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
Reflections is the latest Smooth Jazz CD realeased by the extremely talented saxophone playing Alfonzo Blackwell who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Alfonzo Blackwell fans, and Smooth Jazz fans alike will be pleased with this one.
I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Reflections. 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 with this level of talent even if Smooth Jazz isn’t your favorite genre you still can’t help but appreciate the greatness of the artist.
This is a first rate CD, delivering a little something for everyone. I give it my highest recommendation. It’s quite simply great listening. A must buy for the Smooth Jazz fan.
While this entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 3, Field Of Dreams, track 5, I Miss You, track 13, Better Days.
My SmoothLee Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5, I Miss You. What a nice track!
Reflections Release Notes:
Alfonzo Blackwell originally released Reflections on Aug 28, 2001 on the Shanachie Records label.
CD Track List Follows:
1. Funky Shuffle
2. All Blues
3. Field Of Dreams
4. Joy
5. I Miss You
6. Next To You
7. Take You Out
8. That Feeling
9. True Blue
10. Somewhere Sunday
11. Precious Love
12. Reflections
13. Better Days
14. That’s Cool
Personnel: Alfonzo Blackwell (soprano saxophone, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums); Jean Norris (vocals); David Mann (keyboards, drum programming); Bernd Schoenhart, Chuck Loeb, Mark Marino (guitar). Recorded at Blackwell Studios, New York, New York.
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