CD-Charts Position 171
Average Rating:

Songs from the Analog Playground

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Charlie Hunter Quartet

Release Date September 25, 2001
Although I've generally enjoyed the instrumental work of Charlie Hunter, what makes this album rate five stars is the variety of vocal artists he's gathered. From the low, swinging tones of Kurt Elling and the poetic, smooth stylings of Mos Def to Theryl de Clouet's great turn on Earth Wind and Fire's "Mighty Mighty," the album really flows. Norah Jones offers two fine covers, as well. I've only rediscovered this album and just purchased it for a friend who was similarly impressed.

CD-Charts Position 172
Average Rating:

Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 25, 1994
Firstly, the whole Red Hot series is a worthwhile endeavor, and the whole set gets a lot of credit from me for seeking to address the AIDS crisis, both financially and artistically.

Secondly the music here is top class. Highlights for me include hearing Umar Bin Hassan of the Last Poets alongside Pharaoh Sanders, The Watts Prophets collaborating with Don Cherry, The Pharcyde talking up condom use, and the Digable Planets working out on record again. None of the main album tracks misses a beat in my opinion, and even if the bonus cd is less recommendable it doesn't detract from the overall quality of the album.

The fact that the artists are directly confronting AIDS and issues of sexuality, particularly as they express themselves ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 173
Average Rating:

Willie Colón Presents Rubén Blades. Metiendo Mano!

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Willie Colón & Rubén Blades

Release Date March 25, 2008
This album is every bit as comparable in quality as Siembra, but with a different vibe. Willie's band is as hot as always, and the songs are socially and politically observant, but where Siembra is a very focused statement with a polished, elegant (not overproduced) sound, Metiendo Mano, for all the urgency of its messages, is warm, loose and upbeat - evocative of a street party in the barrio. The production and arrangements were 10 miles above whatever else was being marketed at the time. Metiendo Mano became for many the turning point in socio-economic awareness. Pablo Pueblo is one of Ruben's most politically poetic pieces, but is highly danceable as well. Plantacion Adentro has an addictive, swinging rhythm groove with Willie Colon providing the topnotch ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 174
Average Rating:

Sound of Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Ramsey Lewis Trio, Ramsey Lewis

Release Date November 02, 2004
I'm usually not too keen on Jazz Christmas albums but I heard one track from this CD (Santa Claus is Coming to Town) on an episode of House and was completely taken by it. On most jazz recordings you can have a hard time finding the original melody (and that does occur on this CD) but the musicianship is so good that I tended to overlook that aspect of the recording. I like my Christmas music to sound traditional but this CD will definitely get a spot on my playlist for next Christmas.
Michael in Ontario, Canada

CD-Charts Position 175
Average Rating:

Introducing Kenny Burrell: The First Blue Note Sessions

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Kenny Burrell

Release Date June 27, 2000
This 2-CD set collects 3 early Kenny Burrell LPs, one of which was only issued in Japan. The original INTRODUCING is here, and features Kenny with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers (b), Kenny Clarke (d) and Cabdido (cga). TAKEELA is the definite highlight of that date - a fantastic tune taken up tempo with Candido's congas the icing on the cake. VOLUME 2 is the second LP and adds Frank Foster on tenor sax with Flanagan, Oscar Pettiford (b) and Shadow Wilson (d). Flanagan is a magnificent player on both albums. CHEETA is the highlight on VOLUME 2. The third LP is K.B. BLUES, out on LP in Japan only, and overall might be the best of the 3 LPs. Hank Mobley (ts) Horace Silver (p) Doug Watkins (b) and Louis Hayes (d) join Burrell, and the results are excellent. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 176
Average Rating:

Incredible!

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Joey DeFrancesco & Jimmy Smith

Release Date June 27, 2000
It's important to see the title of this album not as a self-promotional epithet but as a fittingly accurate homage to Jimmy Smith, who was frequently billed by Alfred Lion at Blue Note as "Incredible" (later, as "Amazing" and "Unpredictable"). Smith caused heads everywhere to turn when Lion released his recording of Dizzy Gillespie's "The Champ," and by Lion's admission, the organist singlehandedly kept the label solvent until the late '60s. It's that spirit of respect for the instrument and its primary exponent--and not some sort of "B3 shoot-out"--that sets apart "Incredible!" as both a cooking session and a savory feast. Smith indeed could be unpredictable, turning in performances that could range from desultory and indifferent to chaotic and out of control. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 177
Average Rating:

Ashes to Ashes

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Joe Sample

Release Date October 05, 1990
If you are looking for music with electronics that's not too hard grooving but not too soft and quiet, this is the CD for you. Joe Sample does it again. Here, Joe (piano/synths) is backed by: Michael Landau, St. Paul (guitar); Rickey Peterson (synths/programming); Jason Miles (programming); Jerry Hey (trumpet/flugel); Larry Williams (sax/flute); Marcus Miller (bass); Lenny Castro (percussion); and Omar Hakim (drums).
If you like this, check out Joe's CD "Spellbound" with some of the same musicians.
You should get this.

CD-Charts Position 178
Average Rating:

Still Grazing

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Hugh Masekela

Release Date May 11, 2004
I bought this CD mainly because I knew the hit "Grazing in the Grass". What I discovered was some fascinating music. Masekela could not only play trumpet but had some great singing pipes as well namely on "Child of the Earth". I always disliked the well-known version of "Up, Up and Away" by The Fifth Dimension, but Hugh's instrumental version is just fabulous. I especially love the piano accompaniement on these songs. Yeah, some songs are sung in his native tongue but so what. The music is still great such as on the 2nd track. Some political stuff but so what. Buy and enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 179
Average Rating:

It's a Jungle in Here

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Medeski Martin & Wood

Release Date October 19, 1993
I recently bought this album recently after trying to complete my back catalog on this band, and I was very impressed when I got to "It's a Jungle in Here". I think it is a prime example of what makes the trio great, and it distinguishes itself because of the great piano lines strewn throughout the music. I think it actually accentuates the music without overpowering it.

This is something that was missing a bit in more recent MMW albums as a straight up piano has been pretty much absent (until the recent "End of the World Party (Just In Case)"). The piano really makes the jazz stand out. Of course Martin and Wood are great here as always, although as an older piece of work, you won't hear the experimental tendencies that have become the norm.

I love ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 180
Average Rating:

Street of Dreams

CD-Charts > Music > Soul-Jazz and Boogaloo
by: Grant Green

Release Date January 13, 1998
I bought this CD only last week and have listened to it 4 or 5 times. Just having gone through a phase of listening to guitar/organ combos, I bought this and Pat Martino's "El Hombre" the same day. So far, I prefer the Martino CD much more, but that's a little unfair, because that is more fiery and dynamic than this was ever supposed to be, and that has just happened to be my mood lately.
I think I like the idea of this recording better than the recording itself - so far. The instrumentation is superb - guitar/organ/drums, and one of my newest favorites, Bobby Hutcherson, on vibes. My problem is with Green himself. If this had been a Larry Young CD I would probably have had no problem with it...he's at the top of his form. It's not that Green doesn't carry the weight ... Read More: