CD-Charts Position 81
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.
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CD-Charts Position 82
Average Rating:

That High Lonesome Sound

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Old & In the Way

Release Date February 20, 1996
Great sound, especially for a live performance. Too bad they couldn't have stayed together longer.

CD-Charts Position 83
Average Rating:

Live (Dig)

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Jim Hall

Release Date March 25, 2003
Wow. I sat in with a jazz trio the other night and the piano player said he really liked this albumn. I knew it had to be good because he liked it and there was no piano on the recording. Plus I read the glowing reviews! Still, I couldn't believe how good this was, and this is my 10th or so Jim Hall albumn! You can hear where Kurt Rosenwinkel and Pat Metheny got some ideas from this one. I can't believe how modern this sounds for 1975. Every tune has something going on to make it special, and Jim's shows some serious technique also. I'd like to mention that if you don't own Concierto yet you definitely should get that Now. Some of my other fav's are "By Arrangement", "Alone Together", and this hard to find rare albumn called "Something Special" which ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 84
Average Rating:

Live Around the World

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

Release Date May 14, 1996
This recording made me wish that I were there.When you listen,in surround sound, you are there.ENJOY!!!

CD-Charts Position 85
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Live at Birdland

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

Release Date November 05, 1996
I have posted what I hope are at least thoughtful reviews of LIVE TRANE, the "COMPLETE" IMPULSE QUARTET recordings and the COMPLETE 1961 VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS...So let it not be said that I don't "understand" or appreciate Coltrane's genius.

But oh dear, goodness gracious, and, if I may add, heavens to Betsy. It seems I am the only one to rain on this particular parade, but (as I gingerly don my bulletproof vest) here goes...The three live Birdland performances, from which this album takes its name ("Afro-Blue," "I Want to Talk About You" and "The Promise," recorded October 8, 1963) ARE truly great. But...But, they are rendered excruxiating by the out-of-tune piano which McCoy Tyner is condemned to play.

Since I discovered this ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 86
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Jazz: Red, Hot and Cool

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Dave Brubeck

Release Date April 10, 2001
Dave Brubeck's cool piano, Joe Morello's rythms, and Paul Desmond's floating altosax never sounded better.

CD-Charts Position 87
Average Rating:

Complete Jazz at Massey Hall

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Charlie Parker

Release Date April 05, 2004
This concert has the makings of something quite magical. Five of the best bebop musicians ever, taking to the same stage. Unfortunately, it doesn't live up to it's potential. Apparently Bird, Diz, and Powell were all drunk...with Bird being the worst offender. And Diz kept leaving the stage to go watch a big heavyweight boxing match that was being broadcast. Bird also forgot to bring his sax so he was playing a cheap alto borrowed from a local music store. Bud was on leave from a mental institution and required supervision, so he wasn't exactly at his best to start with. Moreover, Bird and Diz left the stage for more than half the concert leaving just a trio performing. Max was impeccables that night, however, playing an amazing set with some powerful solos. Mingus was ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 88
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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. Very pretty, but also worth ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 89
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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 90
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Django's Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Live Albums
by: Django Reinhardt

Release Date July 09, 2001
Paris was the place to be before and after WWII, and Jazz in Paris captures some of those immortal moments such as Django's Blues. This is a wonderful introdution to the great guitarist as he plays some classic pieces such as Septermber Song, Brazil and Blues Primitif. The disc is divided into two performances at the Le Quintette de Hot Club in 1947, with his brother Joseph joining him on the second set on rhythm guitar. The series is beautifully packaged and you will love checking out the many other titles such as Django and Company, which includes Stephane Grappelli.