CD-Charts Position 111
Average Rating:

Bossa Nova Stories

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Eliane Elias

Release Date June 24, 2008
The music of Eliane Elias is deeply harmonic and sensual. At its heart is utterly superb jazz piano - rhythmic, gently propulsive and essentially (though not overtly) Brazilian. Elias infuses her sonorous, vibrant playing with some pleasingly melodic, whispery-delicate vocals - always pitch-perfectly complementing her sumptuous piano verve.

'Bossa Nova Stories' combines loving interpretations of Brazilian jazz classics with some popular American standards, all quality-assured by the formidable rhythm section of top-level bassist Marc Johnson (her husband) and percussionist Paulo Braga. About half the tracks are enriched by subtle orchestral arrangements conducted by Rob Mathes - reminiscent to me of those that embellish Diana Krall's ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 112
Average Rating:

Blue Train

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: John Coltrane

Release Date June 10, 2003
If there were a list of the ten jazz albums that non-jazz listeners own, "Blue Train" would be number three behind Kind of Blue and Time Out. And there's a reason for that - catchy title tune, no if's or but's about it. The opening melody is memorable, singable, and is the kind of song that never leaves your mind since you heard it at age four. After the melody statement and Coltrane's torrid flights to the seventh circle of the universe, the rest, to non-jazz listeners, is the same, but to jazz aficionados, it leads us into the land of Gods.

"Blue Train" is an album of four songs that become instant jazz standards along with a shockingly caressing treatment of a standard into a ballad, filled with great musical statements; it is such ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 113
Average Rating:

Touch

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: John Klemmer

Release Date August 12, 1997
Mr. Klemmer,
On behalf of the millions who have come to know your music over the years, we say thank you. Thanks for this masterpiece of an album that has done everything from enticing little ones to sleep and spiced up many a romance session. Some of us found you by accident, I can attest to that. I picked up your cd many years ago just to see "what this guy is all about!" The first song Touch-ed me and I eventually passed your smooth vibes on to my children.

You play as if you are one with the saxophone, Mr. Klemmer. Melodies that flow from `Free Fall Lover' all the way to `Walk With Me My Love And Dream , alas, the words cannot describe. This is truly wondrous jazz at it's finest. We often press play and then `repeat all' so we can ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 114
Average Rating:

The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Bill Evans, Tony Bennett

Release Date November 07, 2006

this is the first Tony Bennet CD I own, and I belive is worth having among my collection. I'm a big fan of Bill Evans and that is what attracted me from this CD. He plays exquisitely. Add the talent of legend Bennet and you have truly a masterpiece.

CD-Charts Position 115
Average Rating:

Solo Monk

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date August 19, 2003
This weird Monk's solo outing is absolutely marvelous; entertaining and witty in a way one would expect from a Clark Terry live album, and yet still jagged, surprising, twisted and twisting, messing with harmonies tempos and rhythms in a way only this master could...

The opening song, "Dinah", much more common for the Fats Waller repertoire opens the album for a reason - it gives the listener some guidelines what to expect and how to take it. One of the most intelligent listeners to jazz tradition, Monk here gives brilliant, ironical but not mocking tribute to music (and, particularly, piano styles) of the past, performing few of his great originals as well...

I enjoyed this album immensely. You can buy it with or without bonus tracks; ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 116
Average Rating:

Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Betty Carter

Release Date October 25, 1990
Had a copy of this album on *cassette tape* in the 90s; cannot wait to rip this CD to mu iPod now that it's arrived! Bought the Rock-a-bye colection of albums as lullaby song to play for our newborn that wouldn't drive mom and dad batty with saccharine sounds. This CD is better -- takes so many familiar and good Disney tunes and adds a mature sound that baby and parents can appreciate.

CD-Charts Position 117
Average Rating:

Smokin' at the Half Note

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Wes Montgomery, Wynton Kelly

Release Date February 15, 2005
This album contains one of the best performances on jazz guitar! Solos on No Blues and Impressions are simply unbelievable...His guitar must have been on fire after those performances.

CD-Charts Position 118
Average Rating:

Bright Size Life

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Pat Metheny

Release Date February 29, 2000
I'm not a big Pat Metheny fan. It's not that I don't appreciate his genius; I just never got around to listening to him very much (much to my dismay). In truth, I got this album because of Jaco. At first, I thought the whole work was a little too low-key and esoteric, but as I kept listening, I began thinking that this may be Jaco's finest. His fretless sound is indeed at its best, whether he's playing a slower melody line as in "Sirabhorn," or a funkier riff as on my favorite cut of the whole album, "Omaha Celebration." I think what surprises me most is how laid back Jaco is, and how much I like that he is laid back. Don't get me wrong -- I love the "in your face" Jaco. It's just that when it comes to all-around musicianship, this work is just so much more meaningful and moving ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 119
Average Rating:

The Melody at Night, With You

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Keith Jarrett

Release Date October 19, 1999
Keith Jarrett is surely one of the more interesting jazz pianists around. I have his recording of the Shostakovitch 24 Prelude and Fugues and am full of admiration of his courage in straddling the divide between classical music and jazz. That recording is a superb account of one of the great classical piano compositions of the 20th century.
In this CD, we find Jarrett, recovering from a serious illness, in quiet, contemplative mood. This account of standards is almost minimalist. Jarrett presents the themes with little ornamentation and hardly adds much in the way of improvisation. Instead, he lets the tunes breath, enveloping them in quietness. The left hand adds few harmonies -- the mood is almost religious.
This is a good recording to listen to late at night when ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 120
Average Rating:

Sentimental Journey

CD-Charts > Music > Bebop
by: Beegie Adair

Release Date January 10, 2006
As a singer, I'm always looking for new (or old) material and in this wonderful CD, Sentimental Journey, by the incomparable Miss Beegie Adair, I've found fabulous new presentations of matchless WW2 songs. There are 12 songs on this CD and I've taken 6 of them for my own interpretation. These are the nostalgic songs that our parents danced and romanced to in the 40's and they're just as beautiful today. Beegie brings them to life again, not that they ever went away, but to listen to her brilliant playing of I'm Getting Sentimental Over You; Sentimental Journey; It's been a Long,Long Time; You'll Never know and I'll Be Seeing You is a very moving experience. Long live Brilliant Beegie !!