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Kind of Blue

This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader," Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed

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Futures

Original recording remastered;

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Customer Review:

Greatest Jazz album ever!!!!

I have since bought other jazz cd's but this one is easily the greatest of all. It is in a class by itself. "Cannonball" and Coltrane are phenominal on this cd. The whole cd burns from the very opening notes of So What until the last track Flamenco Sketches. A must have for any jazz enthusiast or someone wanting to get into jazz and not sure where to start.

beautiful doesn't even begin to cover it

I waited for a while to buy a Miles Davis CD to make sure my musical tastes matured enough to receive his work. "Kind of Blue" is the first Miles Davis CD I've ever listened to, and I have to say I am blown away by its beauty in every way. It isn't just Miles but his band altogether - they make a perfect union on this disc and play absolutely flawlessly. I was amazed even more when I read that Miles got ideas for these compositions a few hours before laying them down with the band, and the band cut these pretty much without any rehearsing, pure improvisation, just doing one take of each song (with the exception of the last track). How the band could play the music so perfect in a setting like this is beyond me, but it happened, and each song is a masterpiece. I first listened to this CD through my Beyerdynamic headphones (to make sure I can hear the full range of sound, as they are some of the best closed headphones around), and I just concentrated on listening, without doing anything else. I sat there for 55 minutes, browsing the liner booklet that came with the CD and I had to have been smiling uncontrollably because I was simply taken and transported to an alternate universe by the magestic sounds of this disc. I am glad I waited, and I am glad I picked this masterpiece to start with. The only regret I have for this record is that it isn't long enough. This is jazz the way it's supposed to be, and I want more of it.

still finding spaces after all these years

over the years whether vinyl,tape,cd it has always been with me played it in different countries, times, and spaces; still has magic probably always will.

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Keywords: Hard Bop; Jazz; Modal Music; Pop; Trumpet; United States of America;

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25 Mozart Favorites

This is an astonishing collection of works - or parts of works - by Mozart that covers almost every aspect of his creative output: symphonic, religious music, concerti (for piano, horn, violin, clarinet, flute), chamber music, serenades (for strings; winds), a couple of opera overtures and more. Those who know and love Mozart's music will not need this, but it's a great introduction, a great overview. The selections are well-chosen and interestingly organized, with familiar pieces splrinkled among some not-so well known. A good primer. --Robert Levine

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Customer Review:

woah

Like, hizzoly crap fo shizzle mah nizzle dawg. I thought I wuz da only gangsta who listened to tha Mozart shizzang! Like dang yo dat is down! Dis CD wuz great fo chillin in da club and breakin' it down fo mah fine gal down in mah crib we be bumpin up da beat box to this jam fo real! Y'all mah homeys say G werd if you down wit tha Mozart jamz! Up, down, an back to da hizzle.

MOZART WAS A CRAZY SILLY GUY!

I cannot believe my ears!!!!!!!!!

I usually listen to the radio or MTV or huff gasoline and listen to the ringing sounds that the vapors cause in my head, but man oh man, this is something I'd never heard before until I picked it up at my local gas station! It was sitting on the counter near the microwavable burritos, and in my gasoline-induced stupor, I picked this up by accident (and by "picked up" I mean "I put under my shirt when no one was looking").

When I got home and logged onto Amazon.com to see how much I could get for it on here, I was dismayed that it was selling for a miniscule $2.45! So instead of selling it, I decided I would add to my ever-growing collection of CD's that I get from the gas station.

When I first put it on, I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Really, I couldn't! The whole CD sounds like it was recorded underwater. Upon inspecting the linear notes, it was confirmed that this CD, was indeed, recorded underwater! Simply amazing! Also, another great thing this CD has going for it is the fact that there isn't one complete piece of music on the entire goddamn thing! Who wants to hear a masterpiece like Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in its entirety when you can just listen to a snippet? No sir, not me! Just give me the "good parts."

Overall, this fine compact disc gets an astounding FIVE STARS. And what a funny coincidence...that's how much this CD costs: FIVE DOLLARS. Bargain of the century!

Pick it up at a local 7-11 near you!

A good begining to learn about Mozart's music

This CD contains the most popular music from Mozart. If you are just start to listen some classical music, this one is a wise choice for you. The price is cheap, and the quality of recording is acceptable.

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Keywords: Chamber; Chamber Music & Recitals; Choral; Clarinet Concerto; Classical; Classical Composers; Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento; Classical Period Symphony;

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Batman Begins

It's rare to see two marquee-name composers credited for a score, but perhaps two people were needed to come up with something that would stand up to the memory of Danny Elfman's work on the 1989 Batman. Just as director Christopher Nolan's back-in-black approach is quite different from Tim Burton¹s phantasmagorical one, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard's take doesn't bear much kinship to Elfman's. (You¹d be hard-pressed to find any recognizable theme here, for instance.) Mostly the composers remain conservatively subtle, though coming up with the expected pounding on grandiose, action-y selections such as "Myotis" and "Antrozous" (no, the poetic-sounding track names aren't lifted from old Cocteau Twins records but refer to various types of bats). Stand-out track "Tadarida" incorporates some of the distorted vocal effects associated with the Scarecrow¹s drug-induced nightmarish visions. Atmospheric to the point of evanescence sometime, the individual tracks tend to meld into each other after a while. The sense of stylistic continuity helps establish an overall mood, but sometimes it's hard to distinguish between shades of black. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

More from the Batcave:

Tim Burton's Batman on DVD

Batman: Year One Deluxe Edition By Frank Miller

Batman - The Animated Series, Volume One

Batman Begins

Batman Begins : The Official Movie Guide

Batman Original Motion Picture Score

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Futures

Soundtrack;

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Customer Review:

A Classy Beginning

Loved the movie, finding it a lot more thoughtful, subtle and character-focused than I expected.
This soundtrack does lack a bold hero theme, such as the easily recognisable Danny Elfman music from the first two films, or the garish and derivative Elliot Goldenthal stuff from the other two. However this approach suits the film perfectly as you can see the potential for such a theme to slowly develop as the characters do in each film.
Some really good Hans Zimmer action pieces with pulse-pounding bass, complemented nicely by some softer pieces guided by James Newton Howard, mainly to accompany the film's bittersweet flashback sequences.
You can be forgiven for thinking the album is one long piece, as most tracks have elements of each other, even if only in the background.
Perhaps not the sort of background music for your cocktail party or family gathering. However if you enjoy sitting in the dark and practicing your brooding (well, who doesn't?!), then this is just the ticket.
And a couple of tracks (8 and 10) make a nice addition to your daily workout background mix.
Seriously, if you really like the film then you'll appreciate this. More subtle and gritty than any superhero soundrack I've ever heard, but I think it's for the best.
A classy beginning, not what I expected, and a solid base to build on for the next film.

Great synergy of Zimmer and James Newton Howard

Amazing stuff. One of those scores that you could listen to without ever having seen the movie, and it would still stand on its own merits. Haunting, powerful, dreamy. Zimmer, to my mind, is today's equivalent of Beethoven, Wagner, Bruckner and Sibelius, all rolled into one. A worthy heir of a musical tradition that's languished under the yoke of modernist distortion for far too long, relegated to musty 'concerts' or being adapted for pop-culture and consumption by those who can't relate to music without watching the music video, or those who need it all packaged up into 'The Best of XYZ'.

The score captures the mood and pace of the movie, with its ebb and flow, its highs and lows-and ultimately it goes one better and transcends it.

It doesn't come much better than that.

Till Noever, Author: Keaen, (...)

Zimmer & Howard shine

This is by far the best Batman score to date. Zimmer and Howard capture the emotion and the hype of Batman Begins. Once you listen to this soundtrack you will appreciate the move a whole lot more. This is a must have addition to the Batman collection.

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Keywords: Film; Film Music; Original Score; Pop; Soundtrack; Soundtracks; Soundtracks & Film Scores;

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Zucchero & Co.

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Customer Review:

A must for any Zucchero fan!

Please note this review is pertaining to the IMPORT (not Italian) version of this CD which has 18 tracks. Of the four extra songs not on this CD, only one of them is a 'skipper,' (the Tom Jones duet that I mention below). Otherwise, it's worth the few extra dollars (I think) to get the longer, IMPORTED version. If not, get this one! You have got to give Zucchero a try if you haven't already. I also highly recommend his "BLUE" CD.
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I adore this CD. It's worth the price just for the Macy Gray (Jeff Beck) duet in "Like The Sun" which is my favorite, if I was pressed.
If you already have 'SHAKE', you will recognize the John Lee Hooker duet from that cd; but you can't hear that tune too many times, either.
"Blue" from the BLUE cd is made fresh with the Sheryl Crow addition. I don't know who "Mousse T." is, but the "Mama Get Real" duet is a toe tapping winner.

I only have to skip past a couple of unfortunate songs here: the duet with Tom Jones (!!) being one of them. But there is Lots to love here like I said before-well worth the price for any Zucchero fan.

regards,
Laurie in Alaska

Come Sweet Soul of Mine, I Lay Down With The Angels

John Lee Hooker sings with his soulful voice and mellow tones with Zucchero's rustic, Italian pop and blues, "I Lay Down". This song was recorded in 2001, and John Lee Hooker died in a month's time. When you hear this tune, you will play it over and over in your mind.

"Come sweet soul of mine
I lay down with the angel
I lay down with an angel

I lay down
With an angel
I lay down
With an angel
'cause she treat me kind sometimes
Vieni in me
Portami via
Ali d'oro"

Zucchero which means Sugar, whose real name is Adelmo Fornaciari, was born in Roncocesi, Italy. He learned to play the organ at church, and was eventually introduced to Black Spirituals by a visiting American. He formed his first band known as "Le nuove luci", The New Lights. He traveled Italy playing his music. In 1994 he played at Woodstock Festival with Eric Clapton and Lucianno Pavorotti. But this is one of the first times his music has been played in the US. This CD is climbing the charts quickly. Zucchero has joined many talented musicians and has produced a CD of magnificence.

The most magnificent of these tunes is "I Lay Down" with John Lee Hooker. I forecast this as a top ten hit. This is followed by "Blue" sung with Sheryl Crow, with her lovely, lilting voice. They performed "Blue" first in 1998 in another album. The lyrics are written by Bono of U2. This song will catch you and lift you into the stratosphere.

Former Cranberries singer, Dolores O"Riordan, sings "Pure Love" with Zucchero, a memorable performance. She has a particularly lovely accent.

Miles Davis heard the song "Dunne Mosse" "Dune of Mercy" on the radio while he was touring in Italy, and he performed it with Zucchero first in 2001 and then in 2003. Gravelly voice and catchy rhythm.

Sting asked Zucchero if he could write lyrics to "Muoio per te", "Mad About You."and this is the final version. This is Sting at his finest.

"Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" with Vanessa Carlton is one of the newer tracks on this CD. Vanessa Carlton plays the piano and Haylie Ecker plays the violin. You will recognize the lovely melody and sing along.

I have not been a fan of Macy Gray, but she sings "Like The Sun" with feeling and style. Macy Gray sings and Jeff Beck added a guitar solo

"Wonderful World", Eric Clapton met Zucchero in 1989 and they started singing together whenever their tours coincided. Eric Clapton at his best,sounds like his earlier style.

"Diavolo In Me" (Devil in me) with Solomon Burke is a treasure. Zucchero and Burke met in the 80's on several tours and festivals. Their styles click and this song is sweet. Higher and higher as the notes and their vocies swell, the sweeter the song.

"Miserere" with Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli was written by Zucchero and Bono. Pavarotti recorded it first, and Bocelli recorded the studio version. Bocelli as an unknown is now a known entity.

This is a masterpiece of an album. The Italian pop and blues of Zucchero mixed with the talented voices of BB King, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Sting, Sheryl Crow, John Lee Hooker and others have given us a mix of a soulful, resounding memory. Highly Recommended. prisrob

Raspy, Sexy---Fresh

Zucchero is a true talent. His Joe Cocker-like voice fills your ears with emotion, pain, exhileration. The songs are fabulous, the arrangements intriguing. He is the real deal. I especially like the songs adapted by Frank Musker, but all are great. He is a master in his prime.

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Keywords: Int'l & World Music; Italian Pop; Italy; Latin Pop/Rock; Modern Electric Blues; Political Folk; Pop;

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