CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Revolutionary [Includes Bonus DVD]

from: Telarc

Release Date September 23, 2008
It was a pleasure hearing and watching this brilliant artist with his innovative and creative style. While this CD/DVD is saturated with hunger and ambition, it's also confident and sophisticated. It is a work of effortless symphonic grandeur, beautifully excessive and ornamented with dazzling arrangements.

I can understand why the "purists" give this CD a substandard review - they tend not to think outside of the box.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Chocolat: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture (2001 Film)

from: Sony

Release Date January 09, 2001
If you liked the movie, you'll listen to this CD over and over. One of my favorites.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Let Yourself Go

by: Kristin Chenoweth, Jule Styne, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Jeanine Tesori, Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, Vincent Youmans, Ricky Ian Gordon, Richard Dworsky, Lawrence Ellington Duke / Brown, Harry Warren, Bobby Troup, Jason Alexander, Irving Berlin, Rob Fisher, The Coffee Club Orchestra

Release Date May 29, 2001
The first time I saw Kristin Chenoweth in a movie was the TV "Music Man". Just lately I listened to the "Wicked" soundtrack, and after that, I've been listening to Kristin's CDs whenever I can. This one is a jazzy, Broadway-type CD with fun, engaging songs. She's a different type of singer, and while not everyone might enjoy her voice, I really do. If you like Broadway, jazz, drama, romance, or just fun, catchy songs, this is a CD for you.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Notebook

by: Various Artists

Release Date June 08, 2004
There isn't much I can say about this beautiful movie, except that it was so touching!
It say's go for the "true love", settle for nothing else no matter what may be in store, because love that is "true" and as beautiful as their's was, is a rare thing!
I absolutely loved the ending.
I also loved that a movie CAN be truly wonderful, beautiful and touching WITHOUT grafic "sex scenes!" Also sadly a rare thing in movies today.

Ever seen "Hanover Street?" Equally beautiful. No SEX scenes either!

Angelfish

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

The Great Summit: The Master Takes

by: Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

Release Date January 09, 2001
If you like music, you'll like this. If you're curious about jazz, but have no idea where to start, look no further: this is the place. Two masters, combining gloriously to make timeless, magical music.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Revolutionary [Hybrid SACD] [Includes Bonus DVD]

from: Telarc

Release Date September 23, 2008
If you like music, you'll like this. If you're curious about jazz, but have no idea where to start, look no further: this is the place. Two masters, combining gloriously to make timeless, magical music.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Ellington At Newport 1956

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date May 11, 1999
Frankly, I tend to agree with the reviewers who think there's simply too much ambiance noises and announcements collected here; perhaps the earlier studio dominated version was not such a bad idea?
But, than again, for as Ellington fan(atic)s it is absolutely essential to know all the fascinating details from the booklet and to hear how it all sounded at the spot...

This is not only highly pleasant but also historical album, although (I tend to agree with that as well) the band actually had better nights; Gonsalves' showcase is the only musically remarkable spot. But (another but), an B+ performance from Ellington's band is worth an "A" grade in any other band's book, so this is the right album to buy if you're already initiated into the Ellingtonia ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Money Jungle

by: Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Max Roach

Release Date July 16, 2002
Me, I am no expert in music. That said, I let my ears guide me. In my opinion this CD has no weak points. Whether it is the title track, or "Wig Wise," which sounds to me like Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't," there are surprises lurking in every track. I barely recovered from "Caravan" before I heard "REM Blues." Before that, I was already smitten with "A little Max." Does anyone know if this was named for Max Roach? In fact, I couldn't be sure which version of the last two songs I preferred. "solitude" is great. Does anyone detect hint of Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert Part I on "Switch blade," or, more accurately vice-versa?

Who doesn't like this CD? Maybe someone who really knows music and is not impressed because he/she can easily pick out the flaws. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

First Time! The Count Meets the Duke

by: Duke Ellington with Count Basie's Orchestra

Release Date February 01, 2008
This is not the cacophonous circus that two big bands playing together (for the first time, without rehearsal, and in one 12-hour session) might have become. Think of it as one large ensemble (like Kenton's 40+ piece mellophone orchestra) commanded by a first captain (Ellington) and two assistant directors (Basie and Strayhorn). Basie, the spokesperson for understatement, and Ellington, the supreme creator of small ensembles within larger ensembles: the result is sensible, swinging, and frequently exhilarating music--with enough spontaneity to satisfy even a Charles Mingus.

In fact, Mingus was the only musician the ultra permissive Ellington ever fired from his band--at the insistence of Juan Tizol, after the volatile bassman had come at the trombonist with a fire ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Masterpieces by Ellington

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date February 17, 2004
When Ellington went into the studio in 1951 to record the longer tracks on this disc, his orchestra was a bridge between its late-1940's configuration (the 5-man trumpet section) and its mid-1950's personnel. The sax section had settled into the form it would have for most of the ensuing two decades (old-timers Hodges and Carney and newcomers Procope, Hamilton and Gonsalves); the trombone section had long-timer Lawrence Brown as well as newcomer Quentin Jackson; and drummer Sonny Greer, who had anchored the rhythm section since the beginning, would retire shortly after these recordings were made. Ellington's orchestra from 1953 on would be a great, swinging and sensitive one, but it would not make the same lush sound that this one did.

The arrangements and orchestrations ... Read More: