Archive for the ‘bass’ tag
Artist Transcriptions
need some help with artists please ? 
?
i am doing my trial exam for gcse art, and i have to pick two artists to do a transcription on, what is a good artist that uses a lot of red in his work? as red is the theme for my final piece. i have already got roy lichenstein,
anything to do with red is the theme
Clyfford Still
Barnett Newman
Chaim Soutine
Francis Bacon
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The Essential Yo-Yo Ma $11.28 flexfield5… |
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Mediterraneo $8.79 “The music on this recording reflects my character. It tells the listener who I am,” says 28-year-old guitarist Milos Karadaglić. As one would expect of a citizen of tiny, turbulent Montenegro, whose career was set in motion by an audacious decision to come to London, that character is marked by a rare single-mindedness. Milos’s love affair with the guitar began when he was eight and his fath… |
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Art of Segovia $11.11 DG has put together a fascinating compilation of Segovia’s art that reminds us what a protean figure he was. Segovia single-handedly put the instrument on the map by making classical guitar concerts popular events, broadening the instrument’s repertory through commissions and transcriptions, and convincing even doubters that it could be a vehicle for serious music. He’s heard here in brief pieces … |
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Bach: Famous Transcriptions [Includes DVD: Rare Performance of Stokowski on Film] $16.98 … |
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The Elton John Keyboard Book $11.96 This terrific collection features note-for-note keyboard transcriptions for 18 of Elton John’s best songs: Bennie And The Jets, Blue Eyes, Border Song, Candle In The Wind, Crocodile Rock, Daniel, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny), Friends, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Honky Cat, I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Little Jeannie, Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters, Rocket… |
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The Vince Guaraldi Collection: Piano (Artist Transcriptions) $11.40 Along with Dave Brubeck, Vince Guaraldi was one of the leading pianists to rise to prominence from the California Bay Area scene. Originally a Latin jazz musician, his recording of Cast Your Fate to the Wind is one of the best-selling jazz records of all… |
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Bruce Springsteen Keyboard Songbook 1973-1980: Piano/Vocal/Guitar $15.46 For pianists who love Bruce Springsteen, this sheet music collection is a dream come true. Rich with piano, Hammond organ, glockenspiel, and more, Springsteen’s early albums contain some of the most memorable keyboard tracks in rock ‘n’ roll history. Now, for the first time, keyboard parts for 25 songs from his legendary 19731980 era have been notated with unprecedented accuracy and gathered in th… |
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6000 Sunset Blvd. $18.98 In the spring of 1953, Tennessee Ernie Ford — then near the peak of his popularity — recorded an amazing amount of transcriptions for RadiOzark at Western Recorders on 6000 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Twenty-three songs from those sessions are on this important archival collection, which isn’t only of interest to Ford fans or early country scholars. For one thing, the sound, considering the age and source of the original recordings, is amazing — it’s clear and full, on par with studio sessions for commercial releases. Also, Ford is backed by a fine band including pedal steel virtuoso Speedy West, a notable recording artist in his own right who gets an instrumental showcase for his astonishing steel guitar work on Rodgers & Hart’s “Lover.” Also in the lineup are a young Billy Strange on rhythm guitar, Billy Liebert on accordion and piano, George Bruns on bass and trombone, and Harold Hensley on violin and clarinet, with most of the guys also contributing backup vocals. Though Ford was nominally a country singer, the songs selected for this compilation show him to be at home with interpreting many strains of American popular music through his easygoing style, from covers of hits by Eddy Arnold, Bunny Berigan, and Fats Waller to standards like “Try a Little Tenderness,” “There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Up a Lazy River” and “Georgia on My Mind.” These might have been recorded in a professional studio for radio transcriptions, but the result comes off almost like an informal living room/front porch musical get-together, Ford joking around amiably with his band between songs. It should be acknowledged that for all its quality, this is nonetheless not the place to hear Ford at his best or most representative, it being light on the country boogies for which he was most known for playing on his hit records of the period, and heavier on his covers of non-country pop tunes than might be expected. But as good-sounding and well-played… |
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Polish Spirit $16.99 After restoring his first name, Nigel Kennedy (aka, the artist formerly known as Kennedy), released a series of recordings on EMI as virtuosic and eccentric as himself: East Meets East, Inner Thoughts, The Vivaldi Album, and the Blue Note Sessions. But despite the enormous musical diversity of those records, little could have prepared one for the album that followed: Polish Spirit, featuring violin concertos by Emil Mlynarski and Mieczyslaw Karlowicz and arrangements of Chopin’s 2 Nocturnes, Op. 9. This music is virtually unknown outside of Poland: Karlowicz’s Violin Concerto had been recorded only three times in the digital era, nothing by Mlynarski was in print at the time of this release, and none of Kresimir Debski’s Chopin transcriptions had heretofore been recorded. But as Kennedy so abundantly demonstrates, each work here deserves to be better known. Both Mlynarski and Karlowicz’s concertos are big, late Romantic works with song-like openings, penetrating central Andantes, and spirited closing Vivaces, and Kennedy plays them with his characteristic blend of panache and intensity. With the plush-toned Polish Chamber Orchestra and the strong-willed Kaspszyk, Kennedy turns in performances that make the best possible case for the music. What more could anyone reasonably ask for? Recorded in the Filharmonia Pomorska in Bydgoszcz, Poland, EMI’s digital sound is colorful and full. ~ James Leonard, Rovi |
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Schubert: Fantasy; Duo; Arpeggione Sonata $24.98 This disc of Schubert’s works for cello and piano, played by cellist Pieter Wispelwey and fortepianist Paolo Giacometti, has many strengths, as well as what might be considered weaknesses. The greatest strength is the performance itself. Wispelwey is a superb technician, a sensitive artist, and a persuasive interpreter, and aided by the able Giacometti, his performances here are warm, sweet, and intimate. The program is very strong: the ever-popular “Arpeggione” Sonata, coupled with Wispelwey’s own expert transcriptions of Schubert’s Duo in A major for violin and piano, D. 574, and the Fantasy in C major for violin and piano, D. 934, transcriptions that add two “new” works to the cello repertoire. Onyx’s sound is clear and a bit thin, but still very vivid. Some may not object to Wispelwey’s lean, vibrato-free tone or Giacometti’s dry-as-dust fortepiano; indeed, for fans of period instruments, these may be selling points. But other listeners may have preferred modern instruments, and they might find these performances a tad too etiolated for their taste. ~ James Leonard, Rovi |
String Bass
For a beginner is would you recommend a 5 or 6 string bass?
I want to start playing but I know nothing about it. I Can Play keyboard/piano and French Horn but I want to Learn Bass. So for a person with zero experienece how many strings should I get, what brand and what book is a good one for beginners? Ant other tips?
Most basses only have 4 strings. I would go with a 4 string because that’s the foundation of bass. The fret board is thinner so it is easier to play. If you are really into metal than get a 5 string, but otherwise get a 4 string.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-GSR100EX-Bass-Guitar-517444-i1392356.gc
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Musical Instruments Placemat $4.99 Music Placemat shows a lot of information: Instruments grouped in major categories (brass, woodwin, percussion, string); notes(whole,half,quarter, etc.), piano keys, etc., and much more. WOW!! Please see picture. Learning Placemats. Study on one side and practice on the other. Use erasable markers on reverse side. Washable for fun and practice. 12″ x 17.5″……. |
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Orchestra Activity Placemat $7.99 Learn about the different musical instruments in an orchestra and explore musical notes and rhythm. Tot Talk’s double sided, educational placemats are thick and high quality. Use washable markers, and wipe clean with wet paper towels, or wash with warm water and dish soap for bacteria free learning. For extra fun, give your child a spray bottle, and they can spray it, and wash off their work a… |
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I DON’T PLAY THE BASS I ROCK IT Mug Coffee Cup 11 oz This high quality ceramic mug makes a great gift for anyone! The design is on both sides of the mug! The image is adhered through a heat process that makes it durable and long lasting. The colors won’t fade, so the mug can be enjoyed for years to come!… |
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Mozart for Mothers-to-be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child $3.17 Fill the womb–I mean, the room–with the gentle sounds of Mozart’s lovely Adagios and Adantes performed by strings and winds.No Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: MOZART,W.A.Title: FOR MOTHERS TO BEStreet Release Date: 04/09/1996… |
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The Essential Yo-Yo Ma $11.28 Here are three dozen pieces of music, all played by Yo-Yo Ma, culled from his extensive discography. Aside from the technical mastery and beautiful tone that are absolutes in all of his playing, one is dazzled by his curiosity and ability to adapt to so many forms and types of music. His Bach and Vivaldi are pellucid and played with non-sentimental crispness, his tango music gritty and rhythmical… |
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Bridge Over Troubled Water (40th Anniversary Edition) (1 CD/1 DVD) $12.38 No one can say Simon & Garfunkel went out with a whimper. The popular duo’s 1970 swan song produced four hit singles and won six Grammy awards, including Record, Album, and Song of the Year. An involving mix of sweeping epics (“The Boxer,” the title track) and breezy throwaways (a live cover of the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love,” the rock & roll trifle “Baby Driver”), Bridge was one of the most p… |
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Instrumental Classmates: In Tune With Strings (Introduction to the String Family of Instruments) $35.00 (Video only, No Booklet) Instrumental Classmates is a fun, fresh entertaining new video series designed to inspire students to pick up a musical instrument and learn to play it. In Tune With Strings is your introduction to one of the most expressive groups of instruments. John PJ as he explores the string family of instruments through live performances, fun demonstrations, and fascinating historic… |
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Electric Bass 2: Soloing Ear Training & Six String [VHS] $31.99 … |
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Brian Emmel: Bass Video Beginning 5 String [VHS] $18.95 … |
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Bass Guitar Lessons: Beginning Bass – How to play Bass instructional video $12.00 Tony Saunders has performed and recorded with countless well-known artists including: Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and many more! In Beginning Bass, Tony gives 4 and 5 string beginning players an up close detailed course in the fundamentals of beginning bass playing. Includes on-screen tablature, interactive lesson chart and a free password to online book. 14 HD LCD Display (1366×768, 1… |
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$3.67 shipped–Capo for 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar Bass (Green) $3.67 Capo for 6-string acoustic electric guitars. |
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$3.93 shipped–A-007 Capo for 6-String Acoustic Electric Guitar Bass (Black) $3.93 A-007 capo for 6-string acoustic electric guitars. |
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$5.02 shipped–Genuine Yoshikawa Bass 4.0 150m 20LB 0.331mm Fish Fishing Nylon Line $5.02 Abrasion resistance fishing line is suitable for saltwater fishing. really a trustable companion for your fishing leisure time. It would be good for set lines. camping string. mason line. garden string. kite string. net weaving. or many other uses. |
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…For the Ghosts Within $13.98 For the Ghosts Within, Robert Wyatt’s collaboration with Gilad Atzmon and Ros Stephen, is a set of seven standards from jazz, theater, pop, and film, balanced by four provocative originals. Stephen recorded strings, double bass, and a scratch vocal first; Wyatt added proper ones later; and this was handed off to Atzmon, who added reeds, winds, electronics, and accordion, and produced the finished product. The process sounds cold and disembodied; the recording, anything but. It opens with Johnny Mercer’s haunting “Laura,” with Wyatt providing one of the most vulnerable vocals of his career over Stephen’s Sigamos String Quartet, Richard Pryce’s upright bass, and Atzmon’s alto saxophone. It’s riveting for its nocturnal nakedness despite the warmth of the strings. “Lullaby for Irena,” by Stephen and Alfreda Benge, begins with murky electronics and Atzmon playing an Eastern modal theme on clarinet. The strings introduce Western classical harmony before Pryce and Wyatt enter, haltingly, allowing the musical spaces between his words their full measure. It is a love song so full of gratitude it is nearly heartbreaking. The title track, by Atzmon and Benge, features Tali Atzmon on lead vocals with various reeds winds, accordion, and even a Palestinian shepherd’s flute by Gilad Atzmon. The exotic, sampled percussive effects create a sense of haunted drama as Stephen and Wyatt underscore them with a backing chorus that transports the listener to an aural terrain between jazz and Middle Eastern folk styles. These three tracks provide a blueprint for most of what follows: Wyatt’s vocal interpretations of Thelonious Monk’s “‘Round Midnight,” Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life,” and Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” stand outside the jazz repertoire, but, because of Wyatt’s extraordinary, uncategorizable voice, offer a fresh, expansive, and elegant reading of standards that don’t lose their connecting threads. That said, the version of “What a Wonderful World” bea… |
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50 Acoustic Guitar Licks You Must Know! $24.95 In this installment of the Guitar Lab series — which emphasizes an interactive approach to music instruction — expert guitarist Rich Maloof presents step-by-step lessons on 50 acoustic licks that incorporate a variety of essential techniques, including fingerpicking patterns, open-string voicings, descending bass lines, and hammer-ons and pull-offs. ~ Sandra Bencic, Rovi |
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A Glorious Christmas $0 Proclaim and celebrate the joy of Christmas with this timeless collection of Christmas classics and carols. It’s perfect for a hanging of the greens service, Advent celebrations, a Christmas worship service or a singing Christmas tree. This flexible collection can be performed in sections throughout the Christmas season or as a complete 30-minute work. From the jubilant opening to the powerful conclusion, A Glorious Christmas offers the music of Christmas in an exciting and worshipful presentation. I-Pak contains score and parts for Flute 1, 2; Oboe; Clarinet 1, 2; Horn 1, 2; Trumpet 1, 2, 3; Trombone 1, 2, 3; Timpani, Percussion 1 & 2, Rhythm, Violin 1, 2; Viola; Cello; String Bass. |
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A Klezmer Anthology $29.95 A great collection of freylachs, waltzes, popular Klezmer and Yiddish selections culled from the Klezmerantic series by S.W. Milstein. Instrumentation: String Quartet, Violin, Viola, Guitar, Bass and Bb transpositions. |
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A Love Supreme: The Legacy Of John Coltrane $17.98 The Turtle Island String Quartet has the chops, the guts, the soul, the spirit, and the taste to take on the musical legacy of John Coltrane — what more could anyone want? One of the great soloists, composers, and bandleaders in jazz history, Coltrane transformed the music of his time through the strength of his personality and his recordings continue to transform the music of all following times. This disc carries on that series of transformation by setting his music in the context of a traditional classical string quartet. While the players and arrangers do a more than creditable piece of work in taking on his music — the unisons of the violins, the bow slaps of the viola, and the walking bass in the cello do a fair job of approximating a jazz quartet — it is Coltrane’s music that ultimately transforms them. When the musicians tear through the opening of Countdown, when they soar through the solo of “My Favorite Things,” when they rip into the climax of A Love Supreme, it sounds like neither classical musicians playing jazz nor string musicians playing band music: it sounds like great musicians transformed by great music. Telarc’s digital sound is clear and cool, but immediate. ~ James Leonard, Rovi |
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A Puccini Trilogy $50 Veteran orchestral conductor and writer Cliff Colnot has created a unique set of publications featuring scoring especially for student groups with varying skill levels. With challenging parts for a solo violin and a solo cello, supported by intermediate level parts for the ensemble and simplified bass parts, these superb arrangements are ideal for many student groups.Includes: Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore (from Tosca), O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi), and Un bel di vedremo (from Madama Butterfly). Dur: 10:30 |
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A.Breton Bass Strings 3/4 $69.95 “Steel-on-steel” design for durability and consistency of tone |
Walking Bass
will walking everyday make my double bass endurance up?
hi ive been playing double bass for awhile and ive read how i should learn control not worry about speed take days off etc. but i read from someone on a site that if you walk or bike everyday it could help with your double bass endurance. is this true?
It does build the muscles of your legs, which should help you play longer without them getting tired, but by actually playing, the build the muscles in such a way that they’re fine-tuned to exactly what you need them stronger for. It’s the same reason guitarists typically don’t use those squeeze grips to build the muscles of their hands – while it may build strength, it’s not as efficient as playing if you want the strength specifically for your instrument.
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Learn Bass Guitar In 8 Weeks $14.25 THIS STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO THAT CAN GET YOU PLAYING BASS IN JUST 8 WEEKS. THIS IS A REALISTIC WAY TO LEARN THE BASS. A great gift that can last a lifetime. This video will help you learn to play bass guitar without having any prior lessons or experience at all. Jason has been an instructor in Phoenix, Arizona for many years years now and has seen what works and what doesn’t. This DVD will guide you t… |
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Learn Punk Guitar In 8 Weeks $14.25 THIS STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO THAT CAN GET YOU PLAYING PUNK GUITAR IN JUST 8 WEEKS. THIS IS A REALISTIC WAY TO LEARN PUNK GUITAR. A great gift that can last a lifetime. This video will help you learn to play punk without having any prior lessons or experience at all. Jason Shepherd has been a instructor in Phoenix, Arizona for many years years now and has seen what works and what doesn’t. This video wil… |
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Todd Johnson: Walking Bass Line Module System, Vol. 1 – Triad Modules $14.57 WALKING BASS LINE MOD SYS V1:TRIAD – DVD Movie… |
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Hair: Original Soundtrack Recording – Special Anniversary Edition $5.57 Rereleased two decades after the motion picture debuted, the soundtrack to the movie version of America’s first “tribal love-rock musical,” Hair, holds up amazingly well. Performances by Treat Williams (“I Got Life”), Beverly D’Angelo (“Good Morning Starshine”), and Nell Carter (“Abie Baby” and “White Boys”) are as uproarious as ever, while Cheryl Barnes’s “Easy to Be Hard” remains a paralyzing go… |
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The Best Of Pete Townshend: Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking $13.98 For awhile there, ol’ Pete had a pretty nifty solo career going. Who Came First, his 1972 solo debut, sidestepped comparisons to the Who by tackling spiritual themes with low-key charm, qualities that resurfaced on Rough Mix, his wonderful 1977 duo record with Ronnie Lane. Then came Empty Glass, which was both grand and successful, like peak Who. From then on, Townshend’s been mostly grandiose and… |
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Walking Wounded $10.98 Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn of Everything but the Girl have done their share of style-hopping, from jazz pop to Britpop to orchestral pop to contemporary R&B to jazzy R&B. Their seventh album, 1996’s Walking Wounded, finds the duo landing, good as new, onto the dance floor with a batch of songs based around techno-derived beats. The shift toward electronics may seem extreme for a group that courted … |
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LG VX10000/VX9900/VX9200/Mot VU204/Samsung U450/Treo 690 Black Single EarPhone Hands Free w/Mic $3.99 LG 10000 / 9900 / TR690 SINGLE HANDS FREE features noise isolation, ultra comfortable silicone and pulsating bass you can actually feel. You can use this handfree when you are walking or driving. Integrated microphone lets you talk on the phone with the adapter connected. Universal Type: |
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Audio Music CD Compact Disc of TEN FINGER My Pain. 1. Inside 2. Dead Man Walking 3. I fear 4. My pain 5. Dream in color 6. Heavy World 7. Why I weep 8. Raised Me 9. Can’t you save me…. |
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Talking Action Figure $14.99 Your favorite holiday characters come to life with talking bases that play dialogue and music from the beloved holiday classic, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!” Hexagonally-shaped bases fit nicely together to play with or display your favorite characters. Ideal decorations for the holiday season, these 4″-5″ window box figures with talking bases also play music from the all-time family classic … |
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Striped Bass Barnegat S/S Tee Heavy duty, 100% ring-spun cotton short sleeve tee with front chest pocket, with Guy Harvey signature logo…. |
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(Re)Conception $19.98 Helen Sung has made great strides since winning the 2007 Mary Lou Williams Piano Competition. Recruiting two of the most in-demand rhythm players for this trio date, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash, the pianist mixes things up with fresh arrangements of standards, time-tested jazz compositions, and a few less frequently played works. Her swinging take of Duke Ellington’s “C Jam Blues” begins with a playful exchange with Washington before launching into the familiar theme, with the walking bass and light percussion propelling her inventive improvising as she avoids the clich? d route through this jazz standard. She also offers a snappy midtempo setting of the maestro’s “Everything But You,” playfully incorporating “Things Ain’t What They Used to Be” before she turns on the afterburners in her superb solo. Her punchy take of George Shearing’s “(Re)Conception” reveals the potential of this neglected bop gem. Thelonious Monk’s “Teo” is another overlooked piece, though Sung transforms it into a rapid-fire Bud Powell-flavored romp. Jerry Bock’s “Far from the Home I Love” (from the musical Fiddler on the Roof) is not typically heard much on jazz record dates, but Sung delivers a sentimental yet shimmering interpretation. Her bright rendition of Burt Bacharach’s “Wives and Lovers” puts the spotlight on the talented Washington for an extensive solo. Sung also contributed one original, the lively, constantly shifting “Duplicity.” Helen Sung is clearly one artist to watch among the musicians of her generation. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi |
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A Charlie Brown Christmas $9.99 Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz called on pianist extraordinaire Vince Guaraldi and his trio to compose and perform music that would reflect the humor, charm, and innocence of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang for their 1965 Christmas TV special. It was a perfect match: Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz’s work and introduce contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity. “What Child Is This” touches on cool jazz’s richly textured percussive nuances, while “The Christmas Song” reflects Christmas’ relaxing, mellow moments. The renowned “Linus and Lucy” gives the Peanuts characters a fresh, energetic feel with its tantalizing meter changes, brilliant percussion, and dashing, humorous piano lines. “Christmastime Is Here,” perhaps the album’s most endearing and eloquent moment, is six minutes of soft, lullaby-like melodic and percussive flavors. This collection of soul-soothing melodies would not be complete without the romantic gem “Skating,” which blends musical references to falling snowflakes with the dashing feel of swing. Finally, the uplifting, emotionally stirring swing tune “Christmas Is Coming” really brings the listener into the joyous light of the Christmas spirit. Fred Marshall’s alluring walking basslines and drummer Jerry Granelli’s hauntingly beautiful brush work give most of the album a warm foundation, while Monty Budwig and Colin Bailey shine through with eminent dexterity on bass and drums on “Greensleeves.” As for Guaraldi, his penetrating improvisational phrases paint pictures of the first winter snowfall, myriad glistening trees, and powdery white landscapes. With its blend of contemporary jazz and lyrical mannerisms, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season. ~ Shawn Haney, Rovi |
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A Charlie Brown Christmas $18.98 Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz called on pianist extraordinaire Vince Guaraldi and his trio to compose and perform music that would reflect the humor, charm, and innocence of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang for their 1965 Christmas TV special. It was a perfect match: Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz’s work and introduce contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity. “What Child Is This” touches on cool jazz’s richly textured percussive nuances, while “The Christmas Song” reflects Christmas’ relaxing, mellow moments. The renowned “Linus and Lucy” gives the Peanuts characters a fresh, energetic feel with its tantalizing meter changes, brilliant percussion, and dashing, humorous piano lines. “Christmastime Is Here,” perhaps the album’s most endearing and eloquent moment, is six minutes of soft, lullaby-like melodic and percussive flavors. This collection of soul-soothing melodies would not be complete without the romantic gem “Skating,” which blends musical references to falling snowflakes with the dashing feel of swing. Finally, the uplifting, emotionally stirring swing tune “Christmas Is Coming” really brings the listener into the joyous light of the Christmas spirit. Fred Marshall’s alluring walking basslines and drummer Jerry Granelli’s hauntingly beautiful brush work give most of the album a warm foundation, while Monty Budwig and Colin Bailey shine through with eminent dexterity on bass and drums on “Greensleeves.” As for Guaraldi, his penetrating improvisational phrases paint pictures of the first winter snowfall, myriad glistening trees, and powdery white landscapes. With its blend of contemporary jazz and lyrical mannerisms, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season. ~ Shawn Haney, Rovi |
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A Love Supreme: The Legacy Of John Coltrane $17.98 The Turtle Island String Quartet has the chops, the guts, the soul, the spirit, and the taste to take on the musical legacy of John Coltrane — what more could anyone want? One of the great soloists, composers, and bandleaders in jazz history, Coltrane transformed the music of his time through the strength of his personality and his recordings continue to transform the music of all following times. This disc carries on that series of transformation by setting his music in the context of a traditional classical string quartet. While the players and arrangers do a more than creditable piece of work in taking on his music — the unisons of the violins, the bow slaps of the viola, and the walking bass in the cello do a fair job of approximating a jazz quartet — it is Coltrane’s music that ultimately transforms them. When the musicians tear through the opening of Countdown, when they soar through the solo of “My Favorite Things,” when they rip into the climax of A Love Supreme, it sounds like neither classical musicians playing jazz nor string musicians playing band music: it sounds like great musicians transformed by great music. Telarc’s digital sound is clear and cool, but immediate. ~ James Leonard, Rovi |
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Acoustic Fingerstyle Guitar $29.95 Rick Ruskin’s remarkable style captures all the nuances of a band/rhythm-section and transforms the parts into amazing, in-the-pocket fingerstyle grooves like you’ve never imagined on a single guitar! Split-screen video format covers: right- and left-hand technique, walking-bass and counterpoint lines, open-voiced triads, simultaneous bass/rhythm/lead parts, pedal-steel effects, double-stop bends, harmonics, and more. The techniques are immediately put to use in extraordinary instrumental versions of “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Georgia on My Mind,” and four originals. His meticulous analysis of each phrase is loaded with variations and insight that show how to transform the essence of any tune into dynamic arrangements of your own. Musical notation and tab is printable from the disk (DVD-ROM). “…so brilliant at times that he seems to transcend normal approaches to the guitar.” –Guitar Player magazine. 120 minutes. |
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All My Relations $17.98 This CD by the Charles Lloyd Quartet avoids fitting into any of the stereotypes that one might have about ECM’s recordings. Pianist Bobo Stenson has carved his own identity out of the styles of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett, drummer Billy Hart is stimulating in support and Anders Jormin provides a walking bass on many of the tracks; a rarity for ECM sessions. As one might expect, the main focus is on Charles Lloyd whose playing during the past decade has been some of the finest of his career. He mostly sticks to tenor (just playing flute on “Little Peace” and Chinese oboe on the very brief “Milarepa”), and although traces of John Coltrane’s sound will always be in his tone, Lloyd comes up with quite a few original ideas. He is best on “Thelonious Theonlyus” (which has a slight calypso feel to it), the episodic “Cape to Cairo Suite” (a tribute to Nelson Mandela), a long tenor/drums duet on “All My Relations” (which is a mix between “Chasin’ the ‘Trane” and “Bessie’s Blues”) and the brooding spiritual “Hymne to the Mother.” A strong effort. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi |
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All Soul $16.98 It seems like every fall for the last ten years or so, jazz fans have been graced by the release of a new Houston Person record. The Texas tenor is one of the last men standing and 2005’s All Soul shows he is standing as tall as ever. His gruff but inviting tone is steady and true, and a quick listen to the first track shows it hasn’t dropped off at all. On the album he is joined by Eddie Allen on trumpet, Stan Hope on piano, Randy Johnston on guitar, Per-Ola Gadd on bass, and Chip White on drums for a mix of ballads and hard bop groovers. They back him quite ably on the arrangements, but it’s hard not to wish Person took all the solos, especially when Allen and Johnston reel off technically proficient but soul-less solos (in comparison to Person anyway). Person as usual positively bleeds heart and soul on the ballads like “All Soul” and “Let It Be Me,” which he effortlessly rescues from cheesiness, and romps through the up-tempo tracks like Hank Mobley’s “Bossa for Baby,” his own very Art Blakey-sounding “Why Not,” and the loping “2 Rb’s.” The best moments of all come on Person’s solos during a spirited take on Percy Mayfield’s classic “Please Send Me Someone to Love,” where you can picture him walking the bar and sending a packed club into an uproar as he reaches deeper into his soul and spills it all out. Too bad the proceedings come back down to earth when the other soloists take over, but then that is the nature of this record and so many like it that feature giants like Person. You have to wait out the chaff to get to the wheat. On All Soul the waiting is well worth it. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi |
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At the Crossroads $16.98 At the Crossroads, saxophonist James Carter’s third disc for the Emarcy, is the first for the label with his Organ Trio, which has been together since 2004. Produced by Michael Cuscuna, it’s an indelible portrait of Detroit’s historic jazz scene, envisioned in the present while looking ahead. All trio members — Carter, organist Gerard Gibbs, and drummer Leonard King, Jr. — either reside or come from there. This disc also showcases Carter’s development from his earliest days shedding in the Motor City to his current status as a jazz virtuoso. Numerous guest appearances — from Detroit and elsewhere — underscore this. It kicks off in true B-3 grit-and-gravy mode with a twist on “Oh Gee,” a knotty bop burner that is one of several tracks with guitarist Bruce Edwards; its head is played at a breakneck tempo, the trio’s interplay and Carter’s solo in the middle move in and out of the honking and bar walking tradition of Detroit’s Hastings Street clubs, but pushes it into its post-bop terrain. “JC Off the Set,” by Gibbs, is a ballad written in response to Carter’s earlier composition “JC on the Set,” and the organist is impressive with his innovative arpeggios and his sense of swing. King’s “Lettuce Toss Yo’ Salad” is the wildest cut here; a variation on straight-ahead hard bop, it takes intense turns by Carter squawking and squalling with King, making his cymbals and snare sound simply greasy with Gibbs’ sprinting bass runs and instinctive fills. Big Maybelle’s “Ramblin’ Blues” is one of three vocals by veteran Detroit singer Miche Braden. With Carter playing flute and alto in addition to tenor, fellow Detroiter Vincent Chandler on trombone, and trumpeter Keyon Harrold, Braden gets her soul-blues on. She also shines on the gospel nugget “Tis the Old Ship of Zion,” and reveals her shining jazz chops on “The Walking Blues.” Other highlights (though there isn’t a weak moment here) include a reading of B-3 jazz innovator Sarah McLawler’s tune “My Whole L… |
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At the Kitano, Vol. 2 $16.98 Tenor saxophonist Rich Perry met pianist Harold Danko when both of them were a part of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in the 1970s. Since the ’90s, they have both led numerous sessions for Steeplechase, often playing on each other’s dates and regularly working clubs with a quartet that included drummer Jeff Hirschfield and bassist Jay Anderson. This second volume of performances from two nights at the Kitano Hotel in New York City finds them playing five very familiar songs, though they find a good deal of new ground as they stretch out a bit more than usual. Perry takes a bit of an angular approach to “My Shining Hour,” utilizing the chord changes to build his improvisations without needing to establish the melody. He sets up “Love Walked In” over Anderson’s walking bass and Hirschfield’s soft brushes with Danko initially laying out, playing a loping yet intricate solo. Perry’s sense of humor comes out in the spunky rendition of “Just in Time,” with Danko playing eclectic chords behind him ? la Jaki Byard. “Autumn Leaves” seems to float, barely touching at the essence of the song. Oddly enough, the bop favorite “Wee” ends up being the most straight-ahead performance, though it has its share of surprises. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi |
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BBC Live $18.98 Recorded live in the Summer of 1991 at London’s Town & Country Club, the Hux label’s BBC Live captures all of the volatility, humor, and wounded sarcasm that the Violent Femmes bring to each and every predictably unpredictable live show (bassist Brian Ritchie traditionally dictates the set list in real time). The group had just released Why Do Birds Sing?, a return to the snarky guitar/bass/snare drum attack that fueled their classic self-titled debut nearly ten years before, and were experiencing a bit of a comeback with “American Music” and its accompanying video. The crowd is rabid and knowledgeable, belting out each and every word, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition between the sentimental strains of “Good Feeling” and the murderous “Country Death Song.” The group’s ability to mix devout Christianity with sex, drugs, and rock & roll without seeming the least bit contrived has always been both a virtue and a hindrance. The Violent Femmes have always been a polarizing band, but you wouldn’t know it listening to a gaggle of British girls yell out “Jesus Walking on the Water” during the guitar intro to “Kiss Off.” Great stuff for longtime fans. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi |
