Reviews (2)

They didn't Seem to be making the same recording
Let me say out front that I am a fan. A fan of both the CJP and Diane Schuur. Individually their past efforts are terrific; exciting playing and impeccable singing, but this pairing of the 2 artists just doesn't work for me. And I think the fault lies in the disparity between Ms Schuur's singing style and the CJP arrangements- they don't seem to be paying attention to each other. I know she was overdubbbed after the band played but I am not talking about a sonic mismatch. I am talking about a musical mismatch. The band cooks with its sinuating latin style but Ms. Schuur delivers her part without any of that latin feel. I have many of her recordings and heve seen her in person numerous times and I can't remember her ever doing a song with a latin feel. I do not think she can go there. A latin singer she is not. Castro-Neves's arrangements seem to have been written without hearing Ms. Schuur's approach to the songs.

I'm sure the combination of the two artists read well on paper but there should have been someone in the sutdio acutally listening to the results. The credits indiciate that one of the execituve producers is one of Ms. Schuur's management team. Perhaps he is not objective enough to know when something is not working. For me, this one doesn't make it.

I Get To Be The First???
Wow, I thought there would be a lot of reviews by now, where is everybody?? Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE Diane fan, have been for years and will continue to be. I'm at an age where I have witnessed first hand her chapter changes in her career and we are on chapter two, the best chapter so far.Diane's first chapter began in the eighties, when she recorded her first album in Seattle, Washington and experienced great loss when a fire destroyed her first album masters. Panning forward a couple of years she was discovered by Nancy Reagan as was invited to perform at a televised event at the White House. I was in my early twenties at the time, witnessed the televised event and fell in love on the spot. My friends were listening to groups like Duran Duran and the like, I headed into another direction with Diane at the helm.

Diane was signed to GRP records in the eighties and her music met the vernacular of the day. She recorded standards and pop songs using the latest in synthesizer technolgies. Today, this early work marks time and the bulk of her GRP recordings are now out of print. Diane closed chapter one of her career with a one-off album recorded for Atlantic records.

Chapter two begins with "Friends For Schuur" recorded for her very supportive jazz label Concord Records.In the past, Diane played with her last name as a title of her albums like "Friends" and "Pure Schuur," "Schuur Thing," and a few other titles.Diane released two other albums with Concord, one with Maynard Ferguson and "Midnight" produced and arranged by Barry Manilow, a recent labelmate. On this outing, Diane experiments with a Carribean atmosphere and the ending result is the soundtrack for the summer. Not afraid to experiment within an experiment, she does daring covers, one of which refers to the aforementioned Duran Duran."Ordinary World" is one of my all time favorite Duran Duran songs and Diane turns out a classic jazz arrangement all the while supplying a four block harmony arrangement via mult-vocal overdubbing. James Taylor is complimented with a well sung and interesting tropical arrangement of "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight."Standards abound and the album contains an obligatory Cole Porter composition and like all Porter songs, works well with the theme of the album it's regulated to, in this case a rousing version of "So In Love."Diane, how are you going to top this one?? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

How many superlatives can be stated?
This is, without a doubt, the smoothest, sultriest and most professional CD I have ever heard. The tone is absolutely incredible and that includes not only the voice but the near perfection of the orchestration. The arrangements are fresh, original, seemingly the only way they could possibly be heard. Each one highlights Cheryl's unique abilities that range from ballad to scat.

From the first selection, an absolutely perfect rendition of "You'd be so nice to come home to" (what vocals!!!!) to the old ballads ("The very Thought of you" / "Everything happens to me") to the ingenius combo "Talk of the Town / Get out of Town" we are exploring the epitome of musicality. The arrangement of "Love Me or Leave Me" recalls smokey bars and highballs. Ms. Bentyne, upon hearing the music, supplied the words to "Still Good Friends", a short, bittersweet finale which is about as apt a closing tune as exists.

Sensational sound, perfect diction, wonderful artistry!

Girl Talk
Cheryl Bentyne's "Talk of the Town" is a great mellow exploration in the great jazz standards of the last century. Two songs are my very favorites. The swinging Basie-style arrangement on "Girl Talk" pulses with an entrancing groove, "We like to chat about the dresses we will wear tonight," as she sings with the great clarity of jazz expression of which Ella Fitzgerald was master. The opening version of Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" places the exquisite melody front and center and floats by like the gentlest of breezes.

Other tracks on the CD are also strong. "The Very Thought of You" is so dreamily romantic that it casts a lovely spell. Hoagy Carmichael's "Everything Happens to Me" is one of those good-to-be-blue tunes we'd like to hear with last call on which Lewis Nash's cymbals and David "Fathead" Newman's elegant sax blend exquisitely. The scat on "Farmer's Market" always brings a smile! Bentyne does a great job center stage on this fine set. Enjoy!

Delightful!
I debated with myself whether I should give this album four or five stars. I actually love the CD and listen to it quite often. After some thought I decided on five stars because I have only minor criticism and truly believe this album is worth purchasing on sale or at regular price. Now on to my review: Cheryl performs with a cool, light and relaxed manner which creates a romantic mood the minute you put the CD in your player. However, that is not meant to suggest this singer is anything but exceptional. Her phrasing is subtle, yet inventive. The years of singing the lead trumpet lines on vocalese tunes with The Manhattan Transfer have obviously had great influence on her. Rather than linger on a particular note as many singers would, Bentyne's beautiful soprano voice often hits notes with trumpet like bursts, all the while remaining remarkably fluid -- making her a marvelously distinctive and innovative singer. At times her singing may remind you of Miles Davis's playing on such classic albums as, "Someday, My Prince Will Come." My only criticisms are that the majority of the instrumental solos are reserved for Kenny Barron or Corey Allen on piano. While, both are excellent musicians, adding depth and creativity whenever they play, it would have been nice to hear a solo or two by the excellent bassist, John Patitucci and perhaps a little more of Chuck Mangione on flugelhorn, just to break up "the singer -- piano solo -- singer" format that dominates most tracks. (Mention must be made of saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman's superb soloing on "The Very Thought of You" and "Everything Happens To Me.") Also, Bentyne has over the years, demonstrated her incredible vocal range and power on recordings with the Transfer and on her 1992 solo debut, "Something Cool." But on this album she seems to hold back a bit, thus, not giving us what we know she is truly capable of. These, however, are minor drawbacks and one can only hope Ms. Bentyne will be recording more solo albums and with as much frequency as her MT partner, Janis Siegel.

A "20-star" effort!!!
It's high time that Cheryl Bentyne stepped up to the plate with her own solo CD...and thanks to Telarc's crystalline sound quality, this one earns much more than the usual 5 stars for the song selection, musicianship, engineering, and production.

Ms. Bentyne wisely sticks to familiar standard territory here with superb readings of "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "Girl Talk" (with some help from two of the members of Take 6), "Farmer's Market" (easily one of my favorite tracks, showing her amazing vocalese talents), "Meaning of the Blues" (just voice and piano here - perfect), "Love Me or Leave Me" (which reminds me somewhat of the late, great Nina Simone's version), a Latin-flavored treatment of "It Might as Well Be Spring," and so on.

Cheryl is ably backed by high caliber musician talent (Barron, Nash, Pattitucci, Mangione, and so on) and guided lovingly by Corey Allen's production.

Everyone who has posted so far has said all there really is to say. Fans of Manhattan Transfer (I am proud to be among them) as well as jazz vocal fans in general will embrace this long-overdue offering!!

Looking forward to "the triple toe loop"
What do Cheryl Bentine and Janis Siegel have in common? 1) Both are singers in "The Manhattan Transfer", and have been for 20-30 years. 2) Both have now recorded solo efforts for Telarc; Janis has done 3, while this is Cheryl's first. Telarc's crystalline sound has put them both in their best possible lights. 3) Both have surrounded themselves with crackerjack musicians. Cheryl's back-up trio here consists of Kenny Barron, John Pattituci and Lewis Nash, and it doesn't get much better than that. 4) Both are superb musicians. Singing in one of the top ensembles in the business for that long probably does that for you; but both have superb intonation, diction and phrasing.

How are they different? 1) Janis has a rich voice that could have been re-trained for opera. Cheryl's is lighter and clearer, though she can produce full tones in her lower register. And then there's 2)

2) is that Janis' selection of tunes--especially on "I Wish You Love"--is adventurous and unique. Here, Cheryl covers all standards, some of which have been done a bazillion times. Not that there's anything wrong with that; but the danger is that when you do that, the covers better be sensational in order to be memorable. These covers are very good, indeed; they are not sensational.

To use an ice-skating analogy, Cheryl Bentine has shown that she can master a single axle. But I know from what I hear that she can do a wicked triple toe loop, too, and I look forward to her next album where she does just that. For now, I recommend this album; but if you want to feel like you got your money's worth, you may want to wait until you can get it on sale. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before Sunrise and Before Sunset are director Richard Linklater's intimate romantic bookends. Separated by nine years, the latter film picks up thethreads of an unfinished conversation spurred during the former's chance encounter between an American writer (Ethan Hawke) and French grad student (JulieDelpy). Commitments have long since changed their lives, but the question remains: What if? Hawke and Delpy blurred the lines between filmmaking andreality by penning their own dialog for the second installment, while the actress further underscored that sensibility by writing and performing the core songs for itssoundtrack. Their warm, vulnerable charm offers character insight rare in a song-score, while the folk contributions of singers Kathy McCarty andKath Bloom and chamber pieces by Bach and Purcell complete the ambience; several songs from the 1995 film round out the collection. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Nice songs, unfortunately ordered
I'll agree with many of the other reviewers: It's great to finally have access to many of these songs. But indeed, not including something by Nina Simone is a real error. Also, the order of the tracks on this disc diminishes the songs' effect. I expect a soundtrack CD to replicate the mood of the film, but this CD ends with the up-tempo, Euro-pop songs from "Before Sunrise," letting the listening experience end on a harsh note. To solve the problem I re-ordered the songs on my ipod, and added in the Ivy song from the trailer as well as a Nina Simone song. Problem solved! So yes, this is a good CD but not a great one. It requires some listener input to become great.

Download the trailer music for free!
A full-length version of the "Edge of the Ocean" mp3 is available for free right here on amazon.com! It's really too bad they didn't put this on the soundtrack.

So think back...who remembers the trailer music for Before Sunrise? It was "Into Your Arms" by the Lemonheads. I actually bought the Lemonheads CD, but the music has lost all association with the film by now (and thus I haven't touched the CD in years). But if you want to be complete in your compilation, I suppose this song belongs in there, too.

I hope all fans of Sunrise/Sunset come to the Message Boards at http://www.beforesunset.com to join our lively discussions, or better yet, join sunriseandsunset-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (the message board was a nice starting point, but emails are much faster and more convenient).

-edwinyang

That Song From The Trailer...
This is a great soundtrack, however... If you want the song from the trailer "Edge of the Ocean" by Ivy, you'll have to head over to the iTunes Music store, where they have three versions of the song. Now, if they only had the soundtrack...

The song from the trailer is 'Edge of the Ocean' by Ivy
To the person who wanted to know, the song from the trailer is Ivy's 'Edge of the Ocean' and you can find it on 'Chillout 2002 * The Ultimate Chillout' which is a really great compilation album.

Also, I rated this four out of five for the sole reason it doesn't have the original opening song from Before Sunrise. That's almost the defining song of the soundtrack. I'm currently trying to compile all of the songs from Before Sunrise into an iTunes Playlist which I'll be posting in the store.

Enjoy!

album for Nina Simone song "Just In Time"
as far as the movie goes, thought it was really lovely. thought, too, that the music was well done--in both "sunrise" and "sunset"--but wonder, in retrospect, if it's really fair to match Julie Delpy against Nina Simone?

mostly, just wanted to let that gent in california know that the Nina Simone song is on a two-disc CD called The Tomato Collection. You'll recognize the cover from the movie. cheers! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The "Golden Age" referred to here spans The Jazz Singer and the advent of the talkies to the death throes of the old studio system in the 1960s. So vast was the era's musical landscape that even this 42-track, double-disc anthology can't encompass all its peaks. Not surprisingly, the bulk of this collection originated with the Tiffany's of the screen musical, M-G-M, a body of work whose riches here encompass both pop-cultural bedrock ("Over the Rainbow," "Singin' in the Rain," "There's No Business Like Show Business," etc.) and some less familiar, if equally delightful star turns: Clark Gable gamely "Puttin' On the Ritz"; the sassy, 1948 original of "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Lena Horne; and a loopy duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Fred Astaire's elegant, epochal reign at RKO and M-G-M is represented by"Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and three others, while Metro mainstays Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share equal time and billing. It's not perfect--Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Boy" and/or some Sinatra seem more logical choices than the odd "bonus" duet of Casablanca's "As Time Goes By" and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago that close out disc one--but it's a stunning, surprisingly comprehensive primer on the Hollywood film musical nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Hollywood at it's Best
The music on this double CD is excellent, as is the sound quality. Every song brings a smile to my face. I love Classic Rock, and although I'm not going to compare apples to oranges, I love to just stop rocking now and then, and listen to the great music from this era. Over the last few years I have been adding great music from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Glen Miller, etc. to my library, and this one ranks very high on my list for a compilation of great Hollywood musicals. Crank up the volume and enjoy!

Wundebar!
This is a a fun-filled walk down Memory Lane!

Very Good
I've been writing a musical comedy for awhile, and needed some music for the scene segues. It takes place in Hollywood circa 1940s, and I'll tell you, this captures the era perfectly. It wasn't the classics like "Singin' in the Rain" or "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that really impressed me. Some of my favorites are "Going Hollywood", an upbeat and hopeful tune...Astaire's "If Swing Goes, I Go Too", Brilliant! Stop reading this review already, and add this to your cart. You'll be the envy of all your friends-Ok, maybe not. But who the heck cares, its a great CD.

A must for any musical nuts!
That's it, guys! This two CDs will make us return to the golden era of musicals, it selects the most famous songs of movies of 30's, but mostly 40's and 50's.
Some people say it should have been more Fred and Ginger musics, others say there should have been more Bing Crosby... but one thing is undeniable it's a true masterpiece that I never get tired listening.

It includes some classics that I had already known- "Singin' In The Rain", "There's No Business Like Show Business" (the original, not the Ethel Merman version), "S'wonderfu"l, "That's Entertainment"(4 people singing!), "Lullaby of Broadway", "Night and Day"(a gem, even today!), "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Over the Rainbow"(moving), "The Trolley Song", "Gigi", "I Got Rhytm", "The Lady Is a Tramp" (I knew the Sinatra version from Pal Joey), "Cheek to Cheek" (immortal), "A Kiss To Build A Dream On" (I prefer other orchestration, this one is too calm), "Let's Face The Music And Dance" (not by Diana Krall!), "Be a Clown, Embraceable You, On The Atchison, Topeka and The Santa Fe" (I knew the Crosby version), "One For My Baby" (I knew the Sinatra version).
But there where a lot of musics that I didn't know and I began to love- Easter parade (too bad there wasn't "It Only Happens When I Dance With You"!) True Love (I'm a huge Crosby fan), "Baby It's Cold Outside" (Delicious! Fantastic! No wonder it earned the 1949 oscar!), "Bless Your Beautiful Hide", "Taking a Chance On Love" (very beautiful), "Wunderbar" (I adore Cole Porter), etc.

There are two tracks that some guys might say that they aren't from musicals- "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago and "As Time Goes By"- but I was happy to found them here, cause I'm not going to buy the complete soundtracks.

A word to describe the CDs-TIMELESS!

You won't be able to stop listening to this gem. A WINNER!!
Take all the greatest songs from Hollywood's greatest musicals, use top modern technology to make them sound amazing (while maintaining faithfulness to the original sonics), put them all together in a beautifully designed double CD, and you've got SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW.

I've had this for over two weeks now, and still don't want to listen to anything else. All my favorite performers are here from Bing Crosby to Doris Day and everyone else in between. There are great liner notes, wonderful pictures, and at this price, getting so many songs for so (relatively) little money is an amazing bargain. I highly recommend this CD set. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Swingin' Cole Porter Classics
"Cocktails With Cole Porter" mixes some of Porter's best songs with the best jazz / lounge performers from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, creating one of THE best compilations in the entire Ultra Lounge series.

Porter's songs are timeless and easily recognizable, even for those who may have never heard of him. The entire CD is top notch including such gems as Ella Fitzgerald's "It's De-Lovely," Louis Armstrong's "High Society Calypso," and "Anything Goes" by Tony Bennett and Count Basie.

This CD is great for Porter fans as well as Ultra Lounge loyalists, and the perfect prelude to the new Cole Porter film due out in July. No doubt, a de-lovely addition to any swingin' music library. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Silky smooth original vocal caviar!
If you like Diana Krall and Norah Jones but haven't heard Stacey Kent, you're in for a treat. She does not have the level of success or fame of those other two, but she's got a voice that just brings you in to the music. She's got the slightest accent to her singing, which adds to the appeal. This album is a good place to start with Stacey Kent, with "In Love Again" as another strong choice. This is one of those albums that is well recorded and engineered to the point that audiophiles will put it on to demonstrate their sound systems, but it's not just about the quality of the sound, its about the quality of the music. Highly reccommended!

boy next door - stacey kent
As an admirer of and collector of Stacey Kent's CD's I did not think she could possibly outdo any of her previous recordings. However - I was wrong - her latest album supasses them all for perfection ofher slightly husky voice and choice of songs. "Say it isn't so" is gorgeous as are "The Trolley song" and "Too darned hot" (sorry Mel and Ella but this version is a strong contendere) and "Making Whoopee" which to me supasses many other recordings. I particularly enjoyed "Ooh.Shoo-be-doo-be" which I was not familiar with - a cute swinging number. I also considered "You've got a friend" -poignently and exquisitely done and a real winner!Well done Stacey - I hope I can get to see you live one day soon in Washington DC.

the same
I think Stacy Kent has real talent, (and her husband sax player Jim Tomlinson has even more) she can put a kittenish sexy twist on songs. Washington Post called her voice "adult sexuality". She's a big hit in England.

At first she's a revelation. But...There's a problem. She is like a three speed bike, she has three deliveries, slow, moderate and fast. She has a handful of albums out. But the more you listen, the more the songs all sound the same, same inflection, same arrangement, same timing, regardless of which song she is singing.

What she need's is to sing with dynamic range and to get some new arrangements, put more of herself, more feeling in the music, instead of making more coy cookie-cutter albums.

And maybe give Tomlinson and his Stan-Getz sax tone more space.

Her Richard Rodger's album remains her best.

The Moment I Saw Her Smile... The Girl Next Door
Great for your car and for soothing your nerves in traffic jam. This is music to make you feel good!

BEST YET!
I'm a huge Stacey Kent fan, just saw her live in Oyster Bay, which was such a treat, and got the new album, which is her best yet. Do not miss out on this engaging voice with a smile and such delightful timing. You can't help but hang onto each and every word! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like Rufus Wainwright, Nellie McKay was born about thirty years too late. She may look like a winsome teenager on the cover of "Get Away From Me," but she's got the soul and grit of Ethel Merman, mincing her way through drawing room dramas and musical conflagrations with more subtlety, wit, and better personal politics than Eminen, but with similar results--most stunningly on "Sari," where she perfectly melds the ire of Missy Elliot with the goofiness of Moon Unit Zappa on this edgy rap song. McKay quickly changes personas becoming a torchy siren on her paean to domesticity "I Wanna Get Married," wearing her irony as lightly--and as transparently--as a see-through negligee. At nineteen, McKay has only scratched the surface of what she's capable of, veering from witty jazz, to edgy cabaret, to brash confessionals, and taking the listener on what certainly will prove to be a long, eccentric ride. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (108)

Great New Talent with Spunk & Unique Style! Great CD!
Tonight, I saw Nellie McKay perform in person... with just her on a small empty stage, her little piano keyboard... and only her voice and immense talent to lean on. She confirmed she's a singer to watch in years to come. I first caught this talented singer on David Letterman a few weeks back singing a quirky little song, "The Dog Song" that was odd, spunky and cute in a way that couldn't help but bring a smile to your face. You'll get the same feeling and more from McKay's CD. It's a ecletic mix of jazz stylings, unique attempts at hip-hop rap, and old style ballads with a quirky edge... that's different from anything else I've heard recently. She's a breath of TRUE fresh air in a music world filled with cliched pop retreads from Britney to American Idol. The positive postings on this site about McKay's CD are all TRUE and WELL DESERVED... leading me to say BUY THIS CD! But, if you get a chance to catch McKay sing in person ...like she performed tonight before an intimate showcase crowd at the Paradise Lounge in Boston, you WON'T be disappointed. We're a tough crowd to please in Boston, just ask the NY Yankees... yet, McKay easily wowed over this opinionated music crowd with her quirky, peppy tunes... and edgy stylings that I found quite unique. It's evident she's new to performing before intimate crowds... and her self-effacing style, shy sweetness, and genuine appreciation for her audience was a pleasant contrast to the edgy lyrics and attitude that her CD presents so effectively. By the end of her second song in a 10-song set from her CD... she easily won over this tough Boston University-area crowd ... with the audience - a mix of college age AND middle age folks - cheering her on, loving EVERY song... and lining up to buy her CD by the end of her showcase set. She has a nice style, a cute, winning smile... and unique singing talent and songwriting style that will only mature and grow in the future. But this Freshman effort is well worth the listening time. Hers is a CD to buy... and Nellie McKay is a talent to watch for in the years to come!

I think I'm in love...
Nellie McKay's Get Away From Me is an amazing debut album from an artist with a refreshing sound that borrows from many genres, but remains very personal. The album seems to have its basis in showtunes and torch songs, but has elements of disco, rap, country, Spanish guitar (by Jay Berliner of many, many famous jazz sessions including Charles Mingus's The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady), and many other styles of music. Her voice can be soft and breathy as well as sharp, all while singing her clever lyrics and playing her piano. Her piano skills are evident here and they range from classical to jazz to various pop stylings.

The album is full of great songs such as the smoky, beautiful "Manhattan Avenue", which is the most conventional of the tunes here. "Sari" is her "rap" song, and despite comparisons to Eminem, her style reminds me a whole lot more of MC Paul Barman. A lot of her songs are from specific points of view, and while they may represent things that she is feeling, they are very much about storytelling. "I Wanna Get Married" is about a girl who wants to get married, naturally. It has great lines like "I want to pack cute little lunches, for my Brady Bunches." And this is just a few of the tracks on the first disc!

The upbeat and catchy songs sometimes cleverly belie the darker lyrics and subject material. This album has a parental advisory sticker for a reason, although the explicitness in the album is done for a reason. This is edgy, modern, interesting, fun music that will mesmerize you.

The only complaint is that there are two discs and each disc is only 30 minutes long. Other than to seem like you are getting two records or maybe that this album is like a two act musical, I'm not sure why this is. The idea of a Nellie McKay musical is intriguing, but I imagine that might be too obvious.

Her music publishing company is Proud Dropout Music, and if that means that she dropped out of music school, I'd say it's Music School: 0 and Nellie McKay: 1. This album is not for everyone. I repeat, not for everyone, but if you've stayed this long for the review, I demand you go out and buy this album and support creative, smart music!

This (19 year-old!) lady is...
a genius. Without question. There's no way to say anything here that's really useful, except that this reviewer feels she's already put herself into a category of musician that few will ever achieve. Ok, maybe I can say something useful: listen to several tracks. This is a very diversely populated recording. AND, realize she's playing most of the instruments you're hearing. AND, realize she wrote all of her songs. Then, just enjoy. There won't be another like her for a long time.

Shoot Me
She is one of the worst artists I have ever heard sing, if you want to call it singing, it's more like heart wrenching wailing. It is not that I don't enjoy her type of music, I love any type of music. However, every song she sings makes me feel like I'm spining out of control and will throw up. She is even worse in concert. I recently saw her live and lauged so hard as did the security guards and other members of the audience. The loudest applause of the night was when she left the stage. I would not reccomend buying this CD unless you want to give it to your worst enemy, and even that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

Elephants are not lifesavers, so do not try to float on one
This is cool and funny, i am in a hurry, see you, and remember, don't tickle any platypus. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jazz à Saint Germain is a compilation of compelling jazz standards performed in tribute to the Parisian speakeasies that flourished during the German occupation in World War II. Espousing a free-spirited highlife as well as an existential and intellectual aesthetic, the French underground heartily embraced American jazz. Showcasing traditional styles as well as ambitious adaptations that reveal reggae, African, and even hip-hop influences, this collection is tasteful and eclectic. Angélique Kidjo's version of "Summertime" is gently evocative, as is Dee Dee Bridgewater's moving rendition of "Watermelon Man." The Jazz Passengers and Debbie Harry interpret "There Is No More Tomorrow," and French chanteuse François Hardy is joined by Iggy Pop for a version of "I'll Be Seeing You." With artists old and new, Jazz à Saint Germain is a vibrant, engaging affair. --Mitch Myers ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A slice of History
The marketing gang at Amazon.com are certainly doing their job - at the expense of my pocket book. I picked this up from a multiple recommendations link. Unable to find Lainie Cooke's new cd locally I knew Amazon woudld have it. While ordering LC's CD I looked at the suggestions and was intruiged by Pink Martini's, Sympathique. While impulse ordering it, I saw the suggestion for Jazz A Saint-Germain. This disc is definately awesome. I must be getting really frustrated by recent pop/rock and am going full blown eclectic/world/retro - I'm sure it's not that I'm growing up!! Jazz A Saint-Germain isn't just a compilation of great music, but really takes you back to a time of the intimate, live jazz club.

If this is what you looking for - buy this album - all I've listed above as well as SoulSkin, and the latest kd Lang /Tony Bennett project.

No, I don't work for Amazon, but they should put me on payroll - don't ya think?

one of my favs
I am actually reordering this cd.
One of my favorties!
Great for whatever mood you are in!

Fun and Good Jazz Mix Album, If Not Particularly Great
If for no other reason, listen to this album for its beautiful tracks by Angelique Kidjo and Les Nubians (and less so for those by Patricia Kaas, Jane Birkin, China and Jimmy Rowles--though still very nice). Kidjo does a fantastic job with her native African version of one of my all-time favorite songs--"Summertime." It's absolutely beautiful, though really quite un-jazzy. Similarly, the slow, sexy French version of "'Round Midnight" by Les Nubians ("Autour de Minuit") is quite fantastic.

Alone, these two tracks might have been enough for me to enjoy this album, but there are also some great songs on here by other artists, though their styles are, generally, a bit more like that of traditional jazz. The version of "These Foolish Things" as performed by Jane Birkin and Jimmy Rowles, for example, is great in its beautifully slow pace--sleepy and reminiscent, like its lyrics. Patricia Kaas does a very nice, if rather awkwardly accented, job of "Black Coffee" similar to China's "Lover Man" from an earlier track. The unreleased "J'Suis Snob" by Boris Vian is great fun.

The rest of the album is a bit more avant garde for my personal taste with the exception of Iggy Pop and Fracoise Hardy's version of "I'll Be Seeing You" (which seems a little un-inspired) and Dee Dee Bridgewater's version of "Watermelon Man" (which is really quite good, but seems a little robust for the rest of the songs here). Brigitte Fontaine's "La Caravane," Princess Erika's "God Bless The Child" and Elli Medeiros' "Sophisticated Lady" all seem very choppy in addition to having rather severe and awkward accents for the chosen tunes.

Still, it's definitely an enjoyable collection of tracks, for the most part. I'd recommend it for just about any jazz lover or Francophile and definitely for fans of Les Nubians and Angelique Kidjo.

Your own Paris speakeasy
This is an intimate, eclectic vocal collection that has been getting alot of play at my place. Now that you're tired of all those lounge reissues you've been playing at cocktail time, try switching over to this. Smooth, smoky, and just the right amount of vermouth.

Complements any Billie Holiday and John Coltrane collection
French Jazz. So bohemian it hurts. This album is a collection of various contempory jazz artists doing covers of the songs circa "the nocturnal world of libertine Paris in the 40's and 50's". All the songs on this album are worthy listens and jazz lovers may only be disappointed with China's version of "loverman", a song that really can't be performed with out calling comparisons to Billie Holiday. Catherine Ringer & The Renegade Brass Band present us with the fantastic "Les Joyeux Bouchers". Iggy Pop shows up to perform with Francoise Hardy on "I'll be seeing you" (perhaps the album's best track).The Jazz Passangers give us Deborah Harry doing "Il n'y a plus d'apres", another sparkler. Patricia Kaas does an inspired cover of "Black Coffee", which can make any smoker enjoy their stay at their local coffee joint more. Other artists of interest are Princess Erika doing "God Bless the Child" and Les nubians with "Autour de Minuit". All int all the album is great. A fabulous survey for newcomers to jazz and for long time fanatics. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Live and Swingin’ is undoubtedly for those who already own some of the guys’ worthier recordings. Oh, but the guys? Frank, Dean, and Sammy (or, as Jackie Masonhad it on The Simpsons, "the Candy Man!") For most anyone who cares, though, this is a must-buy item: a slightly edited version of the 1962 Villa Venice tapes along with a DVD that preserves a rarely seen, full-length serious/funny/anarchic Rat Pack performance from ’65. (For sentimentalists’ sake, it was taped on Tina Sinatra’s 17th birthday; she makes a brief appearance onstage with the fellas.) All kidding aside, the trio makes with the serious singing – though perhaps those who came to hear Sammy get through an entire mini-set without interruption will want to go elsewhere, as his partners’ shtick barely allows him to finish a line, much less a song. Sinatra aficionados will find the DVD indispensable, as he paws his way through a mellow version of "My Kind of Town" (benefit location "St. Louis"!) and "Fly Me to the Moon." --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (17)

This is fantastic
This cd/dvd set is amazing. The other reviewer said something about the original Summit meetings, and how he saw clips. That does not mean that they were completely taped. This Dvd is a complete live performance of the stage act ever. What you get here is 4 fantastic talents. One is most versatile and talented performer ever. Sammy Davis Jr. is amazing at everything he does on here. Whether it is singing, doing impressions, showing the latest dance moves or doing great comedy. Dean Martin who is not only a fantastic singer but one of the funniest men to ever grace a stage. It makes think that he was the funny one in the Martin and Lewis team. Then you have the King of Late Night trading barbs with the kings of later night. Finally, you get Frank Sinatra powered by the Count Basie band singing with joy and abandonment. The Cd features songs from several performances, but the way they put it together makes sound like a normal Pack performance. My recommendation is BUY THIS CD/DVD SET. No matter what.

CD/DVD a Great Bargin
"Live and Swingin', The Ulitimate Rat Pack Collection," brings you back to another time in America. I am too young to have seen the Rat Pack live, but this CD/DVD combination provides the next best thing.
Disc one is an audio-only CD with performances of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. at a Chicago nightclub in 1962. Disc two, which was actually broadcasted about two years ago on cable's TV Land, shows a 1965 St. Louis performance by the same trio, with a very young Johnny Carson MCing. If you like the Rat Pack mythology and all that it stands for, then this collection is perfect. Thankfully, through all the clowning, there are some very good performances here, both on the CD and DVD, from Sinatra, Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr. The comedy segments are also enjoyable, you can clearly see, at least at this point in their careers, that the three really enjoyed working with each other.
For about the price of a new CD, you get a CD and DVD. A great deal. Highly recommended.

Hey Frank, How do you make a Fruit cordial??
This cd should have been titled "The Schtick Remains The Same!" Every live Rat Pack cd seems to have the same routines with little variation, so really you only need one. This would be my choice. The guys are in good form as their politically INcorrect selves and there is lots of good stuff here, but the main attraction is the dvd. I first owned part of this live concert for Dismas House on a bootleg record. Then on a British import cd. Now it's GREAT to be able to own it COMPLETE on videodisc. FRANK, DEAN, SAMMY with JOHNNY CARSON standing in for an ailing Joey Bishop, backed by the Count Basie Orchestra conducted by QUINCY JONES. How cool is that?? Picture quality is as good as it can be for a B&W kinescope and the "boys" really play up something fierce. Laughing at everybody including themselves. Sammy is a real DYNAMO. I remember when he was Down here in the 70s guesting on a variety show and he ended up taking over the studio orchestra and the whole program with his masterful improvisation. The show ran an hour over the time limit and the following program was cancelled, such was the glory and talent of THE MASTER! I'd like to see Snoop Dogg do that. He's stuck for something to say and do in a 5 minute spot on Conan O'Brien....but I digress! So unless you are a TOTAL FANATIC, this cd/dvd is most likely all the Rat Packery you'll need for some nostalgic good fun. Humorless, thin-skinned wowsers and pain-in-the-*ss PC bozos who get so very offended at racsist and sexist jokes should keep well away.

Goody Goody!
One show on Cd, and the other on DVD. One from Chicago and one from St. Louis. Very entertaining. Those guys were fabulous.

Fun, but not enough music
It is a fun cd full that really gives you a peek at what it was like to be at one of the Rat Pack's performances. But it is a little lacking in the music area for me. A bit too much laughing anc cutting up, but that's why you buy the live cd isn't it? ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is an excellent collection of many of the high points of the Manhattan Transfer's first decade, demonstrating both their reach and their grasp as they draw material from swing, modern jazz, and doo-wop into their own distinctive style. There's a tongue-in-cheek cool that connects the swing of Erskine Hawkins's "Tuxedo Junction" to the elemental girl-group harmonies of "Boy from New York City" and the TV themes like "Route 66" and the variations on the "Twilight Zone." More traditional jazz skills, though, are apparent in their renditions of some Jon Hendricks vocal classics. Composer Jimmy Giuffre plays saxophone on their version of his "Four Brothers," a key theme for bandleader Woody Herman, while there are also stellar renditions of Weather Report's "Birdland" and the standard "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."It's an entertaining collection by a group that's never let itself be confined by the expected. --Adam Rains ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It's their best yet!!!
Well, all I can say is it's a great CD. I like everything that the Manhattan Transfer has made, since I started liking them when I was younger. (I'm 14 now.) Like the last person, I wouldn't ever give them a bad review, but, belive me. This one has go to be the best. The songs I recomend on this are: Baby Come Back to Me, Tuxedo Junction, Ray's Rockhouse, and Twilght Zone/Twilight Tone. These are just some of my favorites, but I like all the songs on here. If your a Manhattan Transfer fan, like me, you GOT to have this. If you're new to their music, this CD is perfect for you too.

Best Songs From One CD
The Best Of The Manhattan Transfer is the one collection that lives up to it name! The mainstream songs/hits like "Boy From New York City", "Spice Of Life", and "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" are included along with other notable gems "Birdland" (a well-constructed and enjoyable song) and "Tuxedo Junction" (a swing-era favorite).

The liner notes provide a brief history of how the group began and how the lovely voice of Cheryl Bentyne was able to replace Laurel Masse and changed the sound of the band. The are also pictures and discography along with song credits.

Overall, this collection is ideal for both the casual fan (who only wants the hits) and for the Transfer fan (who would approve this collection as a truly single CD anthology of the group). Recommended.

Smooth
Good samples of this groups work. The songs are classic jazz and R&B music styles that is still popular and enjoyable to listen to. A very good CD that is enjoyable to listen to.

Oh How It Makes me Shiver,Total Perfection
Vocal perfection period.Iam in absolute awe that this group existed so long without my knowledge.GREAT STUFF!!

Great Start
This is a great collection for someone looking to have a great collection of their music on one CD.
Clarity of recording is great, as well.
For anyone looking to 'replace' an LP, this is the one to order.
The only draw back is the order in which the tracks are laid out on the CD. They don't compliment well back to back, sometimes. Otherwise, it would have been 5-star. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sanitize Tom Waits's vocal cords, take some of the rasp out of Dr. John's, put some muscle into Bobby Caldwell's, combine them and you'll have an approximation of the quality of Steve Tyrell's voice. Like his popular 1999 debut, A New Standard, this is a meticulously recorded album featuring the great American songbook and some of the best jazz soloists alive, including trumpeter Clark Terry, harmonica player Toots Thielemans, and singer Jane Monheit, who plays Lucille Ball and Betty Carter against Tyrell's Red Skelton and Ray Charles on the classic duet "Baby It's Cold Outside." Tyrell complements each of his partners with the kind of empathy that makes them shine as bright as his irresistible voice. Plas Johnson's saxophone take on "That Old Feeling," for instance, is highly reminiscent of the symbiotic musical partnership that Lester Young created with Billie Holiday more than half a century ago. Also like his first record, it is the creative arrangements of guitarist Bob Mann and pianist Joe Sample that make this 16-song disc work so well. --Mark Ruffin ... Read more

Reviews (35)

STANDARD TIME: Above Standard Fare
Fans of Steve Tyrell know this: Steve Tyrell has earned his place in history. His first album, A NEW STANDARD was a perfect piece of work. This second release, STANDARD TIME, seals it.

How much excellence can one absorb? On first hearing, one is blown away by the spirit of the thing; the rhythm, the sound. What a Voice! What a Band! It's obvious that he's having a lot of fun. You know the songs. Even the youngsters are recording them, some of them very well. Steve Tryell is giving them back to us the way they ought to sound.

With the same swinging band from A NEW STANDARD--world-class players from the era of big bands and jazz joints--and more excellent songs, more brilliant arrangements, and a voice too marvelous for words, Steve Tyrell has given us more reason to dance, to smile, to listen.

He's a man of many moods, this Steve Tyrell. Listening to him sing is like watching an accomplished actor read his lines. His heart aches with "That Old Feeling," and the haunting "Stardust." He isn't maudlin about it. It's just a fact. His take on "I Wonder" is fun, and it seems to make the song more important than it ever was before. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" will sweep you away to New Orleans, with the band having as much fun as Tyrell. The Gershwins would be proud of his sincerity on "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and his longing on "Someone To Watch Over Me.". But listen closely to "Ain't Misbehavin'." Isn't that a wink? And when Jane Monheit joins him for "Baby, It's Cold Outside" the wolf comes alive in him. Their rendition beats the old, and even the new, takes on this delightful piece.

Add this album to your shopping cart. Once it starts playing and you start grinning you may find you want to keep it playing all the time. It's a straight shot of joy.

A New Understanding of Music
I am only 18 years old and not really a jazz fan, but after hearing Standard Time, jazz music seems much more of an alternative to listen to. I heard the CD through my friend whose dad is in the music business and surprisingly to myself I enjoyed it. The songs "Baby it's cold outside" and "What a little moonlight can do" are two songs that I enjoyed the most. With the singing of that girl, whoever playing the trumpet,and most important the voice of Steve Tyrell the two songs gave me a sense of comfortness and romanticness that i have never heard before. As you can see with my use of "that girl" and "whoever playing the trumpet" I know nothing about jazz and if i enjoyed it everyone can and will enjoy it. I suggest everyone buy a copy for anyone they know and spread the enjoyment of the voice of Steve Tyrell.

S'wonderful!
Thank you Today Show for doing a feature on Steve Tyrell. (Incidentally, he's a great man as well. He tragically lost his beloved wife to cancer a few years ago -- the focus of the piece -- and is raising three great kids.)

But I digress. After the Today Show piece, I immediately ordered his CDs and have not stopped listening to them. What a deft touch he has to the standards...and what a marvelous voice. He sings with such passion and feeling. He is a master of these standards.

Great CD
My favorite drive time CD since I purchased. Great songs sung by a real person. Not a pretty voice....gravelly....the guy is REAL. I love it.

No Sophomore Slump For Steve Tyrell, He's On A Roll!
It is a rare occasion indeed when an artist can recreate the magic that was captured on a hit debut album and establish themselves as a leader of a musical trend, but with his second release "Standard Time" Steve Tyrell has done just that. With an ensemble of world-class players he covers some of the real jewels out of the Great American Songbook and together these wonderfully talented musicians give us renditions that will last a lifetime.

If you LOVE listening to GREAT CROONERS and BIG BAND SWING, I would also recommend, Monte Procopio "Swingin' With Style" CD. He is another great crooner that can really SWING and deserves a listen. Buy both these CDs, you can't go wrong! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Maria Rita could be considered the Norah Jones of Brazilian pop jazz/bossa nova for her familiar but fresh musical blend on this debut. She won 2004 Latin Grammys for best new artist of the year and best Brazilian pop album for her debut. The 13-track CD vibrates with her blend of traditional bossa nova, sophisticated pop, and jazzy freeflow style with the classic accompaniment of drums, piano, and acoustic bass. Although all of the songs are sung in Portugese, the varying sentiments of longing, sadness, celebration, and hope are not hard to understand. She is a strong, expressive singer who can shoot from a pleading whisper to a full-throated wail and back in a second. The daughter of famed Brazilian musicians--pop singer Elis Regina and and pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano--Rita is a fresh voice in a genre best enjoyed in speakeasy clubs and relaxed lounge parties. --Ramiro Burr ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Ghost of Elis Regina
I had the good fortune to hear Elis Regina and her genius partner in music and life, Cesar Camargo Mariano in concert. Now we have the fruit of this collaboration, their daughter Maria Rita, born in 1977. She has channeled her mother's voice, and I mean that as a compliment. I love her selection of material and the accompaniment. When I first heard this CD, I was sure her father played on it. Not so. I also am pleased that she is recording Milton Nascimento's material. Elis was one of the first to cover his tunes in the 1960's. In Brazil, they would call her a "porta bandeira," the one carrying on the legacy of her many predecessors. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Curiously, yet not surprisingly given the enormity of his sway, Billie Holiday's greatest vocal influence was "Pops"--Louis Armstrong, whose trumpet was his first signature (though he's often credited with being the first great jazz singer as well). One hears Armstrong in Holiday's sense of phrasing, timing, and the warmth she invests in a lyric. This package, containing such touchstone Holiday renderings as "I Cried for You," "Body and Soul," and "When a Woman Loves a Man" (poetic, given the fact that Billie was notoriously unlucky at love), also boasts her signature song, "God Bless the Child." Her accompanists are a hall-of-fame lot, including trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton; saxmen Lester Young (with whom she had a close relationship), Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, and Harry Carney; drummers Cozy Cole and Jo Jones; bassists John Kirby and Walter Page; and her frequent pianist, Teddy Wilson. --Willard Jenkins ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Oh What a Little Billie Can Do.....
This review refers to the Audio Cassette of "Billie Holiday..Greatest Hits"(Columbia).....

So there I was on a hot and smoggy afternoon, on an L.A. Freeway stuck in rush hour traffic, with plenty of time to choose just the right music to spend the two hours it would take to go the ten miles home. Rummaging through my tapes and rejecting most, there she was..my recently purchased Billie Holiday tape. I popped it in and spent the most delightful time in my car with this music.

Billie's soulful,soothing and uniquely recognizable vocals, accompianied by such greats as The Teddy Wilson Orchestra, Count Basie and His Orchestra, Lester Young on Sax, Buck Clayton on Trumpet, Freddie Green on Guitar,Jo Jones on Drums, and many more wonderful artists,had me smiling and took me away to another time and place. I loved it so much I listened to it several times on the drive.

The album is a great mix of Blues, Standards and songs that just say "Billie!", and You may just want to sing along.This wonderful treat includes "A Sailboat in the Moonlight"(Lombardo/Loeb)), "I Can't Get Started"(Gershwin/Duke),"Solitde"(Ellington/Mills/Delange),"God Bless The Child"(Holiday/Herzog),my personal favorite, "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"(Woods), the oh so marvelous "The Very Thought of You"(Noble), and of course "Billie's Blues(I Love My Man"). There are thirteen intoxicating tracks in all(see buying info for complete list), that will have you humming them for days after.

It's a very good recording of these old songs, although a little low and does have to be turned up a few notches in volume. You'll be under the infulence of Billie from the minute you start listening...and..you won't care about that guy who just cut you off!!!!

A great addition to your Billie Holiday collection or a great way to get to know her! But watch out! You may get hooked!

Enjoy...Laurie

Classic and wonderful
I really enjoyed this particular selection of Holiday's work. I looked everywhere for a compiliation CD that included "The Very Thought of You" (my copy of Lady's Decca Days didn't) and this one had it, along with other songs that weren't included on Decca Days either. Short of purchasing a wildy expensive boxed set of her work, I would reccomend this for anyone even remotely interested in the talent of Billie Holiday: the sound quality is excellent and the choice of songs is great, as well. Even the liner notes are an welcome addition---they include an informative bio about Billie as well as her rise to fame and anecdotes from some of the people she worked with.
As a side note, the only song I would have added to this collection is "Strange Fruit," one of the most haunting and politically-charged Holiday songs to date. If you get a chance to hear that, you'll be doing yourself a favor. Otherwise, this album is a great choice.

Great music to listen to when you're sad
...Fortunately, this CD contains recordings made in her early years (1930's) when her voice had not yet been affected and when her phrasing was innovative and inspired.

I enjoyed the first half of the CD more so than the second half mainly because the last 6 tracks are quite melancholy. ... This is real blues music from a woman who experienced nothing but the blues.
I enjoyed the opening, peppy teaser "Miss Brown to You", including a more somber "Some Other Spring". But I would have to say my favorite track is the unabashedly romantic "Sailboat in the Moonlight".

I was surprised at the lyricism of the songs. This is more like poetry set to jazz and blues chords. ..

Great, but could be better
An excellent collection from the most beautiful and sensuous voice the world has ever heard. However, a little short, and not enough from her later period. Still excellent and beautiful, but it makes you want more!

The harsher the experience, the greater the art.
The sweet voice of lady day tells many stories. The mellow style, the fine jazz base, the high pitched voice. A small part of black history lies within the album.

Many of the songs are unheard of, and to many the name Billie Holiday meerly rings a bell. Having heard the lyrics and finding out what Billie Holiday represents it's hard not to be inspired.

Billie Holiday was born in Baltimore, on 7th April 1915. Her life story was a tragic one right to the very end. Having been raped at the age of 11, having worked as a prostitute, having been addicted to the pulses of heroin and then living all this through the era of apartheid. Her music therefore comes from the heart.

The blues tells the sad stories but yet remains life affirming at the same time. Living in an era with little hope, her music tells you to dream a little more, teaches you what a "little moonlight can do". The songs have a quality which is timeless.

Her songs also show a little more about the society in which she had lived. "Georgio on my mind" and "God Bless the child" and other such songs. It contains the strong spirits that black women had to have.

Billie Holiday had died in 1959 through a drug related death. The life full of tragedies and contradictions had passed away but her songs have lived on still containing the same emotional dynamite. The album is an essential tribute for someone that represents so much. Her mellow jazz sounds are timeless. The album manages to bring an essential part of black history alive! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Took me back in time
I love the 1920s and this was my first CD from that era. Geat music. Favorite track Anabelle Lee, so cute!!!!!

CHARLESTON ERA
THIS HAS DEFINETLY THE BEST REMASTERED VERSIONS OF THESE SONGS FROM THIS ERA. THE FRED AND ADELE ASTAIR SONG IS A RARE PRIZE.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE LIGHTING UP A CHEASTERFIELD CIGARETTE AND POURING A LARGE COLD MARTINI. AND DANCING WITH A REAL HOT DAME AND SAYING "OH! YOU KID."
THIS IS A VERY COOL COLLECTION.

The 1920s kid
Ever since I saw the movie Chicago I have been dancing the Charleston. My friends call me the 1920s kid because all the kids in my class think I am crazy for dancing the Charleston. Of coarse you don't see many 13 year olds dancing to it. I have been searching along time for a cd like this. It is sad to think that this great music has fadded out of American society. I would do anything to live in the 1920s it was such a great decade. I listened to one of the samples from the cd that they give. It was so cool, I must have listened to it ten times. This is definetly a cd to buy. And I thank Amazon.com for helping me locate this CD. Thanks amazon

Fantastic!
It's not often that you find a CD with such a good selection of songs. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

let's charleston!
really spunky original mono recordings from the 1920's. every song is a gem that'll make you want to get up and charleston! listen to the samples and fall in love yourself. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Once Chet Baker arrived in California from his native Oklahoma, his career exploded. After landing gigs with Charlie Parker and Gerry Mulligan, Baker soon found himself a solo star and bandleader. Not long after that, he also found himself whispering love songs into a microphone. Baker was not gifted with the most robust voice of the day. Indeed, listening to pure singers like Nat "King" Cole or Johnny Hartman can expose Baker's weaknesses, but what Baker did, he did well. By choosing wistful, so-young, so-in-love tunes, Baker was able to pour his heart into the material, sketching soft, romantic moods and painting himself as the broken-hearted innocent. The effect can be devastating, as Baker's voice clings to the melody, threatening to disintegrate at any moment. Many of his best tunes--"I Fall in Love Too Easily," "But Not for Me," "Let's Get Lost"--are collected here, and as such, there is no better place to begin an appreciation of Baker's unique singing. --S. Duda ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Simply fantastic! IÂ'm speechless
Oh my God... I never thought this CD was THAT good.

I bought it and I had in mind that it was just another Chet Baker CD with an OK selection, since I havenÂ't heard some of the tracks. But I found out I was wrong, really wrong.

Chet Baker as a trumpet player may sound like any other, like Miles Davis or Marsalis. But what a difference a voice makes... his voice is like a rendezvous to paradise. I canÂ't even count how many times IÂ've been enchanted by his satin voice. I fell in love by the first time I heard him, a few years ago. And indeed is a soundtrack for a lazy winter day :)

Beautiful romantic selection, good for die-hard fans and newbies. Trust everyone who rated 5 stars... too bad we canÂ't rate 6...

Showcase of many of Chet Baker's best early songs
As a fan of Chet Baker's for almost nine years now, particularly of his singing, in my opinion this is one of his three best albums (the other two which I highly recommend - although they are hard to find but well worth the search - are: Let's Get Lost (the Soundtrack to the film about the life of Chet Baker- RCA,AAD,89), and Chet Baker Sings Again (Timeless SJP 238). This album contain many of Chet Baker's best early songs, but does not include his best later recordings, and has omitted some early gems too, such as How Long Has This Been Going On; Forgetful (Chet has four amazing versions of this publicly available, each one quite unique); Come Rain or Shine; or Angel Eyes. For completeness this album should have also included his best vocal recording from later in his career, which are mind-bogglingly poignant and reveal a depth and reticence in Chet Baker that his early recording only hint at, specifically: Moon and Sands; For Heaven Sakes Let's Fall In Love; You're My Thrill; Autumn Leaves; Alone Together; and I Can't Get Started With You. The opportunity is still out there to compile a more comprehensive, definitive set of Chet's best songs, a collection that would fairly reflect both his early and later achievements as a searing, raw, vulnerable singer, who shows here that he is - as a point of reference - on a par with John Lennon in the directness and honesty of his delivery. While it's hard to pick favorites on an album like this, in which (in my opinion) almost all the songs are stellar, one or two do lead the pack (in this order): i) I Remember You; ii) Just Friends; iii) Long Ago and Far Away; iv) It's Always You; v) Daybreak; vi) Time After Time. ***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Romantic Balladeer
This is great collection of singin' Chet Baker. Songs featured here are from 1953 to 1956. Some of them were issued on compilation "Young Chet" with Chet playing trumpet and the same personel. This collection contains some his most famous interpretations, including "My Funny Valentine," "Time After Time," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "Let's Get Lost". Beautiful! If you like Chet singin' you should have this one.

Best of Chet Baker Sings
The guy cant sing? The guy is a so-so jazz trumpter? Well put him together, with his history, his mind and talent - man can he do it well . The music I get from this is outstanding. The tracks are so well put together. In fact I am more a fan of his trumpet playing, so much that when I listen to any of these tracks, the volume on my stereo goes up everytime he starts his solo bits. The accompanying musicians are excellent too. More than worth a buy. In fact this is an essential collection item.

emperor has no clothes (nor voice)
after hearing a couple of these songs on another disc and reading the reviews here, i eagerly looked forward to listening to this cd. how disappointed i was! except for a handful of tunes, these songs are horrible! am i the only person who thinks chet baker can't sing? every phrase makes me cringe. the only thing that qualifies this as 'singing' is the sweet little vibrato he tacks on at the end of phrases. it almost saves him every time. just awful. two good things: 1, finally, here's a disc where i can sing along with and not feel like i'm overmatched; 2, i 'only' paid $8 so i don't feel like i was totally jipped.

if you're considering this cd, you MUST listen to the samplers here, AND go down to your local cd store and ask them to let you listen to the other cuts. THEN AND ONLY THEN should you shell out the $$$. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Some of the best music this century!!!
I don't have this cd, but I have heard most of the songs that it contains. I am a huge fan of classic Big Band Swing. Sing Sing Sing is my favorite song or all time. These are all great hits, and worth buying. Those that haven't heard the songs on this cd are really in for a treat. I have spent hours listening to all of the songs over and over again.

SUPERLATIVE SWING COLLECTION.
A truly magnificent collection of great sides originally waxed in the thirties and forties, this CD is indispensible for any Jazz-Swing-Big-Band enthusiast! Here we get Benny's terrific signature theme "Don't Be That Way", Shaw's own swingy composition "Non-Stop Flight", T.D.'s immortal "Boogie Woogie" (which many jazz purists deplore because of its innovative use of instrumentals -rather that solo piano work- the public obviously disagreed- recorded in 1938, it went on to sell an incredible 4 million copies!) "Take The "A" Train is Ellington's timeless record and Miller offers his "String of Pearls". "Marie" was recorded by Dorsey in early 1937; he traded 7 arrangements for this famous record (he heard the arrangement being performed by an obscure Black Band and instinctively knew the record would be a hit). "Back Bay Shuffle" offers another killer-diller instrumental from Artie Shaw's great '38 band. My only gripe is that the definitive (more swinging and less corny) version of "Casa Loma Stomp" is NOT the one we get in this otherwise excellent collection.

Best I've Heard
I purchased several swing collections previously and they all had poor quality audio - they had not been cleaned up from the original recordings. This CD is MUCH cleaner and makes for an enjoyable experience.

Entertaining, but some tracks don't belong here
The main problem with this CD is the c