CD-Charts Position 71
Average Rating:

Pangaea

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Miles Davis

Release Date April 20, 1990
Miles Davis-Pangaea *****

Whether or not you love Miles Davis, or this album for that matter you must admit that this is one of the most astonishing pieces of work ever created. I can honestly say that no review I read before purchasing this album did it any justice. Music aside, even just the idea of this album leaves me flabbergasted. Two discs, two songs, all live, all brand new (for the time of release any way), almost entirely improvised. One word genius.

Disc one consists of 'Zimbabwe' a piece of music unto its own. a percussion section to rival that of anything brought to the table. An African feel as the title suggest makes this piece some to bark at. Over 40 minutes of style bending, music changing, ear pleasing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 72
Average Rating:

Life in Leipzig

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Ketil Bjørnstad, Terje Rypdal

Release Date April 15, 2008
I will admit at the outset I have an uncommon devotion to ECM Records; there are very few that I think are real clunkers. Most have at least something interesting. In any event this one is special -- a gorgeous live recording of a performance given in October 2005. 11 tracks, performed by the guitarist Terje Rypdal and the classically trained pianist Ketil Bjornstad, most of which run continuously into the next. Still, there is great range here, both in the songs, which sound alternately like jazz, rock, and classical -- and to be forthright, occasionally veer close to new age, but which never devolve into vapid atmospherics -- and the playing, especially Rypdal's, who can work with long, smooth lines; sharp, cutting riffs; and deep, broad layers of sound. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 73
Average Rating:

Forest Flower: Live in Monterey

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Charles Lloyd

Release Date August 16, 1994
I just go this in from Charles Lloyd's office.

"The Nobel Committee has requested Charles Lloyd and SANGAM, with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland to perform during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on December 10th."

What a gig!

CD-Charts Position 74
Average Rating:

Totally Live at Catalina Jazz Club: In Memory of Bob Florence

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: The Phil Norman Tentet

Release Date August 12, 2008
I just go this in from Charles Lloyd's office.

"The Nobel Committee has requested Charles Lloyd and SANGAM, with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland to perform during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo on December 10th."

What a gig!

CD-Charts Position 75
Average Rating:

My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: John Coltrane

Release Date July 03, 2007
All of the music on this collection was previously available except for the 1963 recording of Impressions w/ Roy Haynes (an excerpt was previously available). The recording apparently had some problems with low-end distortion and Jimmy Garrison's bass. Thanks to the digital revolution, the folks at Impulse were able to clean some of it up, but most of Garrison's solo is M.I.A. (you can't hear the edit as far as I can tell).

It certainly is kind of weird hearing Haynes with Trane. Haynes is a very powerful drummer but he still doesn't have that explosiveness we hear when Elvin is behind the kit. Still, it's great stuff. There is an extended duet between Trane and Haynes on the 23+ minute version of Impressions.
My Favorite Things and I Want ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 76
Average Rating:

Live at the Royal Albert Hall

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: The Cinematic Orchestra

Release Date April 22, 2008
The music of this record flows smooth and deep, as how you can expect from a great jazz session. All is made bigger and more intense by the location, for the influence of the hall on the sound. A great, great record. Strongly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 77
Average Rating:

Live at Tonic

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Christian McBride

Release Date May 02, 2006
I was once in a Best Buy store and a black teenager, who mistakenly thought I was a Best Buy employee, asked me where the jazz section was. He said he was looking for some jazz by Paul Hardcastle (Paul Hardcastle - jazz??). I kept my cool and seized the chance to give him a lesson in jazz. It is unfortunate that the jazz section is so small because I would've directed him to this album. It has it all; traditional jazz, funky jazz, some great jams, jazz with some Stevie Wonder and Kraftwerk references and some weird experimental stuff. And as a previous reviewer noted, it's a triple live for the price of one CD. A bargain by anyone's standards.

CD-Charts Position 78
Average Rating:

Diz 'N Bird at Carnegie Hall

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie

Release Date June 17, 1997
I purchased this CD to play as part of a Black History unit on musical styles through the ages. This CD fit in perfectly and was enjoyed by my students. Any time I can introduce something from the past into a lesson so the students can see how it links to the present I am happy. This definitely happened here.

CD-Charts Position 79
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 80
Average Rating:

At the Blackhawk, Vol. 3

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Shelly Manne & His Men

Release Date July 01, 1991
Of the five volumes of Shelly Manne's "At The Blackhawk," Volume 3 is the most laidback. The gorgeous "Am In Love" leads off the album, followed by the smooth call and response from Richie Kamuca (tenor sax) and Joe Gordon (trumpet) on "Whisper Not." The lengthy, soulful tribute to the San Francisco club "Black Hawk Blues" completes the album. The CD adds an excellent alternate take of "Whipser Not." As with the other Blackhawk volumes, the band rules, the sound is incerdible and the atmosphere is unparalleled. Any serious jazz fan should get all five of these live recordings. You won't be dissappointed.