4 comments about 'Round Midnight.

1. The real hit of this 3-CD set is the bonus album, "A Tribute to Chet Baker," by a group led by soprano saxman Dave Liebman and produced and arranged by pianist Phil Markowitz, one of Chet Baker's fine pianists (for example, on the album "Broken Wing"). The group does an outstanding job in a style reminiscent of Baker, with modern sound, and there are two fine vocals by Davia Sacks. If you love Baker's music and you can get past the fact that Dave Liebman is not as famous as Chet Baker, then you will love this bonus album. I don't know why it hasn't been released separately under Liebman's name; he has other CDs. Of the two Baker albums, "I Remember You," from a 1984 Buffalo, NY live performance, is very good instrumentally, with satisfactory sound quality. Lorne Lofsky does some good guitar solos and background, which puts this album in a category with Baker's other late-career albums that features guitarist sidemen. Baker was not in his best singing voice on his two vocals. The "Milestone" album, from a 1966 Pueblo, Colorado performance, includes Phil Urso on tenor. The performances range from fair to good, though it is sometimes hard to tell because the sound quality is poor. In any case, the album is worth the price for the two better CDs.
   By the way, Amazon shows the wrong box cover here; the correct one is a B/W photo of Baker singing into a microphone. The five tracks listed above are from the "Remember" album. Tracks on the "Milestone" album include: Airegin, 'Round Midnight; On Green Dolphin Street; Mister B; Forgetful; Milestones; Luscious Loo. The "Tribute" album: Up Chet's Alley; Beautiful Black Eyes; Looking for the Light (vocal); Margarine; The Famous Jacques; Nightbird; You Can't Go Home Again (vocal); This One's For Chet; Sippin' at Bells.



2. Two late-career live performances by Chet Baker are the reason to buy this set, but the real sleeper is in the tribute disc, where the incredible voice of Davia Sacks will blow you away on "You Can't Go Home Again."



3. I'm sorry this CD set is just dreadful.

   Someone waited more than a decade to release this for good reason. The recording quality is awful. 2 CD's contains live concerts that are echoey and buzzy, horn on one side bass on the other. The recording quality is so bad it sounds like it was recorded out-of-phase. It's impossible to tell what the performance is like.

   The "tribute" is poor to mediocre.

   Zero star's. an embarassment. Chet is turning over in his grave.




4. This set includes three cd's...Chet live in Buffalo, 1984, Chet live in Pueblo Co. 1966 and a tribute cd put together by various artists.

   Sound quality is excellent throughout.

   If you are a fan of the Baker sound from the last ten years of his career, your going to love the Buffalo cd, if your not familiar with his early period, the '66 concert will be an added treat for sure.

   A nice package of music for the money!

   Jack Frisch 4/3/00

No comments about The Rat Pack and Friends: Crooners of Las Vegas.

1 comments about Jazz Moods: Jazz Party Mix - Cocktail Party/Groovin' the Blues.

1. Concord Jazz has some great artists - many are showcased here. This is a re-packaging of three compilations from their Jazz Moods series - Cocktail Party, Groovin' the Blues and Cha Cha Party. The first CD is instrumental, the second has several vocal tracks and the third has limited vocals used primarily as accents. (Tito Puente's Oye Como Va's the most verbose.) Great listening across all three disks.

   What keeps me from giving this package five stars is the poor liner notes. The artists are listed on the back cover of the package, but the track listings on the inside list only the times and the songwriter credits. Sidemen? I guess Concord figures you don't care about the sidemen; you're supposed to by partying with this collection.

3 comments about 75th Birthday Celebration.

1. Your favorite Seer was not always this knowlegable. No. He learned his craft from the very highest of Seers, namely John the word wise and Grete the care less icon. I learned alot from them since we both lived in Zeutheniatown some time ago. They wrote your favorite Seer and asked me, "Metamorpho, how come you review things that we have no idea of? Haven't we taught you better than that"? And the answer is, yes of course. Thereby, or fore, I am reviewing this incredible collection from Ella's early days.
   What could I possibly add that hasn't been said about the greatest of jazz singers- Ella Fitzgerald? I would give this 7 or 8 stars easily if I had them to give. What an incredible vocalist! It is no wonder she is considered the best at her craft. She swings, she ballads, and her voice becomes an instrumental instrument in the mix. It is an amazing thing this Ella discovered. She could be a vocalist as well as part of the band- and this is extraordinary when you consider the conventions that were in place when she started. She became a part of the music- and no artist was better at this than Ella.
   She croons, she scats, she swoons- all with that indelible crystal clear vocal. Ella is the very highest watermark in jazz vocals and it's not likely there will be another one like her.
   But - in regards to this collection; every one of the songs is a gem. I have been busy listening and when I think I've gotten the best nuance that she gives in song, another one comes along to give me equal awe. We have here "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" which began her career and other wonderful renditions of "It's Only a Paper Moon", "Oh, Lady Be Good", "How High the Moon", "I Got the World On a String", "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" and etc. etc. The list goes on. Insofar as great American music is concerned, the great lady Ella Fitzgerald covered it.
   This double c.d set is great stuff. She's got premier jazz bands behind her that compliment in every way. The essence of backing with the singer has never been more perfect. Ella's singing is pure and perfect. I can't say enough about this wonderous artist. She gets into the synapses of your mind and soon you are a convert to this music. No matter what kind of music you listen to- eventually you get to Ella. Such an unassuming lady but the very best at her craft. How could you not love her?
   I have to admit that, despite all the great songs here, I really like "Mr. Paganini". Why? Who knows? But Ella sings it, and that may be reason enough.
   This c,d, set is a treasure and one of the finest examples of the great American tunes of this, or any era. When you want to loved- play Ella. When you want to be coddled-play Ella - when you want the ease that life can bring- play Ella. Yes- it's really that simple.
   This is proof postive that there is great music around, no matter what the era or what is popular at the time. There have been great things done outside of you personal life span so get with it. Discover what has gone before you - it is equally, if not better than what the mass mind machine would want you to listen to. Ella was the real thing- and we are all very lucky to have her - now and for always.
   I know that this music merely scratches the surface of all that she's done - but believe me that it's a fine starting point for new discovery and appreciation for a true American treasure.
   Buy this. It will make you feel great about yourself. Make you feel great about being alive to appreciate it.
   
   As always Ella - I love you.......
   
   Your Metamorpho



2. Box sets and greatest hits compilations are the audio equivalent of a Whitman's Sampler; there's a lot to choose from and you may not like everything in it. Those compiling box sets face the challenge of what to include and exclude which is complicated when the artist has as lengthy and prolific a career as Ella Fitzgerald. Suffice to say it would be hard to get any two Ella Fitzgerald fans to agree on a track listing as they'll differ on interests such as which era, which genre, which styles, and other issues. Most of what's included here are some of her better known tracks from 1938 to 1955; her most productive years and a pretty broad span of time! There certainly are tracks here I'd exclude and others I'd have like to seen included, but "75th Birthday Celebration" is a good survey of Ella as an artist during her years with the Decca label, albeit an incomplete one. And like the Whitman's Sampler there's enough here to give you an idea of what you like and can pursue elsewhere. The recordings were re-mastered and sound much better than other re-re-releases and the accompanying booklet provides a nice amount of information on Ella and her career. A great starting point!



3. The recording career of Ella Fitzgerald remains one of the greatest in all popular and jazz music. Her recordings remain definitive among those of her contemporaries. While her Verve recordings (1956-1966) hold pride of place in her vast catalogue, it should not be forgotten than her recordings for other labels have equal merit. These include those she made for the Decca label (1936-1955).

   This fine compilation of the best of her Decca recordings provides some fine examples of her work for label while displaying the development of the greatest female singer in popular and jazz music of the 20th Century. Beginning with the girlish sounds of her work with Chick Webb from the 1930's through to be-bop sides of the 1940's and the lush ballads of the 1950's, this compilation presents a fine sampling of her work.

   The tracks were personally selected by Milt Gabler, producer of much of the material found here. The extensive liner notes and beautiful packaging add much to the overall appeal of this set which was released in tribute of the first lady of song on her 75th birthday. It is a must for all fans of this remarkable singer as well as those interested in hearing material from the first two decades of her recording career.

No comments about I'm Getting Sentimental Over You.

1 comments about Women in Jazz.

1. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME VOCAL JAZZ, THEN YOU CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN PUTTING ON ELLA FITZGERALD, BILLIE HOLIDAY, CARMEN MCRAE, SARAH VAUGHN AND LENA HORNE, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GET WITH THIS 3 CD SET. "A FINE ROMANCE" LOUIS ARMSTRONG SINGING A DUET WITH ELLA. A NICE BOX SET, GREAT SELECTIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT THE GREATEST RECORDING QUALITY.

5 comments about Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings Of Roland Kirk.

1. The problem with these large, expensive box sets is that by the time you'd consider buying it, you're a big fan and have most of the contents, then it's a decision on whether to be an obsessive completist or not...This set contains amongst its 11 disks at least 3 super-great albums (We Free Kings, Domino and Reeds and Deeds) and two masterpieces (Rip, Rig and Panic and I Talk With Spirits). You could buy these separately as they are still in print. So what else do you get? Well, the Live in Copenhagen album which is out of print. This live recording swells to 2 cd's of great music in the box set, some of the best of which was never released. You get some very pleasing singles that never appeared on albums as well, not to mention the "bonus" disk of a good performance at the Newport Jazz festival. About the only downside is the last half of disc 9 which covers the Latin album that is out of print and probably should remain so; and disk 10 which is devoted to some dreadful Quincy Jones stuff that is hideously dated and only features Kirk as a sideman. Despite these two exceptions the set is a solid 5 stars, just too much awesome stuff here. Of course there are the obligatory alternate takes that are not a necessity. So, you can buy 5 individual albums and kick yourself for missing out on everything else once you're hooked, or you can buy the box...it's your call.



2. Roland Kirk could play several wind instruments at once and could be quite a showman. He was also highly eccentric. However, he was not a gimmick master, but an authentic jazz orginal (ask Charles Mingus), who was as deep into the music as one could get. Kirk was an inspired soloist on several instruments (one at a time or several together!), a master of circular breathing, and developed a style of playing flute in which he sings through the instrument. This was copied by many afterwards (remember Jethro Tull?), but Kirk pioneered it--and did it better than anyone else!

   This set features much of his early work and is generally outstanding. The pieces where is he backed by Elvin Jones on drums are exceptional. Some of the Quincy Jones material (where he plays pop tunes) seem to put Kirk out of his element. The live recordings (about two CDs worth) have rather poor fidelity.

   Today, August 7, is Kirk's birthday. He died in 1977, only in his early 40s. He may have been blind, but he shed much light in the world of music. No one has yet appeared to match his originality or creativity.

   Douglas Groothuis




3. I'm picky about my jazz. I feel good jazz must have a spiritual base. Kirk's music has a deep spititual core, but, unlike Coltrane's spiritually centered music (Meditations, A Love Supreme), Kirk's spirituality is varied: one moment serious, the next playful. This set has it all, it's worth every penny.



4. Just buy it. I have like 35 discs and lp's on this guy and still looking for more to complete. Any questions on Rahsaan, see my newer email address at dfielding@figleaf.com .



5. I can't add too much to the grammaphone review except to say that I looked REAL HARD at this cd for over two years before I bought it and never felt like my life was complete without it. When I did finally buy one used I realized that I should have just bought it when I first saw it 'cause that was two more years I could have been enjoying this GREAT Collection. Just get it now and don't make the mistake of waiting. Then get as many others as you can on atlantic and other labels and don't stop. Rahsaan is like no other.

No comments about Concord Records 30th Anniversary.

1 comments about Jazz and Velvet.

1. This box set is amazing from start to finish. All of the early years in a nice new digital sound and remastered. Buy this set it will make you smile. The Velvet Fog was the true ace of the Great American Song

5 comments about Christmas Favorites 3cd.

1. Christmas Favorites is a wonderful mixture of classic Christmas songs for all ages. It's a great way to get into the Christmas season.



2. This one has a lot of my best christmas songs i love. I got this one at christmas time. Get for you girls and boys for christmas.



3. My wife is annoyed by the kid's voices. My kids like them and I am indifferent. Their for the kids though right? I mean, who does she think she is to say their annoying - c'mon Amy, we can't listen to Phish all the time.



4. My daughter loves this CD. It has a bunch of traditional songs and she has learned so many of the words listening to it over and over. I think she likes that the songs are performed by kids. The second set of songs are duplcates that can be used for sing-along but turning the speaker controls to one side which plays only the music.



5. I was hoping for more traditional 'sing-along' songs.
   My 3 year grandchild was not familiar with several. I usually love the Cedarmont Kids and she does also.