Left of Cool

Left of Cool

Left of Cool

ASIN: B000007NCY

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
What's left for Bela Fleck? Bluegrass, rock, jazz, classical, rock, folk--he's explored them all. After an epic, Grammy-winning live album, Fleck returns to the studio for a surprisingly subtle, intricate suite of instrumentals--and a number of vocal tracks--combining his usual daring on banjo with mandolin, synths, and theremin. The record is a dreamy soundtrack of reggae, pop, world beat, and techno, merging into an ambient-vibe-spin-club-funk-jazz (such a cumbersome label for his agile music). The most satisfying moments come with the most lovely melodies--as on the lilting "Big Country"--when Fleck's traditional soul rises with a clear voice through the virtuosity and studio wizardry.--Roy Francis Kasten

Jazz Times
On 15 tracks [Bela Fleck] supplements [the bluegrass banjo] with mandolin, synthesizer, sitar, various guitars and the multi-stringed theramin. The result is a wonderfully wild musical outing.

Left of Cool

Left of Cool,Béla Fleck & The Flecktones,Warner Bros / Wea,Fusion,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop,Progressive Bluegrass
Left of Cool
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Awesome
  • You're All Repugnant!
  • Not up to their standards
  • Things you have not heard before.
  • A mixed proposition.. but still four stars.
 Left of Cool
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000007NCY
Release Date: 1998-06-09

Tracks:

  1. Throwdown At The Hoedown
  2. Communication
  3. Big Country
  4. Sojourn Of Arjuna
  5. Let Me Be The One
  6. Trane To Conamarra
  7. Almost 12
  8. Step Quiet
  9. Oddity
  10. Sleeping Dogs Lie
  11. Trouble And Strife
  12. Slow Walker
  13. Shanti
  14. The Big Blink
  15. Prelude To Silence

Amazon.com

What's left for Bela Fleck? Bluegrass, rock, jazz, classical, rock, folk--he's explored them all. After an epic, Grammy-winning live album, Fleck returns to the studio for a surprisingly subtle, intricate suite of instrumentals--and a number of vocal tracks--combining his usual daring on banjo with mandolin, synths, and theremin. The record is a dreamy soundtrack of reggae, pop, world beat, and techno, merging into an ambient-vibe-spin-club-funk-jazz (such a cumbersome label for his agile music). The most satisfying moments come with the most lovely melodies--as on the lilting "Big Country"--when Fleck's traditional soul rises with a clear voice through the virtuosity and studio wizardry.--Roy Francis Kasten

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Awesome.......2007-07-08

This was the first Flecktones album I got, and I really like about half of it. Big country is probably their best song ever, (is it a pseudo-remake of Big Country's "living in a big country? I think it is) And it gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. Sojourn of Arjuna is good, as well as communication, but a lot of their vocal tracks are kinda weird, but so are the Flecktones. At any rate, this album is worth getting just for Big Country. I am trying to get more into Jazz, so I'm trying to like some of the other songs a little more, but their definitely not bad.

4 out of 5 stars You're All Repugnant!.......2005-05-21

Being a professional drummer, I am already offended by Futureman's choice of "instrument," but all of you that gave miserable reviews to this album dissapoint me. There is nothing wrong with this album. Futch's vocals are no godsend, but I see no problem with the Flecktones being a little bit slack once in a while. When I pick up Live Art, I'm certainly not picking it up for some fast bop, I'm picking it up for complex and mellow melodies, like that of "Shubee's Doobie." Don't discard "Left of Cool," because some musical critic schmuck says its terrible, give it a chance, it's pretty damn good. All of you music "afficionados," who analyze music instead of listen to it can cram it! YOU'RE ALL REPUGNANT!

2 out of 5 stars Not up to their standards.......2005-03-26

The Flecktones are simply an incredible group of musicians, but this particlar album falls short of their other efforts. The vocal numbers tend to drag the entire CD down...that said, for a used price of $4 or so, I would still buy it for the several more enjoyable tunes on it.

5 out of 5 stars Things you have not heard before........2004-10-13

If you are new to the flecktones, your first impression will probably be that it sounds a little like muzak due to the orchestration that usually involves a lot of saxophone and a lot of synthesized sounds. Soon, however, you will discover that this is some of the most varied and conceptually dense music you will ever listen to. Definately worth a buy.

4 out of 5 stars A mixed proposition.. but still four stars........2002-08-10

Is there anything (short of opera and hip-hop) that Bela Fleck and crew haven't tried yet? The banjoist extraordinare has done everything from bluegrass to classical on his own, and he and the Flecktones have run seemingly every musical gamut they could find, touching on anything from pop to jazz to traditional African music along the way. And yet, Left of Cool shows a first for them - the first time something they attempted didn't quite work out. I'm speaking of the vocal numbers here. Percussionist Future Man tries his hand at a couple almost-pop tunes, but to my ears they're the weakest of the bunch. I guess nobody's perfect. Give them credit for trying: "Communication," "Trouble and Strife" and the Eastern-flavored "Let Me Be the One" are still pretty nice tunes.. but if you know this group, you know they can do so much better than just 'nice.' Some scattered phrases litter "Sojourn to Arjuna" too, and that tune seems like an idea stretched too thin to begin with. On the plus side, "Step Quiet" is mostly saved by its sweet melody.

Enough complaining - those few tracks aside, the greater part of this album is every bit as stunning as the zenith of Flecktone perfection known as Live Art. Victor Wooten is one of the most adept bassists the world has seen since Jaco Pastorius - take a listen to "Almost 12" if you think that's an exaggeration. Whether it's the pleasing melody lines of "Shanti," the call-and-answering of bass/sax licks through the wonderfully uplifting "Big Country" or the easy not-really-ragtime "Sleeping Dogs Lie," these guys radiate joy and love of music through everything they play. Oh, I also have to mention the complex jazz number "The Big Blink." Great stuff.

So there you have it. Lesser points and all, I'm still giving Left of Cool four stars: since these 75 minutes are so jam-packed with musical adventurousness, phenomenal group chemistry and (mostly) strong compositions, it seems unfair to short them any more. The aforementioned Live Art remains their most perfect album (and the best introduction to the group IMNSHO), but LoC isn't too far behind. I also highly suggest its followup Outbound, where they finally made the singing work.. but that's for a different review. Enjoy.
Easy as Pie: Live at the Left Bank
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Soul Nourishment by Two Super Servers
  • This Evening Rocks!
 Easy as Pie: Live at the Left Bank
Al Cohn & Zoot Sims
Manufacturer: Label M.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000516V2
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Tracks:

  1. Tickle Toe
  2. Mr. George
  3. Medley: These Foolish Things/Willow Weep For Me
  4. John's Bunch
  5. Blue Hodge
  6. Expense Account
  7. Come Rain Or Come Shine
  8. Recado Bossa Nova

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Soul Nourishment by Two Super Servers.......2003-01-06

My latest cd acquisition is "Easy As Pie" by Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. This was issued last year on LabelM, a division of PDSE records. I first heard about it as an previously unissued live recording from 1968. Label M had acquired the rights to issue recordings of live performances from the Left Bank Jazz Society in Baltimore, MD. My title is a quote from the liner notes by Ira Gitler. I enjoy and respect for all sorts of music. However, jazz saxophone, playing and listening, is what makes my heart sing. It's here on this CD.

From the outset, it's clear that this is going to be a special recording. The opener is the ending of the piece, Tickle Toe, by Lester Young, by whom each player was influenced. The players swing hard on a variety of pieces at a variety of tempos and feels. Sims is the lone soloist on the last two pieces.

Sims and Cohn met as members of the Woody Herman "Four Brothers" band in the late 40's. They developed a lifelong friendship and collaborated frequently. As one of the most recorded tenor duos in jazz history, these men were very familiar with each other musically. Their familiarity and friendship shows up in constructing solo lines and swapping musical quotes as they "trade fours" during solos and play in perfect unison or harmony during the melodies. You can
hear their respect for each other and joy in playing in every note.

The rhythm section includes Dave Frishberg (later known as a great composer and lyricist ("Peel Me A Grape", "My Attorney, Bernie"), Victor Sproles on bass and Donald McDonald on drums. They provide strong support throughout. Also supporting is a vibrant, appreciative crowd, who audibly spurs them on.

The cuts all feature great tenor playing. For me, the highlight is Sims' version of Willow Weep For Me during the ballad medley. This has to be among his best tenor solos ever - certainly in my collection with dozens of Sims albums, it's one of maybe 3 penultimate tenor solos that come to mind.

Just as background, Sims enjoyed a longer and more productive recording career, Cohn devoting more time to arranging than performing later in his career. Among musicians, though, Cohn is regarded as a master, as is Sims. The tenor duo also includes a special place in jazz history. These two, along with Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons were the most prolifically recorded duos.

There are just a few cons: First, the beginning of Tickle Toe is omitted, as is the ending of Recado Bossa Nova. These clearly could have been included. The only other gripe is that there are occasional sound quality problems as the players move back and forth from the mike. Those occasional moments do not detract from the overall enjoyment of this CD.

Five Stars. Great Stuff!

4 out of 5 stars This Evening Rocks!.......2001-03-23

This is one, swingin' night in Baltimore 1968, at the Famous Ballroom, before a live audience filled with members of the Left Bank Jazz Society. The atmosphere is electric, reminding me of how exciting it is to hear live music in a small club. No one's sitting still at their tables here. Zoot Sims and Al Cohn make gorgeous music together, exchanging solos and playing duets, and backed by an excellent rhythm section -- and a piano that definitely belongs to the joint (and not the pianist)!

There are some terrific ballads here too -- particularly "Willow Weep for Me," played by Sims, which practically becomes a religious experience for some audience members. "Recado Bossa Nova" is the swingin'-est bossa nova tune I've heard in years -- Sims sounds like a jumpin' Stan Getz here.

My only qualm with the entire recording is that it fades in and fades out at the top and bottom, perhaps due to the fact that this is part of a private tape collection that producer Joel Dorn spent years to obtain from the Left Bank Jazz Society.

I'm sorry I missed this evening back in 1968 -- but hearing this CD almost transports me back. Grab it.
My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A 'Must Have' in anyone's jazz collection
  • Chick Corea- Not Richie Beirach
  • Time Machine, Getz please!
  • Stan captured live at Baltimore's Left Bank Famous Ballroom.
  • The Wonderful and Brilliant Stan Getz
 My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank
Stan Getz
Manufacturer: Label M.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004YNBJ
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

  1. Invitation
  2. Untitled
  3. Spring Is Here
  4. Litha
  5. Lucifer's Fall
  6. My Foolish Heart
  7. Fiesta

Amazon.com

Stan Getz will always be remembered for Getz/Gilberto--that and his big, beautiful tone. While the saxophonist's bossa nova period was only a couple of years long, his singular sound served him well throughout his 50-year career. Recorded by the Left Bank Jazz Society, My Foolish Heart documents a 1975 date with Getz in fine form, backed by the powerhouse rhythm section of pianist Richie Beirach, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. Getz sounds surprisingly hale on the five uptempo numbers, playing his horn with fire and endurance. Ballads "Spring Is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are given Getz's typically tender readings--he wrings every bit of emotion out of these tunes, as the trio holds back and gives him room to work. The four finish the hourlong set with a fun calypso number, "Fiesta," which brings things to a close on satisfying, uplifting note. A great set, this is an opportunity to hear Getz in a never-before-released performance that boasts an uncommonly stellar band. The sound is a tad rough, but Getz's big horn cuts through it all. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A 'Must Have' in anyone's jazz collection.......2006-12-10

Getz, popularly known for his forays into Bossa Nova, shows his true strength as a straight ahead improvisor on this gem. Considering it was recorded on a small tape recorder and the tapes sat in storage until 2000 the sound quality is remarkable. The soundstage is quite acceptable through my high-end system. The bass is rendered clearly and without any sloppy overemphasis added in the mastering. DeJohnette's energized drums are rendered center/left but it doesn't distract from the listening experience. The piano has very nice impact and clarity, stage right. The previous reviewer's comment that it's really Corea on piano is plausible - sounds like him. The crowd sounds add a nice ambiance but aren't overbearing. Getz sounds as good here as I've ever heard him, perhaps energized by the live setting. Rated four stars for the slight shortcomings in the recording and five stars for the performance. This is a mature master of the tenor saxophone in full voice.

5 out of 5 stars Chick Corea- Not Richie Beirach.......2001-03-05

The pianist on this recording is Chick Corea. Just wanted to clear that up. "Litha" is a classic, a great version here.

5 out of 5 stars Time Machine, Getz please!.......2000-10-01

Let me start by saying I'm not old enough to have seen Stan Getz live. I have, however, discovered his music, and am undoubtedly thankful for it. My first encounter was what I'd venture to guess the typical initial experience with Getz. The sweet, breezy sounds of Getz/Gilberto. Since then I have picked up Captain Marvel, Quiet Now and a few others. My most recent purchase being My Foolish Heart, a "live" recording made in the mid-70s and just recently issued for the first time. All I have to say is I'm damn blown away. Getz has never sounded this alive to me before. It's as if I jumped aboard a time machine and was sitting four tables back from the stage. "Invitation" and "Lucifer's Fall" soar and swoop with harmonic dynamics that I've rarely heard in Stan's playing. "Spring Is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are two gorgeous versions of well-worn standards, so good that the hair on the back of my neck stands up. While that big fat tone is right on the mark, it's forgoes the laid back, west coast tag that's often associated with Getz. It's visceral this time around.

I could only imagine what it would have been like to see this master at work, and this disc goes along way in sparking my imagination.

2 out of 5 stars Stan captured live at Baltimore's Left Bank Famous Ballroom........2000-09-29

This is another posthumous discovery by the greatest Sax player who ever lived.

A "live" recording done at the Baltimore Left Bank Jazz Society, May '75. As such, it contains the energy of a live recording, and some of the technical drawbacks of a live recording. The piano, drums and bass are in the left channel and Stan the Man, is in both, which is somewhat disconcerting. As you might guess, the ballads, "Spring is Here" and "My Foolish Heart" are the best tunes along with "Invitation" which is swing tempo.

The other lesser known pieces are of much faster tempo including one of unknown title (a small reward is offered to whoever can identify it). They are listenable, and show that Stan could play anything, he was not featherlight, but a "stompin' tenor man", as has been said elsewhere, ad-infinitum. But these fast songs are not engaging. The recording is somewhat bright and ragged when they all start cooking hard.

2 1/2 stars for an OK live recording, 2 for technical recording quality from Stan Getz Fusion period under my tough grading system. But I'm hard to please.

5 out of 5 stars The Wonderful and Brilliant Stan Getz.......2000-09-28

This is CD is a must for any Stan Getz fan. In fact, its a must for any jazz fan. Getz pulls the most gorgeous phrases out of thin air, over and over and over. His rhythm section with Jack Dejohnette and Bill Holland is like a four armed elastic man. Nobody plays this good anymore. I love Getz and this disc is a good as I've heard him live!!!!!
Yvonne Kenny Sings Great Operatic Arias, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Yvonne Kenny Sings Great Operatic Arias, Vol. 2

    Manufacturer: Chandos
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B0000A2ZVE
    Release Date: 2003-08-26

    Tracks:

    1. Ah! Cruel Man
    2. Letter Duet: How Delightful 'Tis To Wander'
    3. Ah, Forgive, My Love, Forgive Me
    4. He's Not The One Who Is Right For Me
    5. By Tomorrow We'll Be Together
    6. A Vilia Who Liv'd By A Cool Forest Glade'
    7. Where Are They Now?
    8. Where Is My Brother?
    9. By Strauss
    10. Some Day My Heart Will Awake
    What's Left Don't Feel Right
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		What's Left Don't Feel Right
      Kathleen Cairns , and Tattoo Blue
      Manufacturer: Long Tall Texan Records
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Blues | Styles | Music
      Blues RockBlues Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B0000AZVUN
      Release Date: 2003-07-19

      Tracks:

      1. Faultline
      2. One Good Reason
      3. Find It For Yourself
      4. I Do
      5. Too Late
      6. Drowning In The Sea Of Love
      7. No Substitute
      8. Since You Left
      9. I'm Gonna Miss You Like The Devil
      10. Checkin' Out
      11. Hard Times
      12. Have A Good Time All The Time
      My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		My Foolish Heart: Live at the Left Bank
        Stan Getz
        Manufacturer: Sin-Drome Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B00023GG26
        Release Date: 2004-05-25

        Tracks:

        1. Invitation
        2. Untitled
        3. Spring Is Here
        4. Litha
        5. Lucifer's Fall
        6. My Foolish Heart
        7. Fiesta
        Left Hand Side
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Left Hand Side
          Lazy Boy
          Manufacturer: Lazytown Productions
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B000CA8IWA
          Release Date: 2005-07-19
          Beyond Decibel Recognition
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Beyond Decibel Recognition

            Manufacturer: Left for Dead
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B000CAGDDG
            Release Date: 2004-04-13

            Tracks:

            1. Those Days
            2. Father
            3. I Told You So
            4. Rise & Shine
            5. Mirror
            Store in a Cool Dry Place
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		Store in a Cool Dry Place

              Manufacturer: Bottom Up
              ProductGroup: Music
              Binding: Audio CD

              GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
              ASIN: B000CA3NZC
              Release Date: 2003-01-07
              Plain & Simple
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                		Plain & Simple

                Manufacturer: Wyatt C & Who Ever's Left
                ProductGroup: Music
                Binding: Audio CD

                GeneralGeneral | Blues | Styles | Music
                GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
                ASIN: B000CA7CUO
                Release Date: 2005-02-08

                Jazz Music:

                1. Lift Every Voice
                2. Live and Unreleased [Live]
                3. Live at Bradley's [Live]
                4. Live at the Bijou [Live]
                5. Live at the Dakota [Live]
                6. Live in Swing City - Swingin' With Duke [Live]
                7. Machine Gun [Import]
                8. Matador
                9. Michel Legrand by Michel Legrand
                10. Move

                Jazz Music

                Jazz Music