Blue Moods

Blue Moods

ASIN: B000000Y2P

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Miles was fresh from his triumph at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival when he agreed to record for his old friend Charles Mingus's label. Considering the volatile temperaments of the two protagonists, the music is surprisingly calm, but according to Elvin Jones, 'if they had just printed the conversations in the studio at that time, that would have been a best-seller.' Woodman had known Mingus since boyhood, and Charles was then a frequent musical associate with similar ideas about composing and arranging. The charts here are all by Teddy, except 'Alone Together', which is by Mingus. OJC/Fantasy Records.

Tracks:

Only If - Enya
Porcelain - Moby
Life in Mono - Mono
Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel
Christphori's Dream - David Lanz
Land of Anaka - Brian Eno and Geoffrey Oryema
Dela Dela - Sacred Spirit
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence - Ryuichi Sakamoto
Velocity of Love - Suzanne Ciani
Ever So Loney - Sheila Chandra
Virtue - Jessie Cook
Theme from Silk Road - Kitaro
Synaesthetic - Blue Man Group
On Sacred Ground - Yanni
Gravity of Love - Enigma
Deliver Me - Sarah Brightman

Amazon.com

What's most surprising about the Pure Moods series is not that it is so popular, but that the music on it actually represents some of the best New Age and modern instrumental music, rather than scraping the barrel. For every piece of Enya pop froth--like her "Only If," which opens the album--there is a deep and impassioned exploration like Sheila Chandra's virtually a cappella "Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean." Yanni's bombastic "On Sacred Ground" is balanced by Moby's soulful trance groove, "Porcelain." Sometimes those juxtapositions don't work out well. The overwrought romanticism of pianist David Lanz's "Cristofori's Dream" can only suffer being sandwiched between the soul-searing vocals of Peter Gabriel's "Games Without Frontiers (Massive/DB Mix)" and the Geoffrey Oryema/Brian Eno hymn, "Land of Anaka." With more than a quarter of the album drawn from the 1980s, there are some influential early gems here for new listeners, including Kitaro's wistful "Silk Road" and Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence." --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Pure Moods, Vol. III.......2007-01-12

I did not find that I enjoyed it as much as Pure Moods, Vol. I

Pure Moods Vol I, I think is still the best

Almost Perfect!!.......2006-11-16

Anyone who's actually reading an online review of a Pure Moods album has to be, in my most humble of opinions, an established fan of the franchise, and I'm no exception: I LOVE Pure Moods. I have all 5 installments and Christmas Moods.

But on Pure Moods III, there is one song that simply does not belong: "Silk Road" by Kitaro. That has to be the most annoying, shrill, plodding sequence of sounds I've ever come across. I only listen to that track about 33% of the time. (I sporadically listen to it, just to see if I can hear it differently that time.) I would like to make a burn of this CD that does not contain that song.

Everything else rocks my socks.

Buy Pure Moods.

AWESOME!.......2006-09-06

If you are looking for meditation or tranquility from daily stress I recommend not only this CD, but the entire collection. I have all the Pure Moods collection and keep buying more New Age music. I feel I've invested my money in good music. I listen to pretty much anything from soft music, Rock, Salsa, Calypso to Dance-Techno music, but when I don't feel like listening to loud music, I listen to these CD collection, specially on a Sunday to reconnect with relaxation to start another heavy woking week. Also, if you like gospel, I'm sure you'll love these even though is not quite gospel music. You just reconnect yourself spiritually in this material world.

One of the best!.......2006-05-17

Pure Moods volume 3 is probably the second best in the series after the original Pure Moods. With mainstays such as Yanni and Enigma how can you go wrong? Powerful tracks like "Deliver Me" from Sarah Brightman and Peter Gabriel's "Games without Frontiers" highlight this release. As with the rest of the Pure Moods series this is very good and worthy of repeat listenings. Other great CD's include Imogen Heap, any Digital Moodz CD and Enigma's 1st CD or LSD.

One of the Best in the New Age Genre.......2005-12-02

Pure Moods: Vol. 3 is one of my favorite New Age CDs, which is such beautiful mix of sublime music from various artists. Suprisingly, the CD both energizes and calms.

Games Without Frontiers by Peter Gabriel has such a satisfying, mellow groove, yet it seems to take the spirit straight to higher plains. It's not only ear candy, but enhances altered states of consciousness.

On Sacred Ground is one of my favorite Yanni songs, and it's on here, too! All I can say is "major goosebumps." It's like being in the Universal Cathedral of Spirit and having God sing to you.

Diva Sarah Brightman adds her smooth soprano voice to the track called Deliver Me. It has a pop groove, but weaved into the background is the etheric keyboards that gives it that flavor that appeals to both the ear and the spirit. When I listen to this song, I feel my heart chakra just blow wide open, receiving the love that the Universe provides in abundance.

Dela Dela by Sacred Spirit starts off with a deep flute reminiscent of a Native American ceremony. Although a pop beat ensues, the song is still undergirded by the strings, which makes it feel orchestral, but very tribal. The tribal aspects is punctuated by what sounds like Native American chanting, but then the female lead takes over once again. It's a song that penetrates, daring you to look away...but you just can't. Then it segues back into the strings, which sucks you right back in to the groove.

The only song I'm not particularly crazy about is Enya's Only If; it's a good song, but so much of Enya's music is overplayed, especially for movie trailers and soundtracks.

This CD contains Christofori's Dream (the 1988 piano masterpiece) as well as songs by Moby, Brian Eno, Enigma, and others, for a total of 16 songs.

Average customer rating:

Moonlight Moods

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00007FE2T
Release Date: 2002-10-02

Average customer rating:

underappreciated gem
Wonderful! Relaxing (but still deep) Miles
The worst of Miles
Underrated Miles gem
Super-duper music

Blue Moods
Miles Davis
Manufacturer: Ojc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Blue Haze
The Musings of Miles
Miles Davis and Milt Jackson Quintet/Sextet
Bags Groove
Miles Davis and Horns 51-53

ASIN: B000000Y2P
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Nature Boy
Alone Together
There's No You
Easy Living

Album Description

Miles was fresh from his triumph at the 1955 Newport Jazz Festival when he agreed to record for his old friend Charles Mingus's label. Considering the volatile temperaments of the two protagonists, the music is surprisingly calm, but according to Elvin Jones, 'if they had just printed the conversations in the studio at that time, that would have been a best-seller.' Woodman had known Mingus since boyhood, and Charles was then a frequent musical associate with similar ideas about composing and arranging. The charts here are all by Teddy, except 'Alone Together', which is by Mingus. OJC/Fantasy Records.

Customer Reviews:

underappreciated gem.......2006-07-06

I just rediscovered this (on a record) after years and years of not hearing it and found it absorbing. Unusual instumentation on the front line (trombone, vibes, trumpet) and slow and restrained playing may leave some befuddled but I was struck by the discpline, beauty and compelling reticence of the playing. I know too much space can feel like hesitancy and a lack of conviction or passion, but the playing here is precise and often quite lovely. While its true this ain't John Coltrane's Elvin Jones these arrangements don't call for energetic splash and emphatic percussive color. Mingus's tone here sounds fat and great and what I liked too was that here was another side of Mingus you don't get to hear that often: that of a sideman. On this date he subordinates his dramatic capacity for leadership and takes on the task of being an ensemble member--very very successfully. Woodward and Charles contribute tasteful solos and Miles is really beginning to dig into the "hanging in air" fragility that makes his playing of a couple year's hence so memorable. Just a lovely (yes, short) recording.

Wonderful! Relaxing (but still deep) Miles.......2005-12-16

This CD is filled with wonderful, slow, relaxing jazz. The kind of music you listen to on a late evening, with someone you care for or in a mood to care for yourself. Miles, Monk & Co. were at the top of their creative energies when this was made. Their music is magical, on the level that mere mortal instrument players rarely achieve -- but then, these were no mere mortals. This music ranks among the best and most formative of all modern jazz, but here's a nice thing: it's so lovely and mellow that your non- jazz lover friends will easily love it also. I saw a gripe here on Amazon that the disc is "only" 27 minutes. Come on! The Beatles' Abbey Road, a milestone of a brilliant album, was 28 minutes long. Yes, this wonderful music is mellow and relaxing, but by no means in the universe is it "elevator" music. This is the real thing, so deep and warm it'll wash through you and soothe your soul, and be so rewarding that you can palay it over and over and still find new things to enjoy. This is great music, by musicians who stand on the pinnacle of all-time, brilliant and unequaled great jazz musicians. And it's nice, relaxing music to boot. You can't go wrong.

The worst of Miles.......2005-10-15

This gets my vote as Miles' worst pre-electric recording date. It's one of the most desultory jazz recording sessions ever made. All the tunes are done slowly to highlight Miles' lyricism, but everything is so draggy that he just sounds bored. Elvin Jones, a great modern drummer, is totally handcuffed. Also, the CD is a major ripoff (even as it was on LP): we get only 27 minutes of music (which, come to think of it, might be a blessing in disguise: the less of this music the better). For die-hard Miles fans only (and then to only hear him at his worst).

Underrated Miles gem.......2004-01-04

Just read the reviews below, I can't disagree with them. Yes this IS short at about 27 minutes, but, it's got a few things going for it that makes it a much needed addition to anyone who has Miles in their collection. For one, it is one of the very few dates where Miles recorded with a vibraphone. When one takes a look at one of the only other dates where Miles recorded with vibes (the Dec 24 1954 Xmas Eve session with Milt Jackson & Thelonius Monk),you can see that Teddy Charles is a very different stylist than the blues-based Milt Jackson: Charles' vibes are all nice hazy mood and suits this date well.
When one gets used to the idea that folks like Charles Mingus and Elvin Jones aren't playing in their usual "hot-head" mode and that these folks actually could play moody ballads, well, there really isn't anything to apologize here about at all. For those who love Miles in his ballad mode, you simply can't go wrong here. Also, Miles is the only horn that really solos here (although trombone is present)which makes it different from most of Davis' best-known works.
I sure wish Miles recorded like this more often.
If you think you'll like this I have to also recommend "The Musings Of Miles" which was (chronilogically speaking)the recording session that took place just one month prior to this mid-1955 date and also featured Miles as the only horn (along with Oscar Petterson on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, and Red Garland on piano)and perhaps also the famous Dec 24 1954 session, which is in a bluesier mode, but also quite nice (though sadly, this session is split up between 2 seperate discs, "Miles Davis And The Modern Jazz Giants" and "Bag's Groove").

Super-duper music.......2002-12-11

This one is so far down on the list of best-sellers that I am relieved to have come across it at last. This record is brief, but very, very sweet . . . it is, after all, the musical quality that counts, and even though ideally this record should be twice as long, it has the complexity and variety that warrants playing it a second time if one wants to get up to the "normal' CD playing time. Remember, too, that some CDs are absolutely "stuffed" with unnecessary takes which before the CD arrived were usually for good reason not preferred for the LPs of the time. Anyway, Miles' s playing is absolutely fantastic here, and the title of the recording is wholy accurate; the music is that of the blues, and it is very "moody" as well - wistful, melancholic, sweetly nostalgic, but not sentimental (Miles was too great an artist for that). Miles is in excellent form, his co-players are also excellent, and this is a truly superlative record, that many more people should buy. You won't regret it if you do, never mind how short it is. It is certainly one of my favourites. - ...

Average customer rating:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have
Almost , Nearly, perfect
Much more than Kitten On the Keys
Zany yet poetic!
Brilliant!

Confrey: Piano Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Zez Confrey Piano Rolls and Scores
Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era, Vol.4
James Scott: The Complete Works 1903-1922
Complete Stark Rags of Joseph F. Lamb
The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945

ASIN: B00000HZOE
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Kitten On The Keys
Dizzy Fingers
Meandering
African Suite: I. High Hattin'
African Suite: II. Kinda Careless
African Suite: III. Mississippi Shivers
Jay Walk
Sparkling Waters
Wise Cracker Suite: I. Yokel Opus
Wise Cracker Suite: II. Mighty Lackawanna
Wise Cracker Suite: III. The Sheriff's Lament
Amazonia
Blue Tornado
Three Little Oddities: I. Impromptu
Three Little Oddities: II. Romanza
Three Little Oddities: III. Novelette
Coaxing The Piano
Stumbling (Paraphrase)
Moods Of A New Yorker: I. At Dusk
Moods Of A New Yorker: II. Movie Ballet
Moods Of A New Yorker: III. Relaxation
Moods Of A New Yorker: IV. After Theatre (Tango)
Rhythm Venture
Fourth Dimension

Amazon.com

Zez Confrey (1895-1971) may not be a household name, but his 1921 masterpiece "Kitten on the Keys" certainly is. The Illinois-born composer studied the classics growing up, but somehow the temptation of Vaudeville sneaked its way into his compositions and he found success writing catchy ragtime miniatures with goofy names ("Wise Cracker Suite," "Dizzy Fingers," "Blue Tornado"). Republic of Georgia pianist Eteri Andjaparidze performs 24 of Confrey's works with technical perfection and plenty of spirit--two requirements for these compositions--but sounds a tad robotic on some numbers. Between "Kitten" and 1959's "Fourth Dimension," Confrey explored blues, rags, Latin rhythms, and--of course--jazz, but the real highlight here is a slow number, the four-movement Moods of a New Yorker. In sum, this a great tribute featuring great music, perfect for fans of George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, Jelly Roll Morton, and Joseph Lamb. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have.......2004-12-29

Hats off to Naxos for releasing this absolutely perfect tribute to Zez Confrey - it was high time, someone had to do it, and Naxos has done Confrey real justice. One would expect caricature of his work, rather than the respectful, honest, accurate renditions of his work featured on this album.

I discovered my love for Confrey thanks to the Aeolian Hall Birth of Rhapsody in Blue album (another of my reviews covers that great one), which featured a small selection of his compositions. The distinct, unique sound of his work snagged me immediately, and so I was thrilled to come upon this little Naxos treat.

Every piece on the album is sheer delight, but several do stand out from the rest. "Kitten on the Keys" (Confrey's most famous composition, here done full justice), "Meandering" (which just glides and lilts along like feathers on a breeze), "Kinda Careless" (a sensuous, seductive little number), "Yokel Opus" (a snappy little foxtrot), "Coaxing the Piano" (which seems almost an homage to 'Twelfth Street Rag', in a skewed way), "Movie Ballet" (which sounds exactly like its title would suggest), and "Rhythm Venture" (so gracefully syncopated, it's practically a marvel).

Any and all Confrey and jazz fans should consider this album as required listening, and well worth owning. The price alone is reason enough - you cannot go wrong with Naxos' rates. But even if it were four times the price, it would still be a bargain.

Almost , Nearly, perfect.......2003-10-25

Wonderful selection of pieces, most of these are lesser-known Confrey and tend to represent his more "Serious" music. Perhaps because of that the pianist (a superb performer) tends to emphasize their concert qualities over their popular music aspects. This is only a tiny complaint. There's a lot of excellect music here, and at Naxos' low price it's a bargan.

Much more than Kitten On the Keys.......2002-05-16

If you thought an album of Zez Confrey music would be track after track like Dizzy Fingers or Kitten On the Keys, you are in a for a pleasant surprise with this superb CD.

The performances of the said party pieces are fast, furious and fun, but there are also some great blues renditions, and some lyrical, reflective pieces.

I would have preferred if the CD had included a few more of the well-known pieces like My Pet, Poor Buttermilk and You Tell 'Em, Ivories, but the many pieces I had never heard of are interesting, and are played beautifully.

Zany yet poetic!.......2000-09-04

Once again, in its "American Classics" series, Naxos has pulled a pleasant surprise rabbit out of the hat. Zez Confrey must be a new name for virtually everyone, unless they are well past my own age, and I don't go back quite that far. The name was certainly new for me, but a few of the pieces on this disc brought memories flooding back, most likely because my parents once had them coupled on an ancient 78 shellac.

Confrey (1895 - 1971) had been relegated pretty much to the dustbin of history before this release. But he did have his days in the sun between the two world wars. Undoubtedly his brightest moment was when he shared billing with George Gershwin and Paul Whiteman on the occasion of the premiere for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, where Confrey had the stage in the first half of the concert and Gershwin in the second. For the most part, after that February, 1924 "An Experiment in Modern Music" concert of Whiteman's, the paths of Gershwin and Confrey began to diverge; Gershwin was, to put it simply, an overnight success.

All of the music on this album is fun, and virtually all of it demands virtuosic pianistic ability, which Confrey must certainly have possessed. Listening to it is like taking a trip down memory lane, back to the popular music in the first third of the previous century. There are pieces which have clear roots in ragtime, embellished upon and brought forward by a few decades, and at least a selection or two which sound very much like Gershwin preludes in their "bluesy" feel. It's also clear that Confrey was not unaware of the classical music of the period, because a few of the pieces capture the idioms of the piano music of Rachmaninoff and Ravel of that period (although they soon veer off into "Confrey territory"). If you listen carefully, you'll even hear a passing reference or two to Chopin. But, like the Rachmaninoff and Ravel musical allusions, these too are in fact just "passing references."

But most of the album is pure Confrey-style pianistic wizardry: Fleet fingers, crossing hands, syncopations and rhythmic "irregularities" with the colorfully descriptive titles of "Meandering", "Coaxing the Piano" and "Stumbling." And his two most famous pieces (which, probably, many of us have never heard), "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." (In fact, it was "Dizzy Fingers" and "Stumbling" which must have been the coupling on that ancient 78, because they were immediately recognizable.)

Eteri Andjaparidze is an excellent technician in this work, which can be very demanding of technique if it is to be pulled off properly. By and large, she does very well by it. In particular, she succeeds in capturing the passing allusions to the classical piano music of the time. If I had my druthers, I might ask for a little more panache, or insouciance, if you like, in the Confrey specialities noted in the previous paragraph. But who can quibble, especially at the Naxos price, without appearing to be a piker?

Neat stuff for a refreshing change of pace, with an opportunity to hear an hour's worth of music by someone who had been ignored for too long. That's a "get it" recommendation!

Bob Zeidler

Brilliant!.......2000-03-22

I have no idea what Jason Verlinde meant by saying that Eteri Andjaparidze sounds "a tad robotic" on certain pieces on her new Zez Confrey album; indeed, the Republic of Georgia pianist sounds absolutely marvelously free in her interpretations. I cannot hear anything "robotic" at all in her playing. She approaches the intricate syncopations of Confrey's music with dazzling style. She is technically proficient enough to take Confrey's tempi at a furious pace, when necessary, in pieces such as "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers," and to create a sustained, beautiful flow to the music in such "impressionistic" pieces as "Sparkling Waters" and "Mighty Lackawana." The selections which will remind the listener of Art Deco New York in the 1920's and 1930's, are taken at exactly the right tempo, and Ms. Andjaparidze syncopates the rhythms in a sparkling manner. I was utterly amazed at how a pianist, trained in the Republic of Georgia, could evoke the rhythms and style of American music of this type. But she does! In addition, the piano has been recorded beautifully, with sparkling tone at the treble end, and a rich, full bass. I purchased this CD a few hours after reading Frank Behrens' review. It is a wonderful addition to my collection of American music. I urge you to hear this excellent release. Naxos is to be commended for making it available.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Sound and composition
A Perfect Jazz CD

Blue Moods
Antoine Silverman
Manufacturer: Hillsboro Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005AVLL
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

Come Rain Or Come Shine
In A Sentimental Mood
Jordu
Kika
Beautiful Love
You've Changed
I'll Remember April
In A Mellow Tone
Bee's Bounce
Bewitched
Nica's Dream
Big Stoop

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Sound and composition.......2003-11-14

I have heard Silverman live several times, and own both his CDs, and confidently can state him as my very favorite artist. Anyone interested in Silverman should start with this excellent album.

Silverman plays classic Jazz. Unlike artists like Jean Luc Ponty, Silverman uses an external pickup (a microphone) rather than a magnectic pickup (like an electric guitar). This allows Silverman to be heard while keeping the true sound of the instrument. Silverman does use an electric guitar in his group, which is also played in a very powerful, very Jazz-oriented style, focusing on distinct individual notes rather than jarring chords or "shredding." Silverman also keeps a fine swing throughout the CD, although Blue Moods is not as laid-back as his earlier CD Swing Shift.

Antoine's sound is fantastic. Those familiar with jazz violin will be surprised how far Silverman has managed to distance himself from the characterisitc whine of the instrument. Instead, he has developed a dark, rich tone that retains a beautiful and emotional "edge." The sound is more akin to a cello, except in the violin range of pitches. This shines through on all the pieces, especially on the final track, "Big Stoop." Silverman also makes good use of the ability of the violin to produce two notes at once. He throws in a second note exactly where it wil have the most impact, while not overusing this technique. The effect will make your breath catch in your throat.

Silverman is an excellent violinist, but he is an even better composer. His three self-written pieces, "Kika" "Bee's Bounce" and "Big Stoop" bring out his sound the best of any of the tracks, and also highlight a very original approach to Jazz. While these pieces are very fresh, any Jazz fan will be instantly comfortable with them. Silverman has innovated within the traditions of Jazz rather than incorporating non-Jazz elements.

A Perfect Jazz CD.......2001-10-24

This guy is amazing. I can't believe more people don't know of him. If you like jazz violin like Regina Carter or Stephane Grapelli, you will love this cd!

Average customer rating:

love
My verdict
smooth & sultry
"C'Mon Baby Do Me"
Wow

The Blue Moods of Spain
Spain
Manufacturer: Restless Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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She Haunts My Dreams
I Believe
Spirituals: The Best of Spain
Bait & Switch
The Moray Eels Eat the Space Needle

ASIN: B000003BKZ
Release Date: 1995-09-12

Tracks:

It's So True
Ten Nights
Dreaming Of Love
Untitled #1
Her Used-To-Been
Ray Of Light
World Of Blue
I Lied
Spiritual

Customer Reviews:

love.......2006-02-14

I LOVE Spain. I think the simplicity of the lyrics, and the hushed delivery can make you laugh. But that is one of the things I think is cool about their music, ultimately. The music is beutiful without being showy, and I think more beautiful for its seeming simple-ness (there is a lot more to the music, when you really listen). I was listening to Iron and Wine, and how his singing is a big big turnoff, because it sounds so affected, and his songs -which aren't anything special, really- suffer for how he sings them. Then I thought, it -that hushed delivery- works so well for Spain. I also think I Lied is a really funny song, lyrically, and a head-bobber musically. Just wanted to praise them.

My verdict.......2002-03-14

Slow, smooth, sultry - these are apt adjectives to describe the music in this CD. When I first came across it several years ago, I couldn't decide whether I was attracted by the special "mood" or repelled by the mannerism. With repeated listenings, I have to conclude that I love it. Call me bad taste if you want, but the music is really enjoyable!

smooth & sultry.......2001-04-23

I remain astonished at the intensity of this album and I must have played it hundreds of times. From the opening bars of 'It's so True' thro to the final chorus of 'Spiritual' (no one ever prayed like THIS before), the musicianship and underplayed lyrics convey a raw tortured beauty which I last experienced listening to Jeff Buckley's live shows. It rubs shoulders with Miles' 'Kind of Blue', Jeff's 'Grace', Nick Drake's 'Pink Moon' and Will Oldham's 'I see a Darkness'. Music to sit down and actually LISTEN to. Wonderful stuff !

"C'Mon Baby Do Me".......2001-03-06

As Jimi Hendrix once said, "Just gimmie a little bit of that Spanish castle magic!" Here we have the debut album from the masters of West Coast noir. These boys may like NYC and Europe, but the inescapable fact is that the music on this CD is tainted with the sultry romanticism of the Pacific Rim. Only on later releases would their sound become overly genial (ah, to be a critic!). The musicianship is clean, however sparse, and the blue mood is at times entrancing. The song "World of Blue", for example, is very relaxing.

Wow.......2000-12-25

The most haunting, beautiful thing I have ever heard. I would like to attach it to a girl and write about it. Hmmm.

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music, Vol. 1-10 (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music, Vol. 1-10 (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Romance of the Violin

ASIN: B00000G1JO
Release Date: 2000-07-07

Tracks:

The Four Seasons: Concerto No. 1 In E Major 'Spring,' I. Allegro
Overture No. 3 BWV 1068: Air
Water Music: Alla Hornpipe
Orpheus and Eurrdice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Piano Sonata In A Major K. 331: Alla turca
Symphonie No. 3: Allegretto
String Serenade: Waltz
Foreign Countries And People op. 15 No. 1
Flute Concerto No. 1 In G Major, K. 313: Rondo. Tempo di Minuett
Piano Concerto No. 2 In F Minor Op. 21: Larghetto
Quintet In A Major 'Trout': Theme & Variations
Waltz In A Flat Major
Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899,3
Sinfonia concertante In E Flat Major K 364: Presto

Tracks:

Voices Of Spring Waltz Op. 410
Serenade Op. 3 No. 5
Songs Without Words In E Major Op. 19,1
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat Major K. 447: Allegro
Fausts Verdammnis: Dances Of The Sylphes
Flute Concerto In G minor
Salomon: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A Major K 488: Andante
Holberg Suite Op. 40: Prelude
Carmen: Intermezzo
String Serenade op. 22: Tempo di valse
Impromptu In B Flat Major D 935 No. 3
I Love You Op. 5 No. 3
Roses From The South, Waltz Op. 388

Tracks:

Peer Gynt: Morning
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarole
Melody In F, Op. 3 Nr. 1
The Nutcracker: Waltz Of The Flowers
Standchen
Etude In G Sharp Minor 'La Campanella'
Peer Gynt: Anitras Dance
Moment Musical D 780 No. 3
Canon In D
Overture No. 2: Menuet & Badinerie
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C Major: Andante
Carmen: Seguedille
'Songs without Words': The Venetian Gondola
Eugen Onegin: Waltz
Romance For Violin And Orchestra In G major Op. 26

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus: Overture
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Waltz No. 1 Op. 18 In E flat major 'Grande Valse brillante'
Lullaby
L'Arlesienne: Intermezzo
The Seasons Op. 37b: Barcarole
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Fairies' March
Clarinet Concerto In A Major K 622: Adagio
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz
La Traviata: Prelude
Carmen, Suite No. 2: Chanson du Toreador
Happy Farmer
Menuet
On The Beautiful Blue Danube, Waltz Op. 314

Tracks:

A Little Night Music K 525: Allegro
Sonata No. 2 In E Major BWV 1031: Siciliano
Op. 11 No. 5: Menuet
Songs Without Words: Duetto
The Nutcracker: Dance of the Toy Flutes
Fruhlingslied (Spring Song)
Waldszenen: Abschied
Mandolin Concerto: Allegro
Music For The Royal Fireworks: La paix: Largo alla Siciliana
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro
Waltz In B Minor Op. 69 No. 2
Romance Op. 5
Impromptu In A Flat Major D 935 Nr. 2
Tales from the Vienna Woods, Waltz Op. 325

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Humoresque Op. 101
Sleeping Beautiful: Panorama
Impromptu In E Flat Major, D899 No. 2
Melancholy
Waltz Op. 54,1
Nocturne In B Major Op. 9 No. 3
Caro mio ben
PARTITA IN D FLAT MAJOR: Pastorale
An den Fruhling
The Sleeping Beauty: Pas de quatre, Adagio
Rosamunde - Ballet In G Major
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor Op. 37: Largo
Emperor Waltz, op. 437

Tracks:

Harp Concerto In B Flat Major: Andante allegro
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Adagio
Flute Concerto In F Major, Op. 10 'La Tempesta di Mare': Presto
Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor Op. 13 'Pathetique': Adagio cantabile
Horn Concerto In E Flat Major K 495: Rondo. Allegro vivace
Poeme Op. 41 No. 6
Wilhelm Tell: Soldier's Dance
Liebestraum No. 3 In A flat Major
Violin Romance No. 2
Flute Concerto In E Minor: Rondo
Intermezzo In E Flat Major Op. 117,1
Carmen: Habenera
Symphony No. 3 'Scottish': Vivace non troppo
Vienna Bonbons: Waltz Op. 307

Tracks:

Symphony No. 40 In G Minor K. 550: Molto Allegro
Preghiera - Mozarianna Suite: Ave Verum
Arietta Op. 12,1
Concerto BWV 1056: Arioso
The Four Seasons: Concerto Nr. 3 Autumn: Allegro
Des Abends (Evening)
Holberg Suite Op. 40: Gavotte
Melancholy Galliard
Flute Concerto No. 2 In D Major K. 314: Rondo. Allegretto
Spinning Song
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Valse Melancolique
Flute Quartet K. 285a: Tempo di Minuetto
Moment Musical In A Flat Major, D 780 No. 2
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat Major K 271 'Jeunehomme': Rondo - Presto

Tracks:

String Serenade: Moderato
Traumerei Op. 15
Ave Maria
Cello Concerto No. 2 In D Major: Allegro
Minuet In D Minor
Suite No. 1: Marche Miniature
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Notturno
Mazurka In D Major Op. 33 No. 2
Divertimento K 251: Andantino
On Wings Of A Song
Carmen: Nocturne
Melody
Sonata In C Major BWV 1033: Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In G Minor 'Winter Dreams': Adagio cantabile
Sound Of The Spheres, Waltz Op. 235

Tracks:

The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture
Sonata In C sharp Minor Op. 27,2 'Moonlight Sonata': Adagio sostenuto
German Dance No. 1
Nocturne In C Sharp Minor Op.posth.
Haffner Serenade: Minuet
Septet In E Flat Major Op. 20: Tempo di Minuetto
Symphony No. 4 Italian: Andante con moto
Prelude In D Flat Major Op. 28, No. 15 'Rain Drops'
'3 Small Pieces': Impromptu
'The Nutcracker': March
Romance In E Flat Major Op. 44
Piano Sonata No. 16 In C Major 'Sonata facile': Allegro
'The Nutcracker': Scene No. 10
Enjoy Your Life Waltz, Op. 340

Average customer rating:

Blue: good soloist. But Brownie and Lee Morgan were better.
Beautiful.....
Charming jazz from an underrated trumpeter
nice album, great sound
an under-rated gem

Blue's Moods
Blue Mitchell
Manufacturer: Ojc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Blue Soul
Big 6
The Cup Bearers
Out of the Blue
The Thing to Do

ASIN: B000000Y81
Release Date: 1994-10-21

Tracks:

I'll Close My Eyes
Avars
Scrapple From The Apple
Kinda Vague
Sir John
When I Fall In Love
Sweet Pumpkin
I Wish I Knew

Customer Reviews:

Blue: good soloist. But Brownie and Lee Morgan were better. .......2004-08-04

If it would be a Wynton Kelly album without Blue Mitchell I would consider this a very strong release because the rhythm section works effortlessy. Wynton Kelly plays magnificiently as he always did by the way. His combo here is an impeccable swing machine. But this is a Blue Mitchell album so considerations about Blue Mitchell should have the priority. Blue was a "sound trumpeter" a "melodical trumpeter" not a technical trumpeter or the deepest one. He was quite conservative and not very innovative. He was the typical fifties trumpeter of Clifford Brown school, good sound, lyrical, his lines were nice, very melodical with singing qualities, lines that were always really near the center of the tonality almost without outside notes. But he didn't have the Brownie's genius neither his superb technique. He was not deep as Miles, or "forward" like Lee Morgan, or bluesy and earthshaking like Nat Adderley. He was in the middle of everything, he wasn't the best in anything. Anyway listen to him is still a pleasure because he played well and he is quite melodical. Listen to Blue is easy, he would be a great choice for a person who approaches Jazz for the first time probably. He shines in the ballads, "When I fall in love" is a splendid for example, but he plays well the medium tempo too like he did in the last track here "I wish I knew" or on the very beautiful opener "I'll close my eyes". He had a beautiful sound and played the melodies (slow or medium) with tenderness and proper time (it is not an easy thing to do because the ballad time is really slow here). I don't find particularly spectacular his playing on Scrapple just considering that he was not technical enough or complex enough to be shoking on that kind of tunes. I prefer him when he plays in his territories, the medium or the slow tempos. The opener, I have to repeat myself is really an uplifting tune and Blue's playing is quite good on that track. Uh, Just another consideration, I prefer his "Blue soul" album to this one. It is more various (you have two horns) and definitly better. In the end sure this is a good album, it has its pluses, Blue plays well, the Wynton's combo is exceptional, tune selection is nice and balanced. And infact I gave this album four full stars. But not five stars because otherwise I wouldn't have stars enough for Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan albums which are a lot better.

Beautiful............2003-08-30

I have come to really love this album and find myself playing it as much as any in my collection. This is blue playing in a quartet without any other wind instruments. Blue had recorded similar material on occasion in his 3 previous riverside albums(All great) so it was inevitable he would do a whole album of this material after recording in sextets and quintets. Here he stretches out and over all the work is a success.

The first cut is a solid energetic number with some great soloing from blue whose lyrical trumpet seems to always find a song within the song. Avars is a classic; very well done. I think that was used for a mustang commercial in 1965 but don't hold me to that. "Scrapple from the apple is a classic parker tune that blue plays to perfection. The album ends with 2 very strong lyrical numbers with vitality "sweet pumkin" and "i wish i knew". All good stuff and worthy of a full 4 stars but what puts this over the top for me is the 4th cut "kinda vague". This is all pure unadulterated blues and no trumpet player could play the blues better than it is done here. I can't stop listening to it! Of course the piano is essential to the success of an album like this and wynton kelly does not disappoint and his solo on "kind vague" will tear you up! Sam jones gives a clinic on bass and while i miss philly joe jones roy brooks(From the horace silver quintet) does a fine job.

Lyrical, bluesy, sweet and energetic blue mitchell's 4th album for riverside in 1960 is a great addition to any jazz collection.

..................socks

Charming jazz from an underrated trumpeter.......2002-02-23

Any more than casual jazz fan will have listened to the trumpeter Blue Mitchell--he was a regular of Horace Silver's group during its best years at Blue Note--but perhaps hasn't sampled his work as a leader. If so this is a good place to start, with Mitchell, unusually, the sole horn supported by a trio of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones & Roy Brooks (another Silver-associated player, though he later went on to become associated with the 1960s avantgarde). Mitchell had only a modest technique, about which he was unduly selfconscious--he had a great personal sound on his instrument, & is one of the most unmistakeable players of the period. Like Miles Davis, he turned a deficiency into an advantage: though he lacks Davis's piercing melancholy & mournfulness, Mitchell has a nicely introvert, melodic style that I find quite charming. (If one's inclined to make a case study one could do worse than comparing Mitchell's very pretty version of "When I Fall in Love" with Davis's more lacerated & fragile version for Prestige of a few years earlier.)

This is solid, enjoyable jazz that, if it is no masterpiece, is certainly eminently playable. Mitchell's limitations are exposed a bit over the course of the album--he is not a widely expressive player, & he often resorts to repeated licks (astonishingly, the banal "Country Gardens" bop quote crops up 3 times in the space of the album's 41 minutes). I also feel that Wynton Kelly is taking it rather easy--compare his work here with that on contemporary albums by Mobley, Coltrane & Davis, & you'll see what I mean. But in any case it's a very likeable album. One interesting feature of note is a cover of a Rocky Boyd tune, "Avars"--Boyd recorded one album as a leader with Kenny Dorham & had an eyeblink tenure in the Miles Davis band (see the passing reference in Davis's autobiography). I otherwise know nothing about him, & I don't think anyone else does either as he's faded from the annals of the music.

nice album, great sound.......2001-04-05

One of the biggest challenges for a musician is to front a quartet. There's no one to hide behind. For Richard "Blue" Mitchell, Blue's Moods was his debut as the lone horn player. In the earlier part of his career, Blue was strongly self-critical, always concerned that he wasn't living up to his (self-perceived) potential. His last effort, Blue Soul was a turning point for him. Three of the cuts on Blue Soul were quartet numbers, giving him the chance to show his newly found musical maturity and confidence. Blue's Moods builds on the same sound heard on Blue Soul, and takes it to the next level.

The songs on this album cover a wide range of feelings and tempos, hence the name Blue's Moods instead of Blue's Mood. Mitchell slips right into the groove on "I'll Close My Eyes." and never looks back. The rhythm section on these sessions--Wynton Kelly (piano), Sam Jones (bass) and Roy Brooks (drums)--is outstanding. As you listen to these tracks, it's readily apparent that this wasn't just a one-off thing. Kelly and Jones both get to stretch out a bit on the lightly swinging "Avars." One of the best cuts here is the superb rendition of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From the Apple." This may be Blue's date, but the trio really stands out on this one.

Blue played a vintage cornet owned by the album's engineer Ray Fowler on the introspective "Kinda Vague." The sparse arrangement really accentuates the horn's somewhat dry sound. Mitchell displays his penchant for the blues on tracks like "Sir John," and "Sweet Pumpkin." Jones' walking bass line on the latter makes this tune another highlight. Maybe you're looking for something in more of a romantic vein. "When I Fall in Love" is the perfect track to share with your significant other. Light some candles, get a nice bottle of wine and you're set.

But let's face it--your significant other probably doesn't care about sound quality, and since this CD technically falls under the audiophile heading, that's what you really want to know about, right? I'll just say this. As with just about all of the XRCD discs, the extended resolution and definition provided by the 20-bit, K2 mastering process is nothing short of amazing. The OJC version of this CD never sounded bad, but when you compare it to this pressing, it sounds like an AM radio. There's really that much of a difference. To sum things up, Blue's Mood is an instantly enjoyable album by some of jazz' finest musicians; and thanks to the folks at JVC, it never sounded better.

an under-rated gem.......2001-03-18

blue mitchell was a great, lost trumpeter of the 60s hardbop movement, falling in the shadow of miles and even his blue note stablemates, lee morgan, donald byrd, and freddie hubbard. this is too bad because mr. mitchell had a style and sound all his own. he drenched his approach in the blues and came up swinging, avoiding the angularisms of a more bop oriented style. he didn't play faster than anybody else and he didn't play with form a whole lot. instead, he worked to find the blues within the tune and created a tone of bouncing blue. this particular album starts with some great bop, highlighted by a superb take of "scrapple from the apple." then the comes the blues-- "kinda vague," "sir john," and the wonderful "sweet pumpkin" reveal mr. mitchell's penchant. the sound is swinging and smoky. the support on the album is superb. wynton kelly on piano, sam jones on bass, and fellow horace silver alumni, roy brooks, on drums work well together and keep the sound rolling. this is a great album.

Average customer rating:

Blue's Moods

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000NO29NO
Release Date: 2007-03-20

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music (Collectors Edition) (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

The Most Beautiful Melodies of Classical Music (Collectors Edition) (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Airs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008L42A
Release Date: 2003-02-13

Jazz Music:

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