5 comments about Sings Standards.

1. For some reason I expected more from this CD. It doesn't particuarly stand out to me when I play it.



2. i didnt purchase this lookin for perfection and i didnt buy this so i could compare her versions to those recorded by others, i just like her style and i wanted to hear her earlier stuff... and i have no regrets... classic material handled by a great voice... this is not the disc for new fans, just true fans mostly. if you are just now tryin to find out what ms. wilson is about then, 'new moon daughter', 'belly of the sun' & 'blue light til dawn' are the ones to own!!!



3. This Verve release has the potential of being a pleasure to listen to, but the reverb on Cassandra's voice muddies her articulate style. The vocals are also hard to hear over the other instruments. The method in which Cassandra performs these standards is an enjoyable and refreshing approach. Buy it when the remix comes out!



4. I doubt many of Cassandra Wilson's numerous fans knew her pre-Blue Note (New Moon Daughter and Blue Light Till Dawn) recordings. They were, like the Brooklyn-based approach to jazz from which her and her musicians grew, challenging. The sound was raw with jagged edges exposed and consisted of original material with some standards and eventually an albumn of them (probably to increase her mainstream exposure). These standards include some of the more challenging arrangements from that period as well as the more traditional jazz quartet arrangements. However, all take on the style of the singer not as deconstructions of the standards but solid interpretations of old friends. If you like Ms. Wilson you will like this collection. If you prefer some other jazz singer don't buy it, and if you think no one sings like Ella or Sarah or Carmen or Betty, then you should not be reading this, but please check out the numerous ladies who are doing their own thing and doing it well (too many to list here). This standards collection is one of the good ones, even if she has moved on in recent recordings to interpret a new set of songs. Check this out -- and then check out her new one, Belly of the Sun, for a nice take on what music free of simple labels sounds like. I will have some of that!



5. Forget the debates about whether or not Cassandra Wilson is a jazz vocalist -- here she proves she is one of the most original, creative and intelligent jazz musicians of our time. Her instrument -- the voice -- is rich and robust. Body and Soul might very well be her masterpiece.

5 comments about Remembering Patsy Cline.

1. but it was not. It was so disappointingly TERRIBLE I sent it to the landfill, heartbroken.



2. I'm giving this album a great rating, to counterbalance those who are nit-picking it to death. I'm not a country music fan and I was barely familiar with Patsy Cline before listening to this CD- so I'm speaking to anyone wondering whether this is an album they might enjoy, who isn't coming from a place of comparision with how much they loved "the way Patsy Cline sang it." I find this album a complete joy to listen to. All of the songs are wonderful, and I really enjoy the variety of styles and voices. My favorite track is Lee Ann Womack's awesome rendition of "She's Got You." I'm so glad I received this CD as a gift, because it's not something I would have bought for myself, and I'm now quite taken with this repertoire.



3. It was stated that the artists on this cd were encouraged to do their own interpretations of the timeless classics made popular by Patsy Cline. I think it was just an excuse for those horrible performances. This poor cd makes me appreciate that beautiful voice of Patsy Cline even more. There is a day-and-night difference between the way she sang the songs and the way these other people did on this cd. Save your money and buy the "Patsy Cline: greatest hits" cd instead.



4. It seems crazy to even attempt to cover the songs of Patsy Cline and yet if I were a singer I think I'd want to try as well. The trouble is, not many singers can really pull this catalog off as this collection bears out. Only two tracks are outstanding, some are ok, some are depressing for all the wrong reasons.
   
   For the bad, "I Fall to Pieces" is an amazing heartbreaking song and Natalie Cole is completely unequipped to sing it (at least she didn't sing it as a duet with Patsy a la Unforgettable.) Norah Jones and Michelle Branch, two talented singers dealing with their own material, are unable to pull their respective numbers off (incidentally, Norah fares much better on "Just Because I'm a Woman" a similiar but much more successful tribute to Dolly Parton.) Diana Krall's reading of "Crazy" is strangely flat, as is kd Lang's washed-out "Leavin on Your Mind." The latter was particularly surprising because at first glance I expected this to be the standout track. Patty Griffin's rendition of "Faded Love" might have been good but seems drowned by the production.
   
   There is yet some hope for this CD though. Lee Ann Womack does a brilliant, wrenching version of "She's Got You" and Terri Clark smokes on "Walking After Midnight." Amy Grant's cover of "Back in Baby's Arms" is suprisingly good as well. The final track is an a capella rendition of "Sweet Dreams" by Martina McBride with backing vocals from Take 6. Although I didn't really enjoy Take 6's contribution, this was well-executed otherwise.
   
   While cover versions can often be an interesting twist or occasional improvement on the original, I think buying a Patsy Cline album would be a much better use of your hard-earned money OR look into Loretta Lynn's "Sings Patsy Cline's Favorites."



5. ... and that's why, with a couple of exceptions, I think this CD works. No one else could bring Patsy Cline's combination of soulful emotion and richly textured vocal quality to these songs, so why try? A case in point: Jessi Alexander's rendition of "So Wrong," wherein she tries mightily to imitate Patsy phrase for phrase - and fails.
   
   Two other cuts miss the mark: Natalie Cole's approach to "I Fall to Pieces," well, falls flat - primarly because Natalie Cole's singing style is somewhere between a bray and a whine. And I have issues with Martina McBride and Take 6's version of "Sweet Dreams," largely because they're so enamored of the soundscape that the song gets completely lost in the shuffle.
   
   But the other cuts are pretty snazzy, each for a different reason. Norah Jones' reading of "Why Can't He Be You?" conveys just the right air of ambivalence. Amy Grant's Texas swing-style arrangement of "Back in Baby's Arms" captures the good cheer of the song, and some of its sass as well. Diana Krall's rendition of "Crazy" proves not only that a great song is a great song in ANY setting, but also that a smart musician with a fresh approach can reveal new meaning in a song you've heard a zillion times. Michelle Branch's "Strange" is a bit, um, strange, in that she has an oddly unpleasant voice - and yet her interpretation somehow works. Terri Clark puts some muscle into "Walkin' After Midnight," Rebecca Lynn Howard tears the roof off of "You're Stronger Than Me," Lee Ann Womack gets to the emotional meat of "She's Got You," and Patti Griffin imbues "Faded Love" with such sadness and a sense of loss that I almost don't miss the ragged intake of breath that made Patsy's original such a stunner.
   
   And then there's k.d. lang. The perfect, velvety vocals ... the powerful sound and equally powerful feeling ... the world-weary, "I've been through this before and I know what's coming" tone ... this is one brilliant recording. Never afraid to take a song apart and put it back together again, she's one of the truly great singers of this - or any - generation.
   
   I'm a bit mystified by the reviewers here who seem to feel this CD doesn't qualify as a "tribute" because the singers, for the most part, bring their own individual style to their tracks. Isn't that what Patsy herself did, to the everlasting good fortune of us all?

5 comments about Chasing Rainbows.

1. I had this in the original LP album form. I have actually had it in 8 track, cassette, and now cd form. It is a classic. I love listening to this when I'm in a mellow mood. I am a forever fan...



2. The first time I saw Jane Olivor, was during a Charles Aznavour concert. He introduced her as his greatest discovery; because her melodious voice, simply enchants listners. She started to sing, and we became fans. She spoke of a movie that had captured her spirit, The Black Stallion, and from there, we bought the DVD! Now we own all her CDs, and see her whenever she is in town! Would highly recommend acquiring her CDs for a superb musical experience



3. I remembered loving this album years ago when it came out. Apparently my tastes have changed over the years, as I wasn't as thrilled with the CD as I remembered being all those years ago. Still, there are some good cuts and overall I would have to say it's worth listening to.



4. A must have for all those fans of hers and others who appreciate
   the ultimate in expression .



5. Every year or two I dig out Jane Olivor's first album, "First Night" and second album, "Chasing Rainbows" and indulge in a few days of Olivor listening. These two recordings are on my short list of all-time favorites.
   
   Jane Olivor has an exquisite voice: strong, a bit alto operatic, melancholy, and at its best under restraint. She does a lot of French-type cabaret numbers but I like her best on the slow, sad songs. I suppose what really blows me away is the touch -- the phrasing I suppose it's called -- she can give to a single line to make it memorable. The line on this CD I can listen to over and over is "There's children you know, and that makes it so hard to go" in the song "It's all Over Goodbye." She sings this unremarkable phrase with infinite pathos.
   
   My favorite song on the CD is "Beautiful Sadness" which is as poignant a break-up song as I've ever heard. Nobody sings a sad song better than Jane Olivor.

5 comments about Living Room.

1. This wonderful album should be considered by all kinds of music lovers - from Classical music lovers to Jazz buffs to those who have started to become a little bored with Pop/Rock music!
   Paris Combo, on this album, features wonderful and stylish vocals [from Belle, the sing/songwriter], very attractive and never bland instrumental accompaniments and the songs themselves are full of style and characer.
   
   Along with the self-titled "Paris Combo" album, this is clearly my favourite so far! However, ALL of the Paris Combo albums are excellent and I enjoy hearing them at any time of the day or night.
   
   I am a fan.



2. I really enjoy this CD for a fun loungy sound when I'm not in the mood for mainstream music. I would say if you like Pink Martini, you could well like this one.



3. Adult music! That's what Paris Combo is. It's music for adults. It's sophisticated, it's refined, it has history, it has mystery. It's good, it's interesting. there's absolutely nothing juvenile about it and that's why I like it! Although I would love it if it had a good, strong base beat that made it easy to dance to.



4. This is definately the best Paris Combo cd out there that I've heard. Sure "attraction" is a great cd, but it is just not as good as "Living-Room". The cd is in French and how can you go wrong?



5. This is an excellent CD to have, but before you click to add this item to your shopping cart, I must, to keep my conscience, warn you that this CD is not only horrendously addictive, but may cause acute hallucinations that you're sipping wine in an intimate yet incredibly chic, tucked-away Parisian nightclub.

   Take my case, for example. I have played these 12 tracks continuously for the past 2 weeks, and I have kept #6 (Pas a Pas) on repeat for 1/4 of that time (and imagined I possessed the talent to think of singing that never-failingly cool intro.) The lyrics are irrelevantly relevant, slyly clever, but I do not believe that not understanding French would detract from one's enjoyment. It is, afterall, rhythm that is built into the human subconscious, and the soul of Paris Combo lies in the quintet's talent of smooth, well-timed beats. My particular favorites include the quirkily cautionary "Living Room," the upbeat yet sad "Senor," the softly haunting "Sous la Lune," the drily humorous, swinging "Ubiquite," and of course, "Pas a Pas." I do have a professed weakness for all things French, but especially with this CD, I think I can display good reason for being such a Francophile.

5 comments about Late Night at the Cafe Carlyle.

1. This is an very special gem. I love Mr. Shorts handling of the music. His voice is as nimble as the feet of Astaire and soothing and beautiful as cool water on a sizzliing summer day. For my birthday last year My partner and I dined at the Carlyle it was pure joy. We could feel the warmth and spirit of Mr. Short everywhere. If you love American songbook as much as We do this will be a welcome addition to the family.



2. The music is great and the setting is intimate, but Bobby Short's delivery ocassionally annoys me. He has a tendency to break into an abrupt piercing warble and his phrasing seems choppy to me. It's not enough to ruin the album, but it can be distracting.



3. Owning nearly all of Bobby Short's albums, this is the one I play the most. I love his style! He recorded at an actual preformance which added more intimacy to the of the album.



4. There cannot be a better night of classic American music than a Bobby Short gig at the Carlyle.



5. This is Short at his best. There's no brass section to drown out his voice or his piano, and you can hear the audience at the Cafe Carlyle react to his performance. Short's interpretation, along with Beverly Peer's and Robert Scott's, never gets stale. You can listen to this CD a hundred times and hear new aspects each time.

5 comments about Best of Great Instrumentals.

1. I bought this because I recently heard the old song "Games That Lovers Play" by James Last, I don't how long since I first it-too many years, and I did't have an old LP to copy to a CD. So I bought this CD and I was not dissapointed. Good music is timeless.



2. Beautiful! Divine arranjement! I am so happy I purchased this album.



3. My dad recently introduced me to James Last's recordings when he received a video of a James Last concert from a PBS station in Florida. Now we're both hooked. The music James Last creates is simply "feel good" music - you cant help but feel good when you listen to him. I have this CD and also "Country Roads" & they're both excellent. I can't wait to purchase more!



4. James Last's arrangements of some of the most popular somgs of the last century are among the finest available. His own compositions, such as 'The Lonely Shepherd', are also among the most beautiful ever written. 'Biscaya', 'The Lonely Shepherd', 'Happy Heart', 'Games That Lovers Play'... great listening. Period.



5. A "must have" for everyone's musical library. Wonderful renditions of semi-classical and popular arrangements. I want to hear more. May I say "Voundabar"!!!

5 comments about Shade.

1. This is Holly Coles old song cd. Her interpretations are unique, but they grow on you. What is most striking is how well she is recorded here. I have a high resolution audio system, and she is "live" in my room. I love her work and this is among my favorites.



2. One thing that can be said about Holly Cole is that she seldom dissappoints. Her smooths vocals and beautiful arrangements, makes you want to slip back and imagine some smokey, dimly lite jazz clubs that does not open until midnight.
   
   If you love "Don't Smoke in Bed", you will want to own this one.



3. The other 5/5 reviews say enough to let you judge if you will like the music, though I would add that if you liked any of her other albums, this will treat you to her signature voice, plus more adventurous riffs and rhythms. My main addition to the other reviews is that if you have a good stereo, you'll want the Japanese pressing, which has great clarity, detail, imaging and rich, tuneful bass. Some audiophile disks are ones you are *supposed* to like just because they are recorded well. This is one you *will* like. It partners well with the JVC XRCD pressing of Patricia Barber's "Companion". Both are outstanding as stereo audition disks and as ones to kick back and luxuriate in.



4. I took a chance on this CD since I've been hearing great things about Holly Cole. I must say I love her crisp, clear, cool voice. It is so refreshing to listen to her and to her type of music.



5. I listen to this CD over and over...have always been a fan but this cd is by far my favourite....I don't walk the dog without it, go to work listening to it..and I've had it for 4 months now...know every word....sorry I missed her in TO last weekend - far prefer this to Norah Jones which I also listen to quite a bit!!

2 comments about The Definitive Collection.

1. I LOVE THIS. I'VE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS LOSTED TO ME BUT NOW I HAVE IT. THX AMAZON



2. I'm new to Nina Simone's music and wanted a resonably comprehensive sampler of her work so I chose this one. The main reason I went for this collection is that it had the song "The Other Woman" on it, and I noticed that some of her compilations bypass that song. I only became interested in investigating her music when I heard Jeff Buckley's cover of that song on the "Grace Legacy Edition" release so I really wanted to hear the original and it is the best song here in my opinion.
   
   The other reason I chose this compilation is because it was released this year and so I figured the sound quality/remastering would be excellent. It is pretty good but there is a wide range of performances here from different time periods so it isn't consistent. Some of the songs sound crystal clear, especially the live recordings (there are plenty of those scattered throughout), but the instrumentation is all but buried in others, which is a little disappointing. I suppose thought that this could just be due to the nature of the recordings and there's nothing that can be done about it.
   
   Normally I hate it when live versions of songs are scattered through career overviews like this since I like to have the definitive studio versions but in this instance I didn't mind as the live recordings are great and for all I know, they may just be the definitive versions of these songs. Just note that the last two songs are lifted straight from the 1987 live album "Let It Be Me". I only know this because the liner notes tell you what album each song originally came from, which is something I wish more career overviews did.
   
   Ultimately, this compilation is successful because it made me want to investigate more of Nina Simone's music. That's what samplers like this are for, to give curious listeners a starting point so that they can delve further as they wish. After hearing these songs I'm keen to seek out other recordings of her singing blues especially and perhaps some that showcase her piano playing a bit more. It seems to me also that live recordings might be the best way to listen to her music.
   
   Overall, a solid and satisfying compilation. Perfect for the curious listener who's new to Nina Simone's music as it provides an overview of all of her different styles but doesn't bombard you with too many songs (2 disc anthologies are almost always too much for casual fans).

No comments about Silk & Soul.

5 comments about Matters of the Heart.

1. The Cd is beautifully produced and arranged. Patti is at her most dramatic and truthful. Loved it .



2. Patti LuPone is wonderful as always. Her selection of material is wonderful too. Her voice is addictive.



3. The name of Patti LuPone is hardly unbeknown to the musical theatre aficionados all over the world. For the last 25 years she has been one of the ultimate divas in the genre, memorable both to the American and London audiences and cast recordings collectors as the big, passionate and brassy voice of Evita, Norma Desmond, Fantine, Reno Sweeney or Mrs. Lovett.
   
   Yet this 1999 studio recording of her solo concert performance entitled "Matters of the heart" is a bit different from those larger-than-life tunes and characters we've usually associated with Ms. LuPone. This recording is actually one big, gentle story about love. The whole idea was to give the listener an insight into all sorts of different emotions that reside under the word `love' through the carefully selected set of love songs. Accordingly, these songs on this CD show love in all its variety: young, pure and idealistic ("The boy next door, It's for you"); hopeless ("The air that I breathe"; "Sand and water") eternal ("Not a day goes by"); scheming ("Shattered illusions"), obsessive ("Back to before") and even parental and child love ("My father/Look mummy, no hands"; My son").
   
   The orchestra here is appropriately small, consisting of a string quartet and a piano, thus allowing Ms. LuPone's vocals to be in the centre of the story. The thing that will most certainly surprise those already accustomed to Patti's voice is how sweet, gentle and quiet does it sound in some of the tracks. That doesn't mean that this CD lacks her full-lunged and overpowering renditions: Sondheim's Not a day goes by and Rodgers and Hammerstein's A cock-eyed optimist are the best examples. My own personal favorites lay in the gentler tunes, such as Air that I breathe, probably one of the best here; It's for you, a rather obscure Lennon & McCarthy song done here only in half, Sand and water and Real emotional girl.
   
   It is quite obvious that with this concert recorded as CD in a studio, Ms. LuPone wanted to show her versatile ability of an artist who is able to transform himself in a best possible way, that is, from larger-than life heroines of the stage to a tender and quiet love storyteller. A very successful transformation indeed!
   
   In the end, this is one of those CDs that will be in your CD player quite often. The warmness in Patti LuPone's voice, the charms of the orchestrations and, of course, the fact that it involves the most noble of all human emotions as its subject matter, are more than enough to ensure this. Brava!



4. This gifted theatre singer originated Evita and Norma Desmond onstage, and its easy to see why she can tackle the characters with big voices and vocally showy songs. Its quite a change to hear a studio album from LuPone after her previous live albums (Live at Carnegie Hall and Heatwave: Sings Irving Berlin at the Hollywood Bowl). The good news is, she sings just as good in studio as when she sings live -- a true mark of an authentic singer. And although she sang songs from Randy Newman, Lennon & McCartney and other contemporary songwriters notably the cabaret songwriter du jour John Bucchino, her debt to theatre is still evident, like "Not a Day Goes By" which still sounds affecting after numerous recordings of that song. Her take of the raucous "I Never Do Anything Twice" exploited her comedic skills at employing sudden stops, trill-like explorations and still not sound breathless. This is an album that can be played like a pop record at home because of the combination of delicacy, intelligence, choice of material and just plain good ole singing merits.



5. Those of you who think you're familiar with Ms. LuPone's work will undoubtedly be surprised by "Matters of the Heart", her latest solo offering. Not only does she provide intelligent interpretations of each lyric on the 20-song set, the songs themselves tell a story of love. Whether coming to terms with loneliness ("Sand and Water") or delicately affirming youthful passion ("Hello, Young Lovers"), Patti's first-rate vocals soar. Of course, those of us familiar with Ms. Lupone's belting broadway diva persona will feel right at home with her powerful renditions of "Not A Day Goes By" and "Back to Before". There are also a few selections from lesser-known composers that stand out, such as "Unexpressed" and "Playbill". Don't hesitate purchasing this CD...it will be a classic!