CD-Charts Position 191
Average Rating:

Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 1: Mondo Exotica

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

Release Date February 06, 1996
Brilliant music. A lavish mix of several of the Exotica grand masters of the past. A nice blend of the "Jungle Exotica" and some "Tiki Exotica". Something you can listen to over and over. You dig retro tiki lounge music? GET THIS NOW.

CD-Charts Position 192
Average Rating:

Let My Children Hear Music

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Charles Mingus

Release Date February 01, 2008
Even if you disagree with Mingus' assessment of this as his greatest recording, the musical evidence is sufficiently compelling to make you respect the composer's judgment. Mingus was a larger-than-life figure and dreamer of Faustian proportions, though his projects frequently fell short of realizing their maker's designs. In some respects, he's remarkably similar to the filmmaking genius, Orson Welles (and not only in terms of artistic vision). After the controversy and commercial failure of "Citizen Kane," Welles was largely sentenced to pursuing his Promethean ambitions with self-financed films on shoe-string budgets that simply could not conceal their frequently ragged, unpolished production values.

Recent recordings like ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 193
Average Rating:

Coleman Hawkins Encounters Ben Webster

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Coleman Hawkins w, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins

Release Date July 29, 1997
For every jazz fan - this is an absolute requirement to have this album !
Just listen to Prisoner of Love or It never entered my mind.. No further comments !

CD-Charts Position 194
Average Rating:

We Are in Love

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Harry Connick Jr.

Release Date June 15, 1990
This is a great album. It is great to see a younger modern singer perform these jazz standard types of songs with such quality, style, and a genuine feel. And what's more, he wrote a lot of them.

CD-Charts Position 195
Average Rating:

Live at Mister Kelly's

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Ella Fitzgerald

Release Date September 18, 2007
When I listened to this album for the first time - and then for the umpteenth time - it made me wonder just how many more unreleased live recordings of Ella exist in some recording company's vaults - or perhaps in those belonging to her late manager Norman Granz. Before I kick it, I hope I get to hear more like this one. Here is Ella so relaxed and at ease with her audience, and even though she's a little hoarse on some of the numbers - the singer's price of overworking - she still makes glorious music. Stand outs are "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", a fun take on "Summertime", a requested "You Don't Know What Love Is" and a hot version of "High High the Moon".
This lady should be required listening for all of those singers out there today who aspire to greatness. Ella ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 196
Average Rating:

A Swingin Session with Duke Robillard

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Duke Robillard

Release Date May 13, 2008
I am pleasantly surprised at this wonderful album. All of the artists on here are top-notch. I was expecting alot of blues and jazz solos from Duke Robillard, but was blown away by the notable musicianship from every player on the album. Check out the organ solo on track one, the trumpet solo on track 3, and the tenor sax throughout most of the album. I could go on, but rest assured that every player will dazzle you at some point. Highly recommended for fans of jazz and blues.

CD-Charts Position 197
Average Rating:

Are You Hep to the Jive?

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Cab Calloway

Release Date February 01, 2008
Ok folks, I know nothing about jazz. I couldn't tell you the difference between Coletrain and a choo-choo train. But, I can tell you with complete authority that this CD is the most complete, undiluted, unadulterated expression of pure joy I've ever heard. Listening to this collection is like taking a happy pill!

If contemporary artists have any pretense to being "cool" or "hip", they need only to investigate Calloway and his music for a reality check. This man is the real thing, the founder, the patriarch of generations of hipster wannabes.

There's not a bad cut on this release. Pop it in, turn it up, and prepare to take a lesson from the Professor of Jive!

CD-Charts Position 198
Average Rating:

Blues in Orbit

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

Release Date February 01, 2008
THE SONGS RECORDED FOR THIS ALBUM WERE MADE IN 1958 & 1959. DUKE ELLINGTON IS A MASTER AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME FOR THIS RELEASE. GREAT ARRANGMENTS, RECORDING QUALITY, AND MUSICIANSHIP, PARTICULARLY ELLINGTON BAND MAINSTAYS RAY NANCE (TRUMPET) AND JOHNNY HODGES(SAX)AND, OF COURSE, THE DUKE HIMSELF. NO NEED TO GO INTO A SONG BY SONG ANALYSIS, 'CAUSE THEY ALL STAND OUT. NOT A BAD CUT ON THE ALBUM. PICK UP ANY OF THE ALBUMS BY DUKE ELLINGTON RECORDED IN THE 1950'S AND YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

CD-Charts Position 199
Average Rating:

Blues 88's: Boogie Woogie Instrumentals

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

Release Date April 07, 1998
I love Boogie Woogie and this CD has the bonus of NO vocals! Super GREAT!

CD-Charts Position 200
Average Rating:

The Essential Capitol Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Swing Jazz
by: Keely Smith

Release Date July 17, 2007
Keely Smith possesses a fantastic ability to sing so well that she could capture your attention at once and you would never want to stop listening to her. She could sing you the phone book; and when she was finished you would be applauding and begging for more. This excellent retrospective album gives us quite a bit of the best of Keely Smith. It has twenty eight wonderful tracks and at 78 minutes the CD is as jam packed with hits as any CD is ever going to be.

"All The Things You Are" opens the CD; Keely sings this perfectly without a superfluous note. Her voice is warm, rich and vibrant in a way that just couldn't be better. The strings and horns help the musical arrangement along although Keely's vocals remain squarely in the foreground. "It's Been A Long, Long Time" sports that big band ... Read More: