CD-Charts Position 131

Mutopia

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Jeff Coffin

Release Date July 15, 2008

CD-Charts Position 132
Average Rating:

Americans Swinging in Paris

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Art Ensemble of Chicago

Release Date April 22, 2003
I believe these were mastered down from vinyl.Still rates 5 stars for oiling the gears of the universe.

CD-Charts Position 133
Average Rating:

Lumpy Gravy

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Frank Zappa

Release Date April 18, 1995
This is one of Zappa's most unique recordings, and that's saying something. It's a sound collage mixed with an orchestra and rock band. It has some beautiful, borderline pop music passages, mixed in with strange noises, strange narration and vocals, and lots of surreal music.

The whole album is reminiscent of sound collages/experiments similar to that of Edgard Varese (one of Zappa's idols) and Luigi Nono, an avant garde Italian composer. Zappa really never attempted anything like this again until the sequel (and his final album released during his life) Civilization Phaze III (I think Phaze III is better). This album, like Zappa's other adventurous works (like Weasels Ripped My Flesh), become more interesting and fascinating ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 134
Average Rating:

Yes, I'm a Witch

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Yoko Ono

Release Date February 06, 2007
Beautiful, really innovative album by Yoko and all the other collaborators. It made me even a bigger fan of hers.

CD-Charts Position 135
Average Rating:

The Premonition Years: 1994-2002

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Patricia Barber

Release Date September 25, 2007
I have followed Patricia Barber since the early 90's. I have admired her for staying with an independent label so that she could control her creative direction. This compilation is an excellent view of her growth as an artist, but also highlights many of her classics from the early years such as "Summertime", in the way that only Patricia Barber can make that song so sexy.

CD-Charts Position 136
Average Rating:

Keith Jarrett - Tokyo Solo

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
starring: Keith Jarrett

Release Date June 06, 2006
He might not be able to compose like Beethoven (maybe he could if he wrote down some of these improvisations) but he can play jazz and classical music, in my semi-humble opinion, as well as anyone. My favorite thing that he does are his solo piano improvised concerts. And this is a fine example. His groans and gyrations may be a bit off putting, but it seems as if he opens up completely, and the music pours out of him. Watching and hearing him is an experience every fan of improvised music and the piano ought to have.

CD-Charts Position 137
Average Rating:

Facing You

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Keith Jarrett

Release Date February 29, 2000
This is the one that started it all, all of what we have come to know of Keith's solo piano work is presented here in a somewhat abbreviated context, but one where every note counts, and there are none wasted. Incredible technique matched with beautiful melodic ideas, strong rhthymic energy, and supported by harmonies that seem otherworldly. All of this and more is Facing You, still one of my favorite Jarrett solo albums, along with Bremen/Lausanne and the recently released Carnegie Hall Concert( which I think is the best). Pianistically he goes where no one dared to go before and 35 years later, this music still has the daring and brilliance that other major artists still can only hope to aspire to.
This album is one of a kind, as is Keith Jarrett.

CD-Charts Position 138
Average Rating:

A World Out of Time: Henry Kaiser & David Lindley in Madagascar

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Various Artists

Release Date May 01, 1992
A very impressive smorgasborg of Malagasi musics. Ignorant of the remainder of this field trip by messers Lindley and Kaiser(a further 4 CDs worth!), and coming to it via a love of D L and D'Gary, I was overjoyed by the product. Not a weak link in the chain...and true to its reputation as one of the world's remotest and most exotic cultures, you'll hear music unlike anything else. Some of the instruments bear resemblances to elsewhere, and the guitar of course is endemic, but the playing of these is unprecedented. D'Gary's solo of a bare 3 and a bit minutes will prove the point and have you in awe. How the hell did he get to this plateau so young? His first, full-bodied CD was soon to follow, and no wonder. But to single him out in this collection is unfair, really.

CD-Charts Position 139
Average Rating:

The Songs of West Side Story

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
by: Various Artists

Release Date January 30, 1996
"West Side Story" is a classic musical, and what can people do to the music and still show the songs the way they were? With this CD.

The album opens up with a nice version of "Something's Coming" by All 4 One. They were one of the groups that the more recent *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys had taken influence from. Selena's version of "A Boy Like That" is a great track. She is known for singing from the heart. Michael McDonald, James Ingram, and David Pack sing "Maria," one of the most beautiful songs ever. After that is Brian Setzer doing the prologue music and the famous "Jet Song" keeping it almost exactly to the original, but with guitar playing. Kenny Loggins and Wynona, afterwards, do a good rendition of "Tonight," which is followed by "Cool" performed by ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 140
Average Rating:

Philip Glass: Dracula

CD-Charts > Music > Avant Garde and Free Jazz
from: Nonesuch

Release Date August 31, 1999
From the little that I've heard of Philip Glass's work, I am not a big fan. But this soundtrack is something else. I first heard of it when I happened to flick onto the movie Dracula on TV. I was immediately arrested by the soundtrack. Stopped me cold. I kept flipping back and forth between stations thinking that soon it would become ho-hum, ordinary. But it never did. It was arresting. Haunting. So I looked it up on the internet and immediately ordered the CD. It was beautiful. It's like baroque chamber music, but broken, splintered. Perfect for the movie, of course, but it's more than just a soundtrack. This CD stands on its own as something memorable. Can't recommend it enough.