CD-Charts Position 41
Average Rating:

A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver

Release Date August 07, 2001
The band: Clifford Brown, Lou Donaldson, Horace Silver, Curly Russell, Art Blakey. (Should recognize at least Brown, Silver and Blakey - big names in jazz.)

The venue: Birdland - "Jazz Corner of the World"

The production: Rudy Van Gelder remaster of a live recording. (Hot, but clean.)

The verdict: This is a worthwhile CD and should be in every serious jazz music collector's collection in one form or another (see below). It really swings and is seriously hot live jazz by some of the greatest jazz musicians ever to play music.

The caveat: You can buy Clifford Brown's The Complete Blue Note & Pacific Jazz Recordings, which contains this CD, A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1, The Eminent Jay Jay ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 42
Average Rating:

The Paris Concert, Edition One

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Bill Evans

Release Date April 03, 2001
Bill Evans is a musician I can return to again and again. He's the jazz pianist comparable to the classical Debussey. Like Impressionist painters, they fascinate us with variations in light and color. They purr like finely-tuned, 12 cylinder Rolles Royces in neutral. Trouble is they hardly ever put that car in gear.

CD-Charts Position 43
Average Rating:

East/West

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Bill Frisell

Release Date August 09, 2005
This is my first exposure to the music of jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and I have to say I was thrilled. EAST WEST is comprised of two live sets, with one recorded in 2004 at Yoshi's in Oakland, California (WEST) and the other recorded in 2003 at The Village Vanguard in New York, New York (EAST). Overall, this album is a fine recording of some highly atmospheric, guitar-led jazz, with just a tiny hint of the avant-garde here and there along with some blues. A mix of significantly altered cover tunes and group originals are included on this 2-CD set.

Bill (electric guitar, acoustic guitar and loops) is joined by Viktor Krauss (electric bass guitar WEST), Tony Scherr (electric/acoustic bass EAST) and Kenny Wollesen (drums EAST and WEST). All of these guys ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 44
Average Rating:

Live at the Market Theatre (2CD SET)

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Hugh Masekela

Release Date July 17, 2007
Hugh just gets better and better. I had the experience of going to one of his concerts, some 15 years ago, him and Miriam Makeba.
I wish he had come to my city with this new tour. Since he didn't, the record will have to suffice, and it does. This wonderful musician, as well as civil rights activist, has done so much for African Music, Jazz music, as well as music, period. In this concert, he surrounded himself with seasoned musicians, on top of their game. I would have given them six stars, if they were available.

CD-Charts Position 45
Average Rating:

The Oscar Peterson Trio at the Stratford Shakespearean Festival

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Oscar Peterson Trio

Release Date April 20, 1993
A great recording. I own the LP. Something happened in remastering to CD, as I don't recall a strange sound on the LP that I hear on the Cd.

CD-Charts Position 46
Average Rating:

Stephane Grappelli and David Grisman Live

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman

Release Date April 12, 1994
I've been listening to both of the recordings David Grisman made with Stephan Grappelli - this one - the live session, and 'Hot Dawg' - the equally incredible studio session with Eddie Gomez on bass on a number of tracks, since their release in the early '80's. This is the type of music to which one never stops listening - always exciting - though easy and smooth - always new shades of the riffs revealed. I was gratified to see this recording as high up in Amazon's ratings after all these years - sort of verifying for me by way of vox populi what I've felt for over a quarter century now - this was one of the best groups ever - emminently listenable - fun - and they really cook.

CD-Charts Position 47
Average Rating:

Vienna Concert

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Keith Jarrett

Release Date March 07, 2000
Yes, Keith Jarrett is a wonder. In this album, as in others, his technical prowess at the piano is amazing. At times, it seems as though there are two, perhaps three, pianists playing simultaneously. The problem here, as in similar solo improvisational albums, is that the technique is an end in itself. There is little beauty, wit, or thoughtfulness. Listening to this often painful album is like watching a world's strongest man contest. Wow, look at those hulks move weights. But what does it prove? And after you've seen it a couple of times, who cares any more? Jarrett is at his best, in my opinion, when facing a score. His The Melody At Night, With You is one of the most gorgeous and sensitive albums I know of. He also plays splendid Bach and Handel. Don't buy the Vienna ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 48
Average Rating:

Solo in Rio 1959

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Luiz Bonfá

Release Date February 22, 2005
Luiz Bonfa was one of the original creators of Bossa Nova music. This CD is one of his best. His guitar playing was superb and astounding. This music is playable for any occasion, either as background music at parties or music to sit and listen to. I highly recommend it!

CD-Charts Position 49
Average Rating:

The Last Great Concert: My Favorite Songs, Vol. 1 & 2

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Chet Baker

Release Date June 22, 2004
This is the most consistently listenable Chet Baker album that I've heard, and I have several. I knew that Baker was still able to perform in the last years of his life (I've seen the 1988 documentary about him, "Let's Get Lost"), but I was stunned by how good he is in this, his last recorded concert. (He died two weeks after this 1988 live show, which was recorded in Germany.) His skill and maturity as an artist (Chet was never mature as a person) are on display. For example, his fifties version of "I Get Along Without You Very Well" seemed mannered and somewhat precious and is hard for me to listen to, but here it is one of my favorite songs on the album. How did he do that? If you know to listen for it (now that I've told you) you might very occassionally notice that he sings like ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 50
Average Rating:

Live at JazzBaltica

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Trio da Paz & Joe Locke

Release Date March 25, 2008
Trio da paz includes three magnificient BRAZILIAN PLAYERS which have collaborated in the past with pianist KENNY BARRON in CANTA BRASIL a fantastic recording.It is brasilian jazz music blended with joe locke vibes in a live recording which took place last year in salzau jazz fesival in Germany.Although it is live the sound of recording is very good .It is a very rare and musical recording ,which for sure must not be missed .TRIO DA PAZ/BASSIST NILSON MATTA GUITARIST ROMERO LUBAMBO DRUMMER DUDUKA DA FONSECA .AWESOME PERFORMANCE FROM ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BAND .