CD-Charts Position 121
Average Rating:

The Great Summit: The Complete Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington

Release Date August 01, 2000
I can't image why these two CDs are rarely listed under essential to a well rounded jazz collection. The two greatest jazz masters unite along with Young,Bigard, Herbert and Barcelona, who are also wonderful. With Ellington's compositions & piano playing and Armstrong's strong voice & trumpet performance, both hold the listener spellbound. Plus, we get to listen in on the false starts and the conversations between takes!

CD-Charts Position 122
Average Rating:

Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
from: Telarc

Release Date October 23, 2001
One of my favorites. Peterson's composition and Legrand's direction couldn't be more perfectly matched. Also hands-down great are the orchestra.

Ewald-something would have you believe that followers of syrupy-stuff would like this album. Well, don't. (Maybe he's into rap or garage bands?) I like be-bop (east and west)and classical, and love this album! The work has huge scope - from folksy to heart-breakingly beautiful. Emotion isn't necessarily sappy.

If you go for music that is lush but unpretentious, listen to this!

Never wrote a review before, but I just got annoyed about the bad one. For shame!

CD-Charts Position 123
Average Rating:

Tribute to Ellington

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
from: Teldec

Release Date October 05, 1999
I agree with the reviewer who pointed out that Barenboim just didn't "get it." Although I admire Barenboim as a classical pianist and conductor, I had great difficulty listening to this recording. It felt too "up tight" for a jazz recording - it in fact isn't jazz, and yet it isn't classical music either. That air of spontaneity you find in the best jazz recordings is missing here. The formality of Barenboim's playing placed an invisible curtain between the music and the listener. His particular skill at the piano, which I've admired at concerts, just got in the way.

CD-Charts Position 124
Average Rating:

Happy Birthday, Duke! the Birthday Sessions, Vols. 1-5

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date April 10, 1992
Licensed by Mercer Ellington and recorded during a seres of birthday celebrations in the far West, the album boasts stellar performances and sound quality easily comparable to Victor and Columbia recordings from the same period. My only complaint is that the bottom of the sound sometimes gets lost in all the mid-range, but that's only a minor complaint. Brief but authoritative notes by Stanley Dance help place these performances in the context of Ellington's later career. All the favorites are here, fom A-Train to Satin Doll, but so are less-recorded jewels performed by some of the Ellington greats, including Paul Gonsalves, Clark Trry, Rick Henderson and others. The performances surpass those the Duke recorded on the Cote D'Azur, and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 125
Average Rating:

Live at Brigham Young University

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Stan Kenton & His Orchestra

Release Date October 28, 1992
This is a "WOW!" album! It is Kenton at his absolute best. I don't know how I missed this as an LP back in 1971, but I sure whish I hadn't. "Bogata" will knock your socks off as will "Malaga". As a baritone sax player, I can't laud enough Chuck Carter's momentous "Rhapsody in Blue". Well, everything about this album is 5 stars. I just wish I had been a BYU undergraduate at that concert.

CD-Charts Position 126
Average Rating:

The Popular Duke Ellington

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date February 11, 1997
I bought this on record many years ago and I fell in love with the higher fidelity that it offered and the new variations on wonderful old themes. After 40+ years this session still sounds great. The band and soloists are wonderful and while it is not identical to the earlier sessions, it is just as fresh as can be. Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 127
Average Rating:

The Private Collection, Vol. 7: Studio Sessions: 1957 & 1962

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date July 01, 1991
I bought this on record many years ago and I fell in love with the higher fidelity that it offered and the new variations on wonderful old themes. After 40+ years this session still sounds great. The band and soloists are wonderful and while it is not identical to the earlier sessions, it is just as fresh as can be. Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 128
Average Rating:

Oscillatin' Rhythm: Great Swing Hits in Hi-Fi

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Various Artists

Release Date November 18, 1997
This album is one of the few historical "Swing Compilations" I have found that has excellent sound quality. The tunes seem largely to have been recorded in the late 1950's at Capitol Records. That is probably why the sound quality is so good.

Capitol is know for breaking ground in audio quality. This company was one of the first to record using the early multi-track recorders (three tracks--stereo background and separate vocal track). This company had an underground chamber designed for reverb.

The music on the recording is also of the highest quality and largely "up-tempo", danceable tunes. There is plenty of Basie and Ellington, Goodman, James and special recreations by the Glen Gray Casa Loma Orchestra. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 129
Average Rating:

Viva Kenton!

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Stan Kenton

Release Date June 07, 2005
Stan Kenton conducted his band for several decades during the twentieth century; and they often drew upon classical and Latin influences when they performed. This CD gives us excellent examples of Kenton and his band mates using Latin musical influences of the early 1960s to make some mighty beautiful music.

The CD starts with a number called "Mexican Jumping Bean;" and when the liner notes comment that this number "moves at a fast lick" they sure weren't kidding! The ultra fast tempo mimics the action of a jumping bean to get the track set off to a very strong start.

"Siesta" starts off with some great bass; and when the entire band gets playing in a minor key the number really shines! The slower tempo suggests that this would be very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 130
Average Rating:

The Treasury Shows, Vol. 9

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date May 04, 2004
Stan Kenton conducted his band for several decades during the twentieth century; and they often drew upon classical and Latin influences when they performed. This CD gives us excellent examples of Kenton and his band mates using Latin musical influences of the early 1960s to make some mighty beautiful music.

The CD starts with a number called "Mexican Jumping Bean;" and when the liner notes comment that this number "moves at a fast lick" they sure weren't kidding! The ultra fast tempo mimics the action of a jumping bean to get the track set off to a very strong start.

"Siesta" starts off with some great bass; and when the entire band gets playing in a minor key the number really shines! The slower tempo suggests that this would be very ... Read More: