The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Keiko Matsui has released her CD entitled Moyo. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Keiko Matsui fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Moyo Keiko Matsui’s artistic excellence is on full display as Matsui has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be her best work to date.
Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.
Overall Moyo is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Jazz collection. Truly an outstanding Jazz CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.
While the entire CD is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 – A Great Romance, track 5 – An Evening In Gibraltar, and track 6 – When I Close My Eyes
My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10 – Old Potch Road. It’s a great track!
Moyo Release Notes:
Keiko Matsui originally released Moyo on Apr 24, 2007 on the Sony Wonder label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Moyo (Heart & Soul)
2. Great Romance, A
3. Into The Night
4. Caricias
5. An Evening In Gibraltar
6. When I Close My Eyes
7. After The Rain
8. Allure
9. Black River
10. Old Potch Road
11. Um Novo Dia (A New Day)
12. Marula
Release Notes Personnel include: Keiko Matsui (piano); Richard Bona (vocals, bass guitar); Waldemar Bastos (vocals); Paul Taylor (saxophone); Gerald Albright (soprano saxophone); Hugh Masekela (trumpet); Derek Nakamoto (synthesizer, programming); Akira Jimbo (drums).
Recording information: 2006.
By: Tom Milson
The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Jackie McLean has released him CD entitled Action. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Jackie McLean fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Action Jackie McLean’s artistic excellence is on full display as McLean has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date.
Jackie McLean has been a heavy hitter in the Jazz genre for quite some time now and Action is an excellent illustration as to why.
Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.
The nice thing about a CD like this is when the talent is this rich even if Jazz isn’t your favorite genre you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.
It’s a rare day indeed that I get a CD from an artist that I can truthfully say does not have a bad track in the bunch. I’m more than happy to announce that’s exactly what I must say about this one. There simply isn’t a bad one in the bunch. No fillers here at all.
Overall Action is outstanding from beginning to end. One of those CDs that after a few listens the songs are just etched into your memory. A must have for the Jazz fan. Really spectacular from beginning to end.
While the entire album is outstanding some of my favorites are track 2 – Plight, track 4 – I Hear A Rhapsody, and track 5 – Hootnan
My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Action. Good stuff!
Action Release Notes:
Jackie McLean originally released Action on June 29, 2004 on the Blue Note Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Action
2. Plight
3. Wrong Handle
4. I Hear A Rhapsody
5. Hootnan
Personnel: Jackie McLean (alto saxophone); Charles Tolliver (trumpet); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Cecil McBee (bass instrument); Billy Higgins (drums). Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood, NJ (09/16/1964).
By: Tom Milson
The exceptionally talented Jazz artist Jim Brickman has released him CD entitled Valentine. I am very confident and happy to announce that I believe Jim Brickman fans, and Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one. With the release of Valentine Jim Brickman’s artistic excellence is on full display as Brickman has once again delivered a brilliant collection of tracks that could very well be him best work to date.
Valentine literally grabs your attention right from the start with Valentine and won’t let go until the very last note of the very last song Destiny, which by the way is another great track.
Valentine has a pleasantly varied, mix of 12 tracks that are very well written songs by this clearly outstanding artist. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Seemingly drawing from what I can only imagine are him own personal experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions like love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.
Listen to and I think you’ll agree that the song choices are excellent, the production is outstanding and Jim Brickman is clearly in top form.
While the entire CD is really very good the truly standout tunes are track 2 – To Hear You Say You Love Me, track 10 – Love Of My Life, and track 12 – Destiny.
My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – Valentine. Wow!
Valentine Release Notes:
Jim Brickman originally released Valentine on January 8, 2008 on the SLG Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Valentine
2. To Hear You Say You Love Me
3. Escape
4. Sundown
5. Reflection
6. You
7. Open
8. Brazil Sunset
9. Sacred Moment
10. Love Of My Life
11. Never Alone – (with Lady Antebellum)
12. Destiny – (with Jaci Valesquez)
Personnel: Jim Brickman (piano).
Additional personnel: Jaci Valesquez, Lady Antebellum, Jake Simpson, Tom Douglas (vocals).
By: Tom Milson