Beyond The Sea (Live in Los Angeles 3/11/73)
As Long As I'm Singing
Mack The Knife (Live At The Flamingo, Las Vegas 11/9/63)
On The Street Where You Live
Hello Dolly
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
The Good Life
I Got Rhythm
Oh! Look At Me Now
Moon River
You're The Reason I'm Living
Call Me Irresponsible
Goodbye, Charlie
Softly, As I Leave You
Venice Blue
If A Man Answers
18 Yellow Roses
If I Were A Carpenter
Hits Medley: Splish Splash/Beyond The Sea/Artificial Flowers/Clementine
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Live in Los Angeles
The Curtain Falls (Live At The Flamingo, Las Vegas 11/10/63)

Customer Reviews:

Bobby Darin sold his songs without even trying--and that's no small feat !!!.......2007-06-24

Bobby Darin was a consummate entertainer who could reach out to his adoring audiences and lead them wherever he wanted them to go. He knew his life would be a short one because he had a bad heart; and every time he sang he poured so much genuine feeling and soul into his performance it touched people everywhere. This CD gives us a generous sampling of just some of Bobby's greatest hits recorded both live and in the studio; and every moment of this CD proves Bobby was more than a male singer--he was a force.

The CD track set begins with "Once In A Lifetime;" the drums at the beginning signal the beginning of a high energy number--and, sure enough, Bobby delivers this number with a faster than usual tempo. The power of Bobby's voice makes this the ultimate rendition of "Once In A Lifetime." The romantic ballad "More" follows; Bobby again speeds up the tempo along with musical arranger Richard Wess. The effect is an especially energetic rendition of "More." The lush musical arrangement works wonders, too.

One live number that stands out would have to be "Beyond The Sea" recorded in concert in Los Angeles in 1973. Bobby delivers this with passion and high octane energy; the audience enjoys every minute of it, too! You also get a live recording of "Mack The Knife" when Bobby performed at The Flamingo in Las Vegas in November, 1963. Bobby has a playful and very positive rapport with his audience even though these days one or two of his comments would be considered embarrassingly dated. The high quality control of the actual song "Mack The Knife," however, stuns me as Bobby Darin delivers this flawlessly.

"On The Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady gets a much faster than usual tempo from arranger Richard Wess and Bobby; but I think you will enjoy this number very much. "Hello, Dolly!" gets the royal treatment from Bobby and the musicians; Bobby delivers this as if he feels genuinely thrilled to see his friend Dolly again after many years. The tempo of "Hello, Dolly!" eventually speeds up to the normal tempo; and the arrangement complements Bobby's vocals perfectly. Bobby's sensitive interpretation of "The Good Life" touched me greatly; and Bobby again sings "Moon River" with panache and sensitivity. Great!

"Call Me Irresponsible" shines brightly like a golden nugget; and "Softly, As I Leave You" glistens like gold! The backup chorus on "Softly, As I Leave You" enhances the beauty of this number. In addition, "Venice Blue" tells how a man is so sad that his love affair is over than even the entire city of Venice turns blue before his very eyes.

There is another live track in which Bobby performs a playful medley of four of his greatest earlier hits: "Splish Splash/Beyond The Sea/Artificial Flowers/Clementine." Finally, the last track on the CD is another live track recorded in November of 1963 when Bobby truly believed that this would be his last live concert. (He subsequently changed his mind.) "The Curtain Falls" doesn't merely explore Bobby's feelings as he ends this particular concert; it also makes the perfect ending to this album. As Bobby sings this ballad about the end of his concert career; we also recognize that there is another meaning: "The Curtain Falls" gives us the perfect ending to this album as well.

The liner notes include an informative essay about Bobby Darin and his career by Will Friedwald; and you get excellent photos of Bobby, too. The liner notes also provide the song credits and recording dates.

Bobby Darin remains a formidable force whose star still shines brightly long after his life ended. Bobby will always be a legend; and long after most "celebrities" are dead and buried we will still remember Bobby very fondly. I highly recommend this excellent CD for Bobby Darin fans; and people who enjoy classic pop vocals will cherish this one for ages to come.

Enjoy!

Extraordinary!.......2006-07-06

And extraordinary collection of Bobby Darin music. Featuring live recordings of Beyond The Sea, Mack The Knife, The Curtain Falls, Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher And Higher, and also an excellent, live medley of his hits Splish Splash, Beyond The Sea, Artifical Flowers, and Clementine.

For the price of $14.98 you get twenty-four, excellent versions of popular songs sung by Darin. If you want to look at the technicalities of pricing, your spending around 62 cents a song. You cannot do better than that, and every song is worth it. I highly recommend this CD.

Darin Had More Natural Ability Than Sinatra or Bennett.......2006-02-10

Bobby Darin could sing swing, blues, pop, rock, gospel, country & Western and folk. He had a delivery and stage presence second to none, and he could sell a tune---especially a jazz-swing tunr---far better than any other singer in popular music. A reviewer from Januray 29, 2005 seems to think Darin was "delegated to the second tier." I think he meant to write "relegated," but in either case, I think the fellow is more than a little mistaken. Darin is the only singer in the past sixty years to actually rival Sinatra as a swinging balladeer and was at least Frank's equal as a cabaret performer. The likes of Jonny Mercer, Henry Mancini, Sammy Davis Jr., and Wayne Newton have all held this very same opinion. Even in Bennett's peak years he was never as popular as Darin, and outside of Bennett's often grating human vibrato voice, Darin's talent was far greater than Bennett's. Bennett sells himself as a jazz singer, but when he tries to swing he sounds awkward and unexciting, like a nerd trying to be hip. Darin had syncopation, baby. He was cool, he didn't have to try to be cool. As for Mel Torme, whom I always liked and admired, to compare him with Darin is an travesty. Torme was not a belter, but a smooth-voiced crooner who sang jazz almost exclusively. Darin was a song stylist out of the belter, not crooner mold. Yet he could also sing standards with the best of them, with an impeccable sense of drama on ballads and an incomparable rythym on swing numbers. Bobby Darin's only shortfall was that he lived too short a life to have permanantly registered in many people's long-term memories. I pose this question to the fellow from Arlingon, Virgina: Could you picture Tony Bennett singing "If I Were A Carpenter?" Or Mel Torme singing "Dream Lover?" Or Sinatra siinging "You're the Reason I'm Living?" A folk ballad, rock ballad, and Country Blues....only a singer as versatile as Darin could have pulled off such a feat. Listen to his phrasing and breath control (despite his horrible heart condition) on his renditions of "Try To Remember" and "Once Upon A Time." Then listen to him swing and belt on "Artificial Flowers," "A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square," "Beyond the Sea," "Lazy River," etc. Darin had more vocal dexterity---not to mention charisma---than Tony Bennett ever had. So Bennett shattered glass---does loudness---of the most annoying type--- make a great singer? As for Sinatra, well, he was Sinatra. But a good argument can be made that after his Capital years his name was bigger than his talent. Many music critics have opined that he was an enormously overrated singer. That may not be too popular an opinion, but it has genuine merit. Not quite sure why people seem to relish demoting Bobby Darin's ability. Had you seen him perform live at the Copa or in Vegas, you would have long ago forgotten Tony Bennett and "relegated" Mel Torme to a nice, silky-voiced jazz specialist who, nevertheless, in no way compared with Bobby Darin.

Bobby Darin ROCKS!!.......2005-09-24

Being in my late 20's, I'm too young to have experienced Darin 1st hand and until recently was not very familiar with his body of work. I do partially credit Kevin Spacey for the introduction but it wasn't until months after I saw the movie that I was really itching to get my hands on a Darin album.

"Beyond the Sea" is one of my all time favorites and I thought it was really silly that I didn't have a single version of it in my music collection. Unlike a previous poster, I would rather hear a live version of a song over a studio version any day. That is to say as long as the singer can actually sing. I have literally played the version of "Beyond the Sea" on this album everyday for weeks. It's a song you want blast in your convertible with the top down. Sadly I do not own a convertible but am considering purchasing one solely for this purpose. :)

While I don't like all the songs on the album (I'm not a fan of folk or country), I would have paid $15 just for the 5 live tracks on the album

Swingin' Bobby Darin.......2005-07-05

Another compilation of Bobby Darin. Bobby Darin is one of the greatest artists in pop music. He started as a rock 'n' roll artist (Splih Splash, Dream Lover,...) and composer in late fifties of previous century than turned into swing music. He inspired a lot of singers, Brian Setzer (he recorded As Long As I'm Singin', A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Mack The Knife), Dion (to name just a few). And everything he did is great.
His first swing hit was Mack the Knife (from Threepeny opera, is here featured live) that became a number one hit. Beyond the Sea is one of my favourite swing songs and it is here featured live also. The orchestra that is backing him is really great and Bobby Darin is a wonderful singer.
On this record you will find mostly swing songs and some folk songs (If I Were a Carpenter, 18 Yellow Roses,...)that he recorded for Capitol.
Sound is rich and songs are great. A must for every swing fan.

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Average customer rating:

Great to hear the Great Tenor
A childhood memory
Great collection.

The Legendary Enrico Caruso: 21 Favorite Arias

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Match Point
Italian Songs: The Digital Recordings
Great Caruso
The Very Best of Beniamino Gigli
The Very Best Of Maria Callas

ASIN: B000003EOH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba
TOSCA: E lucevan le stelle
Rigoletto: Questa o quella
Rigoletto: La donna e mobile
L'africana: O paradiso
La Juive: Rachel, quand du Seigneur
La Boheme: Che gelida manina
Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi; Celeste Aida
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
La Favorita: Romanza: Spirto gentil, ne' sogni miei
La forza del destino: O tu che in seno agli angeli
Otello: Ora e per sempre addio
Les pecheurs de perles: Je crois entendre encore
La Gioconda: Cielo e mar!
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee (Flower Song)
TOSCA: Recondita armonia
Faust: Salut, demeure chaste et pure
L'Elisir d'Amore: Una furtiva lagrima
Martha: M'appari tutt'amor
Serse: Ombra mai fu (Largo)
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira

Amazon.com

There's a plethora of single-disc Caruso collections, but this one's the preferred choice for opera fans who treasure this golden- voiced epitome of Golden Age singing. It's a Greatest Hits collection to beat all Greatest Hits collections. Selections span Caruso's career, from the lyric effusions of 1906-7 to the darker-voiced later recordings, including one of his last records, the 1920 La Juive aria, "Rachel, quand du Seigneur," which he invests with a heartbreaking poignancy that hasn't been bettered. Caruso shines brightest in the Italian repertory, capturing the pathos of Vesti la Giubba, the insouciance of the Duke's Rigoletto arias, and the hero's dilemma in Celeste Aida, among much else. But everything here is wonderful--great music, great singing. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Great to hear the Great Tenor.......2007-04-11

I am impressed how well these almost 100 year old recordings have been transfered to CD. Of course they aren't perfect but considering their age it is still a miracle. It is nice to hear Caruso in his prime and not on a scratchy vinyl. I would recommend this to any lover of Caruso's singing.

A childhood memory.......2006-05-28

I do not really know Opera. I am writing this review because I remember hearing Caruso's voice coming from a seventy- eight on an old Victor gramophone in my paternal grandparents house. The power and lyric quality of the voice struck me so strongly especially in 'Pagliacci'. The phrase has been with me, and comes back occasionally through all the years.
Caruso was then, and I believe still is considered at the very top of operatic singers. And it is a remarkable experience to hear so many years later , and in a stronger and clearer way sounds which one heard long ago in childhood, and have for years only lived in the mind.

Great collection........2000-11-04

This CD is an older RCA release, but still one of the best! A great introduction to Caruso.

Average customer rating:

Enchantment
Heavenly
Equisite and Filled Eternal Bliss
All Pain And Sorrow Depart

This Universe
Singh Kaur
Manufacturer: Sequoia Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music
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Fairy Night Songs
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REMEMBERING YOUR SOUL PURPOSE: A Part of Ascension - SECOND EDITION
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ASIN: B000AOEMY6
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Spark In The Night
This Universe
The Lord's Prayer

Album Description

Experience the perfect peace within and without. This exquisite music is soothing, uplifting and will illuminate your heart with joy. The final recording from legendary vocalist Singh Kaur (Fairy Nightsongs, The Crimson Series) -- This Universe is an enchanting message of love that radiates grace and serenity. The purity of Singh Kaur's ethereal voice shines through on the extended ancient chant "This Universe," a gorgeous and enchanting original version of "A Spark in the Night," and a breathtaking musical version of "The Lord's Prayer." The deeply touching beauty of Singh Kaur's voice is a rare gift and she recorded this extraordinary music as her final offering to her fans. Produced by Gary Stadler (Fairy NightSongs, Fairy Heart Magic) and featuring artfully sensitive keyboard orchestrations by Raphael (Music to Disappear Into) and special guest Lisa Lynne on Celtic harp, "This Universe" will deepen and enhance your yoga, the healing arts or meditation.

Customer Reviews:

Enchantment.......2007-04-03

This music is so exquisite it brings tears of joy to my eyes. I have never been so moved. Wonderful for meditation or just relaxed enjoyment. A singer with perfect pitch and an enormously talented composer. This beautiful music will take you into presence.

Heavenly.......2007-03-10

Singh Kaur's heavenly music is the perfect antitdote to a busy and stress-filled day. I easily come back home, to my most shining self, when I listen to her other-worldly CD.

Equisite and Filled Eternal Bliss.......2005-10-12

Just exquisite! I love Singh Kaur from her Crimson Series releases and absolutely adored her previous collaboration with Gary Stadler on "Fairy NightSongs". But this new release fills me with such joy and wonder and opens my heart in a way that I have never experienced from music before. Singh Kaur's voice is radiant and pierces my soul with it's devotional passion and tenderness. I feel blessed to have found this magnificent piece of music. Thank you, thank you, thank you Gary Stadler for bringing Singh Kaur's final musical gift to us all. Many Blessings.

All Pain And Sorrow Depart.......2005-09-14

As I've mentioned elsewhere I have a deep, visceral reaction when I hear Singh Kaur's voice. Suddenly I stop for a moment, as the wise say, my mind opens, and I remember that the problem isn't me, the problem is my reaction to the problem. This dates back to my first discovery of her series of chants done on the independent ?Invincible label with Kim Robertson on harp. This Crimson collection, her final recording, is the closest thing to healing music that I have ever heard. Unfortunately, the set has to be sought out or ordered, and many people simply have never heard what is one of the most powerful voices in new age music.

I don't know if I can put my finger on what exactly is it about her singing that does this. The Spark in the Night, the first cut on this album is a reworking of an old melody of hers. The simplicity of her voice, the purity of her tone fits right into the music. As her singing matured, her voice gained coloration, and this song works not simply as and easy melody, but it reaches the listener emotionally as well.

Most of the album (43 minutes) is spent on the title piece, this universe. Combining wit Gary Stadler, Lisa Lynne, and several others, it is meditation music perfection. While anything of this length is going to be repetitious, Singh Kaur manages to vary dynamics, rhythm and color so that even the repetition is soothing. This is no small accomplishment in a world where many people think that meditation music should be electronic choirs droning over electronic strings. Singh Kaur is never hackneyed.

Rather than drone on about Kaur's talents, I suggest that, if you are looking for the narrow path to inner quiet, you stop a moment and listen for yourself.

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i'm sitting on top of the world

The Legendary Duo at Their Best
Les Paul & Mary Ford
Manufacturer: Collectables
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition

ASIN: B000056UZU
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

How High the Moon
Josephine
Mockin' Bird Hill
Whispering
Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)
I'm a Fool to Care
World Is Waiting for the Sunrise
Meet Mister Callaghan
Tiger Rag
Tennessee Waltz
I'm Sitting on Top of the World
Whither Thou Goest
That Old Feeling
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
My Silent Love
I Surrender, Dear
You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
June in January
Moonlight and Shadows
I Can't Get Started
How Deep Is the Ocean?
Sweet and Lovely
Prisoner of Love
If I Had You

Tracks:

Wabash Blues
Bye Bye Blues
Blues Stay Away from Me
Deep in the Blues
It's a Lonesome Old Town
Walkin' and Whistlin' Blues
St. Louis Blues
Mammy's Boogie
Frankie and Johnny
Don't Cry Baby
Jazz Me Blues
Smoke Rings
Falling in Love With Love
On the Sunny Side of the Street
Just One of Those Things
Twelfth Street Rag
Lies
Turista
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Nuevo Laredo
Best Things in Life Are Free
Moritat
Some of These Days
Tico, Tico
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
Dangerous Curves
I'm Movin' On
Farewell (For Just Awhile)

Tracks:

Brazil
Hip-Billy Boogie
Swiss Woodpecker
Caravan
Sleep
Lady of Spain
Lover
Man on the Flying Trapeze
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
What Is This Thing Called Love?
Nola
South
In the Good Old Summertime
Three Little Words
Lonesome Road
Chicken Reel
I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
Carioca
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Just One More Chance
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
Moon of Manakoora
Don'cha Hear Them Bells
Rosita

Customer Reviews:

i'm sitting on top of the world.......2007-05-23

this box set is simply incredible.

not only are the main albums you would want by the duo included, but you're getting 6lps on 3cds!

it came in a lovely wooden box and i thought that makes it more sturdy than most box sets i own. as far as the music, well if you dont' know anything about the sound of les paul and mary ford, then i don't know what to tell you.

les paul is the creator of multi-track recording, reverb, uh and the electric guitar (hence his name is on killer guitars). that being said the music is a wonderful quirky country skidoodle with mary ford's sweet voice on top, not doing any vocal acrobatics, since les paul's guitar playing is so intricate, her vocals suit the arrangements perfectly.

if you have just a passing interest in les paul's early(and superior) work, this would be worth the money. amg(allmusic.com)has listed other albums that sound very much worth getting, but this would be the best place to start (and possibly stop) with his early material.

Average customer rating:

remaster
Nox Arcana keeps getting better
A Stunning Debut!
Nox Arcana: The project that truly represents Halloween and for people who simply love classical-oriented Gothic instrumentals
A well-woven dark tale

Darklore Manor
Nox Arcana
Manufacturer: Monolith Graphics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Sound Effects | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Halloween | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Necronomicon
Transylvania
Winter's Knight
The 13th Hour
Carnival Of Lost Souls

ASIN: B0006OHMRY
Release Date: 2004-03-20

Tracks:

Legend
Darklore Manor
Threshold Of The Dead
Trespassers
Veil Of Darkness
Sanctuary Of Shadows
The Grande Hall
Remnants
Phantom Procession
Belladonna
Nursery Rhyme
Music Box
The Forgotten
Nightmare
No Rest For The Wicked
Omen
Seance
Beyond Midnight
Darkness Immortal
Incantation
Resurrected

Album Description

Enter Darklore Manor, where creatures of the night lurk in shadows and ghostly sounds echo through unhallowed halls. Nox Arcana invites you to embark on a musical journey throughout a legendary haunted mansion with a dark and sinister history. This gothic soundscape contains 21 tracks of haunting melodies, eerie voices, Latin chants, and foreboding orchestrations to create a perfect dark and moody atmosphere.

Customer Reviews:

remaster.......2007-05-25

the remastered version is were its at. it actualy sounds eerie.

Nox Arcana keeps getting better.......2007-05-12

They are the best at what they do and this CD is just one more example. You cannot go wrong with any Nox Arcana CD

A Stunning Debut!.......2007-04-17

Nox Arcana's debut CD Darklore Manor is a stunning, chilling instrumental concept album that could easily serve as the soundtrack for a classic haunted house film. Very few debut CDs have the amazing musicianship and technical virtuosity that Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski exhibit on this album. There are unforgettable, elegant piano-dominated melodies like "Veil of Darkness," as well as sinister organ pieces, moody harpsichord songs and elaborate, stirring orchestral set pieces that demonstrate an instinctive mastery of composition and melody. The entire gamut of Gothic music is presented here, and woven throughout the CD's 21 tracks are ghostly sound effects, chilling choirs and eerie narrations, all of which contribute to a mesmerizing musical tapestry. The CD's highlight may be "The Forgotten" - a beautiful, moving piano elegy that you will never forget. Many musicians strive their whole careers for an album this accomplished. The beautifully designed CD booklet by Joseph Vargo and Christine Filipak is another delight - this is an album that shows a rare attention to detail, from the packaging to the mixing. Highly recommended.

Nox Arcana: The project that truly represents Halloween and for people who simply love classical-oriented Gothic instrumentals.......2007-04-09

I was told, by a mysterious voice in the night, that I should seek Nox Arcana and await further instructions. But it all began years ago with the discovery of the Midnight Syndicate. So, I did the obvious and entered "Midnight Syndicate" in my computer search engine, and the lone website introduced itself to me. All went dark and quiet, and the room got cold, and I could see my breath as I panted in fear, and I heard laughter amongst terrifying screams, but yet, I was alone. This was only my introduction to the Midnight Syndicate and soon to follow was the birth of something even better, the nightmareish apparitions of Nox Arcana. I was compelled to bring Nox Arcana into my world, and so I've been in the dark ever since. But, then again, it became a blissful absence from the norm. Although, Halloween is never really mentioned with any of the Nox Arcana CD's, it does seem that everyday is Halloween in my world, and for the past four years, I've always feared that I've sold my soul somehow. I believe that I sacrificed my soul the day I got out my credit card and asked the cyber spirits to bring my first Nox Arcana CD into my home. It was this CD: "Darklore Manor"

Something became different about me. My very presence wasn't acknowledged in any normal way anymore. Was I being ignored, or am I even in the room at all? Something just wasn't right. I've had days that I've stared into the mirror, but somehow, I wasn't there. When I speak to strangers in the street, I don't think that they even acknowledge me. I speak with just a small hiss of words, and people respond as if they've just been pushed by a cold wind. My loved ones speak of me, as if I've departed from this world, but yet, I am in the room. Only when I laugh, do people respond as if they've heard something. They cuddle together, in fear of their safety, and cry out my name, in a past tense, as if I am torturing them. This wasn't fun anymore. It wasn't fun, THEN, anyway.

I wander aimlessly, finally coming to terms with this apparition that I have become. My only consolation, deep into the night, is to take some of my Nox Arcana CD's and my mini-CD player, to the cemetery and lay against a tombstone, and watch the wind swirl up the leaves in a satanic dance before my eyes, while the music plays and eats away at my scruples of logic. I feel a cold embrace of many condemned angels who've cast off all their inhibitions and indulged in lustful passion upon my defenseless mortal flesh. I am consumed into their ritual with reckless abandon. Returning to reality is all nonsense now. My only fear, is that the batteries in my CD player will weaken and diminish this clash of passion of my psychological pleasure and terror.

I am so glad that Nox Arcana has entered my once typical, pop culture world. However, I feel now, that if I should ever die, I may not know the difference. I've been enjoying this nocturnal bliss for a couple of years now and there's no going back. I walk this world in a cold absence where I question if my presence is perceived at all.

If you'd like to share in this experience with me, start off with this CD of "Darklore Manor". Then get "Necronomicon", "Winter's Knight", "Transylvania", "Carnival of Lost Souls", and their latest (as of 2007) called "Blood of the Dragon".

This music is not heavy metal. It's not satanic music. It's just a mix of classically-influenced instrumentals with various snippets of dark poetry and ghastly effects. You'll hear tormented screams, deathly bell tolls, sinister laughter, grandfather clocks, howling winds, and other little clever effects with piano, organ, and harpsichord, supported by rich strings and a mellotron sound, that promote a uniquely beautiful, but yet, horrifying terror that may claim your soul. It's a small sacrifice for the sake of a dark happiness.

Alas, here's one more way that I have benefited from the music of Nox Arcana. By listening to these CD's through headphones at the cemetery, alone, late at night, in the cold dark, there is a terror that I've experienced that has actually helped me lose weight. To be so terrified that my heart pulsated so intensely that I feared my heart would just burst! That, and the accidental soiling of myself, helped me lose about three pounds. Who would have thought that terror could promote weight loss?

So, if it's dark and disturbing, it has a place in my heart.

A well-woven dark tale.......2007-02-22

Though a bit more specific and talky than the Midnight Syndicate CDs (which was my first venture into this kind of atmospheric music), I found Nox Arcana's Darklore Manor to be quite creepy. It tells a story of an house under a curse, and the strange happenings therein. While it leaves less to the imagination than Midnight Syndicate's 13th Hour, it has plenty of frightening tracks for your next horror gaming session or Halloween party.

The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World

Average customer rating:

Some great tunes
Music from a Mystic World
the best
Mystical Circles would be a better title
Shadow's Word - The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World

The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World
Various Artists
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

New Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Fusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Celtic Circle, Vol. 2
Celtic Spirit
Heart Of The Celts: Songs Of Love
Celtic Odyssey
Mystic Irish Rain

ASIN: B0000CAQ40
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

The Mystic's Dream (From 'The Mists Of Avalon') - Loreena McKennitt
Runaway - The Corrs
Factory Girl - The Chieftains
I Will Find You (Them From 'The Last Of The Mohicans') - Clannad
Eirigh Suas A Stoirin - Maire Brennan
The Fellowship (From 'The Lord Of The Rings') - Howard Shore
The Shores Of The Swilly - Phil Coulter
Angel (From The Movie 'City Of Angels') - Sarah McLachlan
The Rose Of Tralee - Nightnoise
CuChulainn's Last Battle - Brian Dunning
Our Farewell - Within Temptation
Evangeline - Karen Matheson
She Moved Through The Fair - Anuna
Keening Of The Three Marys - William Coulter
The Dragon's Breath - David Arkenstone
12 O'Clock - Vangelis

Amazon.com

Here we go again with yet another compilation of soundtrack excerpts and vaporous ditties, to be filed under "Celtic" and pronounced, one assumes, with a soft "c." Some of the selections, such as those featuring old hands like Loreena McKennit, Sinead O'Connor, Clannad, the Corrs, and the Chieftains, actually merit the moniker. But how a pair of embarrassingly twee tunes by David Arkenstone and Vangelis (!) made the cut is anyone's guess. Other choices of dubious provenance include Annie Haslam and Steve Howe's cover of an already hoary Yes tune, a squirm-inducing bit of overkill called "Elysium" (by Elysia, whoever that may be,) and Ryan and Rachel O'Donnell's flaccid reworking of Enya's "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings. "Hedwig's Theme" from the OST to Harry Potter also appears, courtesy of the City of Prague Philharmonic, even though the books never so much as hinted at the owl's nationality. --Christina Roden

Customer Reviews:

Some great tunes.......2007-01-20

I acually bought this set several years ago and somehow lost one of the discs. I listened to the 2nd cd on a beautiful trip to Frankfurt and realized that I needed to have both cds. The music ranges in both sound and style and I think can appeal to all ages. I enjoyed the cds very much!!!

Music from a Mystic World.......2005-12-23

There are 31 tracks on the 2 CD set. I will not even begin to review all of them. As a compilation, this works very well. It certainly matches the theme of the subtitle well. Like another reviewer, I am puzzled by the harsh critics. While I have never actually resorted to saying negative things about other reviewers, in this instance, I feel I must. Their reviews are influenced by their ignorance.

Apparently, some think that only the Irish are Celts and only Irish music is Celtic. This is very inaccurate. Scotland is named for the Scots who came for IRELAND!!! The original inhabitants of Scotland were the Picts, who by the way were also Celts as are the Welsh and the Bretons of Brittany in France. Broadly, Celtic music can originate in Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Brittany. The problem seems to be that some folks wanted traditional Irish music, but the category of Celtic seems to be broadening in much the same way that Country Music has become broader than it was 40 years ago. I couldn't stand the old Country whiney music and still can't, but the newer country music is much more appealing. Stars like Garth Brooks stretched the narrow boundaries and appealed to much wider groups.

Enya has done the same with Celtic music. It is not traditional Irish reels, jigs, and the like, but it isn't simply New Age, either. She has successfully blended the two, leaving her music with a Celtic heart. This album stretches the boundaries, but it stays to the theme of a mystic world. It does not stray far from Celtic roots. I do not believe that is in any way misrepresented.

Concerning the reviewer that complained that they already had many of these tracks. That is not a problem with this 2 CD set. It is YOUR problem. You should have looked at the tracks before buying! I only have one duplication of the 31 tracks and that is because I also have the LOTR soundtrack. I do not mind having the repeated track as when I play this set, I get a very different mix than when the track is played in the context of the soundtrack. The change of context does affect the way in which the piece is heard. It works well in this compilation of mystic inspired tunes. So does "Hedwig's Theme." While Hedwig's nationality is not known, the entire premise of Harry Potter seems more Druidic Celtic than Anglo-Saxon. The reviewer that made the wry crack about including "Hedwig's Theme" apparently did not read the subtitle to the album. That explains the inclusion of this great piece of music by Williams. Oh, by the way, Williams is a common Welsh (CELTIC) name.

If you are looking for traditional Irish music, than this album may disappoint. If you are looking for mystical music with a Celtic soul, then this album should delight. To be sure, listen to some of the tracks first, but don't let the negative reviews of some dissuade you from purchasing without listening first. I thoroughly enjoy this set and feel that I got exactly what I expected when I bought it. I would also highly recomment it to others.

the best.......2005-12-08

the wife and i enjoy celtic music,and this cd is the best compilation of celtic artist!!!!!!! Love it!

Mystical Circles would be a better title.......2005-08-30

This is great music, however, the use of Celtic is far from being a description. I agree with another reviewer who felt the title might be more appropriate with Mystical Circles. The introduction to the CDs written by Gerry Wetzel shows he doesn't know much about what's Celtic. Uilleann pipes and bodhran are both misspelled for heaven's sake!

Shadow's Word - The Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World.......2005-08-26

*Sigh* Where to begin?

To begin, this CD is not truly "Celtic." Celtic music comes from the land of Ireland and I found that some of this music does not originate from here. Don't get me wrong, it's good music, just falsly catagorized.

Other than that, it is good music, however I feel it may have been better titles "The Mystic's Circle" or something along those lines. It contains music from excellent artists and has addictive and relaxing songs on this CD. Some from movies as excellent as the songs (i.e. The Mists of Avalon).

If you want a good relaxation CD that is not quite instrumental yet has angelic like voices, this would be a good choice. Two discs, 31 songs brings a good relaxation and meditation session to clear's one's body, mind, and spirit. Though that it may be wrongly labeled in my opinion, it is still an excellent CD with excellent music.

Average customer rating:

Soulful stuff!

Legendary Groups of Gospel
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Mca Special Products
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Compilations | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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The Best of the Mighty Clouds of Joy
When Gospel Was Gospel
At Their Best
Lord You've Been Good to Me
The Best of the Sensational Nightingales

ASIN: B00000K576
Release Date: 2000-02-29

Tracks:

Yes, Jesus Loves Me - Sensational Williams Brothers
Amazing Grace - The Soul Stirrers
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Mighty Clouds Of Joy
In The Hands Of The Lord - Five Blind Boys
Will The Lord Be With Me - The Dixie Hummingbirds
Waiting On Jesus - Jackson Southernaires
Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) - The Gospel Keynotes
Hold To God's Hand - Sensational Nightingales
When On The Cross - Salem Travelers
Heaven Must Be A Beautiful Place - Willie Banks

Customer Reviews:

Soulful stuff!.......2004-01-20

For those whose sole exposure to Gospel is via watching a rerun of The Blues Brothers, let me just tell ya! This is the real deal!! Soul-shaking, hip and elbow kiltering, knee-bending, speaking in tied tongue shimmy shamming breakthrough stuff!! Get down in the aisle and shout me a hallelujah!! Can I get a move!! Can I get an AMEN!
If you enjoy really well done contemporary Gospel, such as Sacred Steel, or old timers such as Troman and Willie Eason, The Campbell Bros, Lee Trent, etc, then this one will seal the deal for you my friends!

BEK

Average customer rating:

Bip-Bip

this should be a TEN star

Shame on me

The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings

"OKEH" (is) DOKEY, and THE "EPIC LABEL" SESSIONS are SPECTACULAR!!

The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings
Ahmad Jamal
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Ahmad's Blues

Complete Recordings

Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961

Poinciana

Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not for Me

ASIN: B0009Y26NQ
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Will You Still Be Mine
Ahmad's Blues
A Gal In Calico
Aki And Ukthay
Billy Boy
Black Beauty
Love For Sale
Something To Remember You By
Poinciana
Don't Blame Me
Autumn Leaves
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Old Devil Moon
It's Easy To Remember
Squeeze Me
Crazy He Calls Me
Pavanne
Perfidia
Rica Pulpa
The Donkey Serenade

Customer Reviews:

Bip-Bip.......2007-06-08

The Piano playing of Ahmad Jamal is excellent. However in the background and only on the songs that have percussion in the background, you get to hear this little mechanical bip-bot pop poop like bongo drum. Like a small child playing on a toy snare. It is so horrible to have to hear this accompaniment in the background! Oh what can the matter be? Why Billy Boy didn't we get a regular drummer to accom Jamal and the bass? Soft brushes for the ballads, etc. What a disappointment. The CD would be better off w/no accompanying rhythm then to have this noise in the background.

this should be a TEN star.......2006-11-02

This is a must for anyone who loves jazz piano! This is the best one I have so far, although "Ahmad's Blues" is also a favorite of mine because of the song selections, this cd gives more Jamal for the money..

Shame on me.......2006-03-30

Why after listening to jazz all this time did I wait until february of 2006 to finally try something by Ahmad Jamal? Shame on me! I've heard people speak of him for years but for whatever reason I just never got around to giving him a try. I'm very happy with this disc being my introduction. It's packed to the brim with great tunes and tasteful playing, and the price is nice.

This is a unique format in terms of instrumentation and how they play together. I really like it. Piano, electric guitar and bass. Ray Crawford on guitar has one of those clean tones, the type most non-jazz fans probably associate with "jazz guitar". Sometimes he solos as you'd expect but sometimes he plays as if he's the drummer. I tend not to be totally in love with his drummer impersonations but that's not what he's usually doing so I can deal with it. He takes some solos that surprised me in terms of how much I liked them, given that my tastes in "jazz guitar" generally revolve almost solely around the 1920s and '30s, and then leap forward to the Sonny Sharrocks, Nels Clines and Tisziji Munozs of the world.

Part of the liner-notes are old Nat Hentoff stuff about how Ahmad struck him as piano-bar jazz. On the one hand I could see that. On the other, no way. I guess one could say this is subtle, restrained jazz oftentimes. If you're in the mood for highspeed pyrotechnics ala Clifford Brown, or cataclysmic explosions ala '66 Coltrane, this is not the disc you'll be popping into the cd player, that is true. Ahmad doesn't often (at least here, the only album of his I own) play with the blues-soaked intensity of Wynton Kelly, nor does he attack the piano the way a Cecil Taylor or Marilyn Crispell might. Not that these 2 men play similarly at all, but I guess if I had to make a "mood comparison" between Ahmad and another famous jazz pianist, I'd make that comparison with Bill Evans. There is an emotional depth coupled with a certain relative lightness of style, if that makes any sense. I know people who truly dislike Bill Evans' music precisely because it doesn't have the bluesy thrust of a Wynton Kelly or the acoustic funk of a Blue Note early '60s session. I'd have to ask, but now having heard him, I imagine those same people may not like Ahmad either, though he does oftentimes have more bounce and blues than Evans.

Maybe it's just because I've never been to a piano bar but in my head, I've never imagined sitting there eating dinner and chatting with friends while largely ignoring (or relegating to mere background tickling of ivories) a musician of the caliber of Ahmad Jamal (and band) on this disc! I'm not even all that happy with how I've worded this. You just have to hear this music.

Based on the other reviews here I wish that other track were included here, as I've never heard it, but I can't say I have anything to complain about with my purchase of this disc. Great sound and delightful playing all around!

The Legendary Okeh and Epic Recordings.......2006-02-23

Having been an avid fan of Ahmad Jamal for many years, this CD is a treasure!!! The man is in a special class in the world of jazz music. With such artistry, his name will go down as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.

"OKEH" (is) DOKEY, and THE "EPIC LABEL" SESSIONS are SPECTACULAR!!.......2005-11-10

Five Stars? This CD deserves SIX!! Highly influential recording! Not only is this one of the GREAT JAZZ TRIOS in history, but it documents an early vestige of the groundbreaking hit "Poinciana" and why no less than Miles Davis himself was mesmerized and influenced enough to record some of the same Jamal songs and, indeed, to imitate the Jamal solo style at times with his trumpet. No? Listen to "Autumn Leaves" here and then go to Cannonball's album "Something Else" and listen to that approximation version, with Hank Jones and Miles Davis both in the role of Mr Jamal. Or listen to the Davis quintet with Red Garland in the role of Mr Jamal. Or listen to "Love For Sale", "Surrey With the Fringe On Top", "Billy Boy", or many others. And Davis readily admitted Jamal's heavy influence on his style, arrangements, and song selection. Even when Miles got away from Jamal-type pianists with Wynton Kelley, Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock, he was still using the Jamal "pedal points", but they were now calling them "modes" to enable extended solos. But enough with the historical roots and influences, let's examine this tremendous CD.

The Okeh label sessions go back to 1951 but suffer no time lag, they are as current as anything piayed today in modern jazz. Ahmad Jamal was READY when he made his appearance as a performing artist. And super guitarist Ray Crawford is a true star in solos, comping, and imitating a wild bongo with his pizzacato plucking, spinning dazzling lines over and over. Tracks 1 to 4 (from "Surrey...." to "Gal in Calico") are terrific solo performances. "Ari and Ukthay" is fantastic but I wonder how many people skipped that track based on the title alone. The 1955 EPIC label sessions continue the excellent performances and some amazing trio interplay between Jamal, Crawford, and his really disciplined bassists, Israel Crosby and Eddie Calhoun (soon to join Errol Garner in his amazing trios). Pieces D'Resistance, the best of the best, include the endless vamp of "Squeeze Me"; the nonpariel Jamal ballad style shown in "Crazy He Calls Me"; the forward looking "Poinciana"; Miles Davis favorites "Love For Sale" and "Autumn Leaves"; "Pavanne", the amazing interplay of "Rica Pulca", "The Donkey Serenade" and "Perfidia" among many other DIAMOND PERFORMANCES.

"Love For Sale" (track 8) deserves special consideration. It is simply one of the finest trio performances in Jazz History and one of the premier piano solos of this song ever. Jamal deconstructs and re-constructs this song in every way imaginable, all over a driving drumless latin beat that Jamal and Crawford must sustain while driving the song forward. From gentle nuance to two handed cresendos, in over 8 minutes, Jamal covers the piano from end to end, getting into the extreme notes on either end of the piano that most pianists avoid, and making it an AWESOME experience of shifting dynamics. And Ray Crawford plays a killer solo as well. Jamal's 'comping' is exceptional. One of Jazz' great swinging performances. Note how Jamal repeats one note an amazing 18 TIMES in a row after Crawford's solo, a technique that Miles later used to great effect, and it fits perfectly.

I waited decades for the Epic Lable sessions to come back and the wait was worth it. The 24-bit Digital Remastering is outstanding. Now if someone could only find the Chess sessions that include the LP "COUNT'EM 88" with "Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year", "Volga Boatman", and the superb ballad "Maryam" (sp). And also release the outstanding "HEAT WAVE" recording. These two would make my updated recording collection virtually complete. PLEASE!

BTW, this CD will permanently reside in my 5 CD disk rotation forever, never to leave the player again. Thanks, Ahmad.

(NOTE: There were three great piano, guitar, bass trios (and one variation) in the form of Nat Cole, Oscar Moore, Johnny Miller; Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis; and the Jamal trio. (The variation would be xylo/vibraharpist Red Norvo, Tal Farlow, and uber-bassist Charles Mingus.) Two of the three, Peterson and Jamal, despite their 'guitar trio' greatness, would become the standard piano, bass, drum unit within a short time in the late 50's to early 60's. Maybe the financial success of Errol Garner's 'trio with drums' was a partial reason. Nat Cole would abandon the trio early on and go into the recording studio to pump out some of history's greatest pop songs, coming back only for cameo appearances within that format. And Mingus would go on to become..Mingus, a legend. But while it lasted, these piano/vibe, guitar, bass trios were fabulous and will never be forgotten.)

Rock Music:

Rock Music