CD-Charts Position 11
Average Rating:

Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: Duke Ellington

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

Release Date November 07, 2000
WHY IS THE GREATEST SONG EVER RECORDED NOT ON THIS "GREATEST HITS" CD I THINK I'LL MAIL KEN BURNS A PIECE OF MY CAKA!

CD-Charts Position 12
Average Rating:

Miles Ahead

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Miles Davis

Release Date September 23, 1997
Either as its own or as part of the elegant boxed set collecting all of the orchestral collaborations between Miles Davis and Gil Evans, "Miles Ahead" finds the ripe Davis crossing into previously unchartered lands for him - playing in front of a large-scale orchestra conducted by Gil Evans. Unlike the other orchestral collaborations, "Miles Ahead" has no specific theme or flavor to it, but it was the first of such albums, and its music stood tall because of its newness and daring approach, hence its name.

In "Miles Ahead," Evans' orchestra serves as a bed of gentle flowers for Davis to walk upon while playing his delicate and meaningful musical statements. The orchestra includes five trumpets, three trombones (and a bass trombone), three ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 13
Average Rating:

Kenton's West Side Story

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

Release Date November 01, 1994
Excellent replacement for my long since worn out LP
It certainly ranks up there with the best of Kenton recordings

CD-Charts Position 14
Average Rating:

Last Tango in Paris

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Gato Barbieri

Release Date May 11, 2004
1) Lays claim to being the greatest soundtrack ever recorded.
2) Generally undisputed, if not widely known, jazz masterpiece.
3) Gato's finest sustained studio effort on disk (though not as popular as his more mainstream pop efforts which became staple 70's muzak).
4) Deeply felt - emotionally charged - lavishly self-indulgent - uabashedly romantic, melodramatic - finally profound.
5) I personally find it far more affecting than the moving, but rather darkly existential film, which I have not seen since its initial run in the theaters long ago.
6) If you like Gato, or simply moody, introspective jazz fusion, from a medium to large ensemble - you won't go wrong here: one of the greatest.

CD-Charts Position 15
Average Rating:

Portraits on Standards

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

Release Date June 05, 2001
This CD has been extremely well reviewed already, so there is really nothing to add, except another opinion that this is a five star album. Every track is delightful.

If I have a criticism of the Kenton band in general, it is that much of their output is probably better heard live or in concert than at home or in the office on CD. At times Kenton likes to get out the brass knuckles and hit you over the head with a barrage of sound. This does not apply to this album, which is delightfully mellow and relaxed and guaranteed NOT to give you a headache.

CD-Charts Position 16
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Duke Ellington

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

Release Date November 07, 2000
Duek Ellington was my first introduction to Jazz Music and in truth after him and no offense to anyone else,but his standards of Music and overall Composition, arragements and his Band were set so high that you could forever be lost in his groove and never want to come out. he had a classy flair for playing and a vibe that matched it. "take the A train" was the first cut that got me hooked with him. it's hard to just put all of his best on one disc let alone 5, but this is a strong sampler and a good place to start. he had incredible talent all around him and he made it swing because his music always had that thing.

CD-Charts Position 17
Average Rating:

Quiet Nights

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: Miles Davis

Release Date March 01, 2008
Duek Ellington was my first introduction to Jazz Music and in truth after him and no offense to anyone else,but his standards of Music and overall Composition, arragements and his Band were set so high that you could forever be lost in his groove and never want to come out. he had a classy flair for playing and a vibe that matched it. "take the A train" was the first cut that got me hooked with him. it's hard to just put all of his best on one disc let alone 5, but this is a strong sampler and a good place to start. he had incredible talent all around him and he made it swing because his music always had that thing.

CD-Charts Position 18
Average Rating:

The Art of the Song

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
from: Polygram Records

Release Date July 27, 1999
The criticisms miss the point. This is an effort that does a rare thing - it brings together men and women who can put the experience of life to judicious use in their art. Unlike listening to the deterioration other performers have faced, in later years, at the hands of studio production teams that no longer know what to do with them, Charlie Haden has found a way to create a beautiful volume of space in which to let the years of these venerated performers shine through. It is in this space you shall hear the notes of lives lived and savored.

CD-Charts Position 19
Average Rating:

The Best of Stan Kenton

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

Release Date March 07, 1995
Excellent! It contains all of his major contributions. It is definetly a keeper. The man was a genius to say the least.

CD-Charts Position 20
Average Rating:

Live at the Royal Albert Hall

CD-Charts > Music > Orchestral Jazz
by: The Cinematic Orchestra

Release Date April 22, 2008
This has to be in my opinion the record of the year, the talent and melding of voices from Heidi Vogel and Eska Mtungwazi and Patrick Watson give credence to a hauntingly beautiful and rare melange of talent that is captured in this recording.

I never write reviews but I was so moved by this music that I had to research the band.