Charlie Hunter

Charlie Hunter

ASIN: B00004T2RK

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With this eponymous effort, guitarist Charlie Hunter continues the minimalist studio experimentation that he and percussionist Leon Parker spun together on the 1999 album, Duo. This time, though, the pair has expanded the concept to include a trio of percussionists. There's also Josh Roseman on trombone and Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone on several tracks. The drum section is an excellent idea, which allows Parker to shine on conga on the opening pair of tunes, while Robert Perkins shakes a mean tambourine on the funky "Two for Bleu" (which also features a wild solo by Apfelbaum). The midtempo reggae number "Cloud Splitter" contains the best solo by Roseman, an Al Grey-like turn with the plunger on his 'bone. On "Al Green," Parker and Hunter simmer like a classic organ-guitar trio, evoking both the secular and the gospel spirit of the good Reverend, and on Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy," they head south with a tight Caribbean groove. The disc closes with a short, tender reading of Donny Hathaway's classic, "Someday We'll All Be Free." It's an appropriate piece, not only because of Hunter's ability to ring his dirty guitar like an electric piano, but because, like the late Hathaway, Hunter has the ability to take a sparse group with slick arrangements and make the ensemble sound larger than it is. --Mark Ruffin

Tracks:

Cueball Bobbin... (c.hunter)
Frontman (c.hunter)
Swamba Redux ( c.hunter / j.ellis )
Copperopolis (c.hunter)
Blue Sock (c.hunter)
The Pursuit Package (c. hunter / d. phillips)
A street fight could break out (c.hunter)
Drop the rock (c. hunter)
Think Of One (thelonius monk)

Amazon.com

As impressive as Charlie Hunter's mastery of his eight-string guitar is, it may not be as strong a mark of distinction as his success in devising an original jazz-funk sound in a genre long ruled by guitarist John Scofield. Since arriving on the scene from San Francisco in the mid-'90s, Hunter has gotten stuck in a rut or two, but as efforts like Copperopolis demonstrate, he has the rare ability to renew his sound. Recorded in New Orleans, a setting reflected by an unlikely second line take on Thelonious Monk's "Think of One," the album may be his most appealingly varied. Hunter and his regular cohorts, tenor saxist John Ellis and drummer Derrek Phillips, thrive on the usual shimmering grooves and sonic embellishments, but with Ellis adding melodica and Wutrlitzer to his bop-fueled attack, they attain a lighter, more coloristic quality. And when Hunter forgoes the textural touches to lay into a blues riff, lean and mean, they rock harder than ever. It's thinking man's fusion music for listeners who want more instant gratification than they can get from the jam-band scene. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

A big fan with a little let down.......2006-03-24

I'm a huge fan of Charlie Hunter. I've seen him live 3 times, and own just about all of his CD's. He's a great musician and i really respect him

Copperopolis fell short for me. It doesn't seem like it was well thought out. Seems as though the band just walked into the studio, jammed a bit...and that's what the CD is. WHile i think a few songs are pretty good, over all this one doesn't measure up to my standards in CH's music.

It does seem that he's putting out a lot of new records each year, which is a good thing, but i think if he could spend some more time developing the albums, rather than just having a quick turnaround, it'd result in a better product.

I'd lvoe for him to do another album like Songs From teh Analog Playground again. I still have that one in my rotation.

Keep on playin Charlie!!!

The trio does it again!.......2006-03-23

Hunter fans should definitely pick this up. Like all of his albums, his live sound is very nicely captured on this disk. I must say that, although I am a big fan of John Ellis on the sax and clarinet etc., I don't much care for him on keys. Besides getting stuck with the electric piano blocking my view the last time I saw them live, I think Ellis should stick with his stronger talents. Otherwise, this album is a must, especially for fans. If your new to Charlie Hunter, I'd check out "Friends Seen and Unseen" or "Right Now Move."

Copperopolis.......2006-03-14

"Copperopolis" by Charlie Hunter is yet another good solid outing from the jazz guitarist's trio.

The music here is very hip and cool. The music is upbeat for the most part. It's good driving jazz.

Charlie Hunter sounds like the Jimi Hendrix of jazz guitar at times. The amount of sounds that the trio produces is very impressive.

Overall it's really good music. There are only a few songs that don't work for me.

Charlie Hunter consistently puts out good (occasionally great) albums. This one's good.

Jazz that sizzles!.......2006-02-21

This album and the Trio are at a peak! Jazz reviewers rave about this album and with good reason. Hunter, Ellis and Phillips have pooled together their talents and created something fresh and vibrant.

I saw them last night in NYC and they were alive with all the things that make great music. Charlie Hunter used his ingenious eight string guitar to lay down some unbelievable licks. The sound he is able to produce on his specially made instrument go beyond anything you'll find done by other musicians.

Derreck Phillips played the drums with one hand, shook a tambourine in the other, never missed a beat and sounded like he was playing with both! I had never seen anything like it!

John Ellis and his talent on multiple instruments brought an extra dimension to the group. He is a truly original artist playing the Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Organ and his most unusal instrument, the Melodica. Together this trio is more than awesome.

This CD is a must for anyone even remotely interested in jazz music. It has elements of jazz, blues, funk and even more! It rocks! See them live if you can - you'll never forget it!

I just saying "Blue Shoe".......2006-02-17

If you're a fan (like me at least) you want to hear the Charlie Hunter Trio you know but you also want to hear something new. This CD is decidedly more electric and very, very funky. "Blue Shoe" is my favorite tune-it's got a head-bobbing groove and kind of reminds me of Hunter's stuff with go-go beats because it's not aggressive but it definitely makes you want to move. Like the other Hunter CDs, this one has a performance quality so it holds together well end-to-end. I highly recommend it. My one small issue is that like the other CDs there are no liner notes to speak of. If you are old school from the days of buying vinyl, no liner notes continues to be a let down.

Average customer rating:

The climb to the top
a great jazz combo
Not thrilling, but nice
The Charlie Hunter Trio
Smooth, tasty, and chunky...

Friends Seen and Unseen
Charlie Hunter Trio
Manufacturer: Artemis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Copperopolis
Songs from the Analog Playground
Bing, Bing, Bing!
Steady Groovin'
Ready...Set...Shango!

ASIN: B0002ABT4Y
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

One for the Keepers
Freedom Tickler
Lulu's Crawl
Darkly
Sowero's Where It's At
Shuffle
Slow Blues
Bonus Round
My Son The Hurricane
Moore's Alphabet

Amazon.com

Hunter has scaled down from the 2003 quintet of Right Now Move, returning to the guitar-drums-saxophone format that he launched in 1993. Retaining Derrek Phillips on drums and John Ellis on tenor, flute, and bass clarinet, Hunter continues to find fresh approaches to the groove, using his 8-string guitar to create bass lines and organ-style riffs in support of his minimalist leads. He's a master of musical inference: witness "Soweto's Where It's At," a serene invocation of the South African township, drenched in American gospel and roots blues. "Shuffle" builds its electric intensity from Hunter's wah-wah pedal, while "Bonus Round" is a kind of high-speed bop with subtle harmonic dimension. It's often the slow tunes here that show Hunter's finest qualities. "Slow Blues" is just that, testimony to how much the guitarist has grown. It's perfect, soulful playing, anchored by Phillips's time-keeping and amplified by Ellis's tenor. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

The climb to the top.......2006-02-21

In this album they have an orginal layered sound and are working to reach a more rock/funk feel. Each of the three bring an awesome talent and style. They are unlike any jazz trio you've heard before or will again.

There is not a bad track and it can be listened to over and over. You may want to buy this album with Cooperopolis. You'll hear the the sound that they start to develop in this album and take to an even higher level.

a great jazz combo.......2006-01-09

I smile every time I listen to this album.

Charlie Hunter really has it together in the 10 tracks of Friends Seen and Unseen. If you've heard some of his older material, you'll notice how tight his bass + guitar sounds relative to his [already good] earlier work.

This album was the first time I'd heard John Ellis. He has a great sound, and I especially like his bass clarinet work. My favorite moment in the entire album is the bass clarinet solo about 1:15 in on My Son the Hurricane. If you liked John Ellis' One Foot in the Swamp, then you should really like this album.

Derrek Phillips lays down a solid beat--very jazz.

Altogether, the three make for a great combo.

Relative to Charlie Hunter's other work: this album is more conventional than Garage à Trois, but slightly more innovative than Steady Groovin'. It's good music to play when hanging out with friends.

Not thrilling, but nice.......2005-10-04

On Amazon an album with 3 stars seems to be not good enough to buy. That's not really the case here. When you like guitar, funk, Scofield and a touch of blues you might like this one. But it's the same as with some powerblues, funk, straight ahead big band or soul: the music gets boring too quick. There doesn't happen enough for me and a minimalistic approach only works when the notes that aren't played build up tension. In funky music that simply is never the case, except when there's a really great musical personality at work.
Muddy Waters played great blues and it didn't matter that you exactly knew what to expect. The music was just so intens that it got (and still gets) to you. Scofield has such a unique way of playing that he can make albums like this sound much more interesting. There just has to be something extra in the music (and it really doesn't matter what)to give an album 4 stars.

And still, when I've got company it's a nice album to put on. The solo's never get in the way of good (or bad) conversation and the music will not even irritate your mother-in-law.

The reason I bought the album, was because of the combination guitar and reeds that play some of the themes in the beginning of the songs. You can hear it when you play the amazon-fragments. Due to these fragments I thought the album had something more to offer, but it didn't.

But it's still a nice album.

The Charlie Hunter Trio.......2005-07-31

I bought this not knowing who Charlie Hunter was, who the musicians on this album was, what kind of jazz it was, and what year this was produced. The only reason I really got it was because of the cover.

Anyway, I brought this home, while reading the cd book, seeing the lineup was Charlie Hunter on guitar, Jon Ellis on reeds, and Derek Phillips. My first question was obviously, where's the bass player? Not being familiar with the 8 string guitar, but thinking it had something to do with playing the guitar and the bass at the same time.

Putting the cd on, I listened to the groove of the first track. It was cool. Now as I learned more about Charlie Hunter and what he does, I've come to love this album, and I can safely say it is one of the best jazz albums I've heard in years. The only problem I'm having with this, is that there's no indication of the year this was released.

Charlie Hunter is one of jazz's finest guitar players. Although he didn't invent the style of guitar in which he plays, he's an excellent song writer, and his fellow musicians can play!

There's only about one song that is in 4/4 time! This album hosts magnificent musicianship all around. This is a wonderful album, and the playing is some of the best playing I have ever heard. Most the musicians here are relatively unkown, but I find this puzzling, because they play so well.

I am really looking foward to buying some more Charlie Hunter records. If they are as good as this one, Charlie Hunter will continue to be one of my favorite artists for years to come.

Smooth, tasty, and chunky..........2005-02-02

From the first time one hears Charlie Hunter, one has an odd sense you're listening to the "Dynamic Duo" days of Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery...except that the crazy 8-string guitarist is playing both Jimmy AND Wes' parts at the same time. Over the past decade, Hunter's proven that his 8-strings-and-the-truth routine is no gimmick, but an original and spicey approach to making jazz your posterior can groove to. While his "Right Now Move" quintet was intriguing and eclectic--how many jazz bands have a harmonica soloist?--here he pares down the layers for some deep-dish trio interaction with Ellis & Phillips, both of whom have considerably more space to stretch out and indulge in expressionistic and colorful explorations of their own. As always, the funk quotient is quite high, but some of the blues and gospel influences allow for more leisurely, molasses-thick vamps straight out of 'Nawlins. Instrumentally this is especially a showcase for Ellis--playing bass clarinet and flute in addition to sax expands his tonal pallete considerably, and to wonderful effect. Mosey, sidle, or slide over to your local music establishment to get ahold of what Hunter peddles, as it might soon be 'unseen'...

Average customer rating:

Analog Playground
Get this only if you're a hippie
a great choice
Musician's Musician
Wow

Songs from the Analog Playground
Charlie Hunter Quartet
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Friends Seen and Unseen
Bing, Bing, Bing!
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Outre Mer

ASIN: B00005NU6A
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Street Sounds
Rhythm Music Rides Again
Mighty Mighty
Mitch Better Have My Bunny
More Than This
Desert Way
Run For It
Spoonful
Close Your Eyes
Percussion Shuffle
Creole
Sunday Morning
Day Is Done

Amazon.com

Charlie Hunter always put his emphasis on the groove, using his eight-string guitar to create an uncanny blend of bright leads, bass lines, and chord riffs that can simulate classic funk organ. For Songs from the Analog Playground, he's added a series of guest vocalists to the mix, touching on pop sensibilities with an eclectic mix of originals and cover tunes. Norah Jones is the big news, bringing a breathy intimacy and soulful depths to Bryan Ferry's "More Than This" and Nick Drake's "Day Is Done," making them very much her own in the process. Theryl de Clouet, from the funk band Galactic, is a gritty, forceful presence on Earth, Wind & Fire's "Mighty Mighty" and the classic blues of Willie Dixon's "Spoonful," while Mos Def raps on "Street Sounds" and takes his own stab at R&B singing on "Creole." Kurt Elling's loose treatments of "Desert Way" and the Afro-Cuban suffused "Close Your Eyes" invoke traditional jazz singing. Tying it all together--vocals and instrumentals alike--are Hunter and his working quartet, stripping soul jazz down to its essentials, then rebuilding it in their own image, with frequent Latin and Caribbean touches expanded on by drummer Stephen Chopek and percussionist Chris Lovejoy. Hunter and tenor saxophonist John Ellis shine on jams like "Rhythm Music Rides Again" and "Run for It," alternately digging into the beat or floating atop. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Analog Playground.......2004-11-10

Songs from the Analog Playground is one of the better modern jazz albums I've heard.

It features a few solid guest vocalists along with some great playing by Charlie Hunter and his band. Each of the guest vocalists bring a uniqueness with them and they make their song special.

The vocalists help keep the album from getting too repetitive and boring. Norah Jones, Kurt Elling, Mos Def and the lead vocalist from the band Galactic do about two songs each. There are also some straight-ahead instrumentals.

The entire cd is filled with very good music. It's very laidback, jazzy and grooving.

I would recommend this Cd, even to people who are on the fringe of being jazzheads because it has that universal musical appeal. Good stuff!

Get this only if you're a hippie.......2002-10-24

I got this after hearing that Charlie Hunter was "the future" of jazz. Well, this comment is totally off the mark. Hunter isn't the future of anything, he's nothing but yet another hippie jammer straight off the current bandwagon. Really quite bad.

a great choice.......2002-05-08

A definite choice for any jazz and funk fan. it is a perfect balance of rythms, jazz, funk, vocals, and soft sounds. Sweet enough for any woman, tough enough for any guy. If you like Hunter, buy the CD

Musician's Musician.......2002-01-22

There are few musicians who can actually make my jaw drop, but Charlie Hunter is definitely one of them. You'll notice that the only instruments in the band are saxophone (John Ellis), percussion (Chris Lovejoy) and drums (Stephen Chopek), and Hunter on guitar. There's no organist and no real bassist, even though you can hear all these instruments on this album. Hunter's 8-string guitar is a meld between the first three strings of a bass and the five top strings of a guitar, and he plays everything else you hear.

Hunter's sound mostly consists of Latin jazz. This album is a mix of both slow and up-tempo songs with both instrumentals and singing. The album opens to a percussion piece with a bossa nova feel. Hunter displays his guitar talent starting with "Rhythm Music Rides Again" backed with some great sax from Ellis. "Mitch Better Have My Bunny" returns to the bossa nova rhythm again. Listen to how Hunter mixes a walking bass line with the guitar rhythm. Hunter has several guest along to add to the mix with their voices. "More Than This" is a slow piece allowing focus to be given to the beautiful voice of Norah Jones. Hunter also does a cover of the classic "Spoonful" with the gravelly voice of Theryl De Clouet. An excellent job. Mos Def and Kurt Elling also appear on this album. Each singer lends their talent on two songs each.

The rest of the band are excellent musicians themselves. Both Lovejoy and Chopek provide an entertaining beat to the music. These two are a joy to listen to, and even more fun to see live. It's amazing what these gentlemen do. If you're a fan of guitar, jazz, or even music, check out Charlie Hunter. If you can see him live, he's well worth the price of admission.

Wow.......2001-12-06

I just saw Charlie hunter just a few days ago (12/3/01) and he was simply *amazing*. I've seen him before last year at about the same time, and I was impresssed, but this time. amazing. the new singer he has with him is one of the best voices ive heard in quite awhile, especially when it comes to the 'new jazz' scene.

If you like charlie hunter, you'll *love* this cd.

also check out the opening band for Charlie, called the Jacob Fred Jazz odyssey. they were excellent as well.

Tracks:

Hard Headed Rio a.k.a Rio Cuca Dura
Sprung Monkey
Plena For My Grundle
A-Frame
We See
Interpretive Ape Dance
Launch
Gat Swamba
Delta Skelta
House of Hand Wash

Amazon.com

If ever there was a genre that seemed immune from successful revival, jazz-fusion seemed a prime candidate. But this adventurous debut collaboration from veteran jazz-funksters Charlie Hunter (8-string guitar), Stanton Moore (drums), Mike Dillon (vibes, Percussion,) and Skerik (sax) does more than breath new life into fusion; it imparts it a nervous, electric economy and much-needed tongue-in-cheek sense of mischief. It's no mean feat for players to stretch out as all parties do here, yet maintain a cohesive interplay that's at once focused and musically dynamic. Hunter's compositions "Plena for My Grundle" and "Gat Swamba" evoke vintage jazz Cubano in one corner, while his playing on the squealing, squawking group workouts "A-Frame" and "Delta Skelta" leans on a wholly different sense of aggro-experimentalism. Elsewhere, Stanton's insistent rhythms powers "Interpretive Ape Dance" and the free-for-all "Launch," saxophonist Skerik offers up a savory time out with the bluesy languor of "We See," and Dillon's percussion showcase "House of Hand Wash" conjures a shotgun marriage of Asian motifs and Western minimalism. It's the sort of hip jazz-funk contemporary DJ/mixers like David Holmes struggle to coax from their turntables and samples, but made endlessly more compelling here by four real, live musicians--and one unified, playful spirit. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The thing I like about this disc . . ........2003-10-19

. . . is that the lads'll try anything. The thing I don't like about it is that it's so dang hard to get it to play properly in my Windows Media Player. See, it's one of those enhanced discs, and it never seems to load without crashing my system. OK, I've probably got a dinosaur computer and a media player that's three generations old. But it's still annoying.

But it's all worth the effort. Garage a Trois is the future of jazz. Hip without being smug; multilingual sans carpetbagging; able to leap tall styles in a single bound. Proof: "Sprung Monkey." You're in Cumbia-land gone berserk, but it all makes sense. And the vibe continues unabated with "Plena for my Grundle" (great faux-Latinesque meaningless title with huge evocativeness). "A-Frame," the next cut, is pschedelic funk on uppers. Very groovy, and very scary. Charlie Hunter's wah-wah guitar scintillates. Indeed, Hunter stands tall throughout. He seems to have found the ideal context for his eight-string, bass/guitar hybrid. And Stanton Moore rules. The free-flowing vibe seems to enable him to unleash his most creative and percussive drumming. He's never sounded so good (check out his playing on "Get Swamba").

It's a mistake to think of this as a funk record, in my view. There're just too many other styles in play: garage, groove, psychedelic, free jazz, R&B, Latin, East Indian, lounge, Delta blues, gamelon, surf, to name just a few. What amazes is their ability to speak in all these cultural tongues with such glibness and spunk without sounding in the least stilted or inappropriately virtuostic: They're basically just having fun (albeit at a stratospheric level). And so will the listener.

Good offering, but does not represent........2003-07-24

This CD doesn't really represent what these guys do live, but it has some interesting moments. My complaint is at 42 minutes (plus CD-rom capabilities with video) it's much to short. These guys play 3hour shows with endless upbeat jams, and the tunes here are in the 3-4 minute range and more subdued.

Not funky.......2003-07-15

Emphasizer isn't about funk. It seems to be an experiment of sorts. If I had to assign it a genre based solely on the music, I'd probably put it in the "world beat" section. These are talented musicians showing their diversity, but if you're looking for something along the lines of these guys' other work, look elsewhere.

If you are lucky enough to have heard Garage a Trois's previous release, the vinyl-only Mysteryfunk EP, you know that it featured extremely raw funky grooves and some of the sickest beats known to man. I was expecting the same in Emphasizer, but unfortunately it's not here.

Rocks! A lot of fun!.......2003-07-09

I picked this up after hearing one song on XM radio. I'm happy I did! Very hip, fun to drive, party and lounge to. A little slow and a little repetitive in parts so no 5 stars, but hey, the rest is really great.

The videos to play on your CD-ROM are pretty worthless but the links are cool.

It's music you can't feel bad while listening to... and that's a good thing.

5 stars? Sure, why not..........2003-06-13

A few years back, drummer Stanton Moore teamed up with guitarist Charlie Hunter and saxophonist Sherik to record his first solo album, and the sessions resulted in both a solo album (All Kooked Out!) and a new band, Garage a Trois. Previously, their only release was a vinyl EP which no one I know has heard. So lucky for us who don't have functioning turntables, they recorded again and released it as a full length CD this time around, although they're no longer a threesome, as Mike Dillon, Sherik's multi-percusionist pal from Critters Buggin, has joined up with them.

I would've found this album worth my time if only to hear these particular musicians play, as they are a blessed bunch talentwise, but to my good fortune, I found this CD had more to offer musically than just an opportunity for four guys to demo their chops. Although earthy, loose funk-jazz is Garage a Trois' starting point (which they do very well), they don't limit themselves to just that. The latin grooves of "GAT Swamba" and "Plena for My Grundle," the asiatic marimba piece "House of Hand Wash," and the tribal percussion cadences and weird Middle Eastern melody of "Interpretive Ape Dance" demonstrate that this band has no intention of being an one trick pony. And although some tracks, in my opinion, could have been better -- the slick funk of "A-Frame" could be a bit dirtier, the electro-rock-blues of "Delta Skelta" a bit less conventional, and their rendition of Monk's lyrical "We See" less reverent -- nothing on this disc could be considered filler. Everything they do, they seem to strive to do well and in good taste. Probably as the result of these musicians' varied backgrounds and experience, the music throughout this CD maintains an impressive degree of creativity, adventure and energetic drive without losing cohesion or slipping into banality. Each musician gets his fair shot at the spotlight -- and each time, they step up quite willingly to make the most of it -- so the music has a good balance of each of their contributions.

Tracks:

Georgy Girl
Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme From "Dr. Zhivago")
A Man And A Woman
This Hotel
And We Were Lovers (Theme From "The Sand Pebbles")
The Wishing Doll
Born Free
This Is My Song
Alfie
Song From "The Oscar"
A Time For Love
How Are Things In Glocca Morra?
Theme From "The Fox"
Funny Girl
The Windmills Of Your Mind
Star!
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
The Lion In Winter
Elvira's Theme
For Love Of Ivy
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
As Long As He Needs Me

Customer Reviews:

"top film scores of the 1960's ~ Percy Faith".......2004-02-18

If you are a collector of Percy Faith, you must run out to your local music store and pick this one up ~ "Plays The Academy Award Winner Born Free and Other Great Movie Themes" (originally released on Columbia Records CS 9450 in 1967) and "Windmills of Your Mind" (originally released on Columbia Records CS 9835 in 1969) ~ following the formula of previous Columbia Records releases featuring Faith's classic style of sweeping strings and haunting arrangements, they've come up with two more winners.

Master of arranging, Faith's formula is so natural in keeping the arrangements fresh and new with his distinctive style ~ his tasteful treatment always highlights the quality of the composition ~ ultimately making them a hit all over again. Remember the days when you could turn on the radio and hear Percy Faith with many familiar pop standards ~ when you put this compact disc on your player, get ready for the "Percy Faith Touch" sprinkled with pure magic over the orchestration and leaves you simply in that unforgettable mood.

Top performances inclusive for the twenty two tracks of film score themes ~ "A MAN AND A WOMAN" (Barouh/Lai), "A TIME FOR LOVE" (Webster/Mandel), "ALFIE"(David/Bacharach), "AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME" (Lionel Bart), "BORN FREE"(John Barry), "CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG" (Richard M. Sherman/Robert B. Sherman), "ELVIRA'S THEME" (Percy Faith), "FOR LOVE OF IVY" (Russell/Quincy Jones), "THEME FROM "THE FOX" (Lalo Schlfrin), "FUNNY GIRL" (Merrill/Styne), "GEORGY GIRL"(Dale/Springfield), "THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER" (Peggy Lee/David Grusin), "HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA?"(Harburg/Lane), "THE LION IN THE WINTER"(John Barry), "SONG FROM "THE OSCAR" (Evans/Livingston/Percy Faith), "THEME FROM "THE SAND PEPPLES" (Bricusse/Goldsmith), "SOMEWHERE MY LOVE(Lara's Theme from "Dr. Zhivago")"(Webster/Jarre), "STAR" (Cahn/Van Heusen), "THIS IS MY SONG" (Charles Chaplin), "THIS HOTEL" (Keating/Quine), "THE WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND" and "THE WISHING DOLL" (David/Bernstein) ~ notice two of the selections were composed by the man himself Percy Faith! Impressive line up of top movie songs that will surely satisfy the appetite of all "film-score-buffs" and Percy Faith fans...gotta love it!

Total Time: 63:41 on 22 Tracks ~ Collectables 7428 ~ (2/19/2002)

Born Free/Windmills of your mind.......2002-03-02

Another perfect reissiue by collectibles music,This album contains themes from movies.Most of these songs have been unavailable by Faith since Lps went out.This album contains such songs as somewhere my love, this hotel,And we were lovers,This is my song,Alfie,How are things in Glacca Morra and many more.All of these songs are beautifully done Faith style.The album empasizes just his orchestra.Their's no chrous here.The original liner notes to born free are included in the bookelet as well as pictures of Faith probebly from born free under the clear cd holder.The liner notes to Windmills of your mind are not included.If your a collector of Percy Faith's music you have to get this cd since many of these songs are on cd for the first time.

Average customer rating:

One of the greats
Bing Bing Bing
2-For-2 At This Point...
THE Charlie Hunter to own
Absolutely fantastic

Bing, Bing, Bing!
Charlie Hunter Trio
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ready...Set...Shango!
Charlie Hunter
Friends Seen and Unseen
Natty Dread
Songs from the Analog Playground

ASIN: B000005GZ9
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

Greasy Granny
Wornell's Yorkies
Fistful Of Haggis
Come As You Are
Scrabbling For Purchase
Bullethead
Bing, Bing, Bing, Bing
Squiddlesticks
Lazy Susan (With A Client Now)
Elbo Room

Amazon.com

Bluenose jazz loyalists doubtless hate him, but the Bay Area's Charlie Hunter is one of the music's saviors for the '90s. With his customized eight-stringed guitar in hand, Hunter essays the greasy glories of early '60s jazz funk, serving as guitarist, bassist, and de facto organist in these groove-driven gems abetted by Dave Ellis' ripe tenor saxophone and Jay Lane's concise, funky drumming. Acid jazz has understandably adopted Hunter as a leading light, but this music has more chops, heart, and reach--earning him the right to stand alongside better-known jazz and funk masters as a confident, compelling original. Infectious grooves prevail, and even Kurt Cobain gets funked up on a breezy and inventive deconstruction of "Come As You Are." --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

One of the greats.......2006-10-04

Charlie will be remembered as one of the great composers of our time, I guarantee it. Beside that, he is a fantastic guitar player. You have to see him perform at least once, to truly appreciate his talent. This CD is by far his best. The collection of talent, and the groove they get into is fantastic. If you are new to Charlie, start with this one, you'll be hooked from then on.

Bing Bing Bing.......2005-08-27

Charlie Hunter is a talented guitarist who specializes in the field of eight string electric guitar playing. He usually records in the trio format as you see here.

What I like most about Charlie Hunter is funk influenced songs. And as I started to play this disk, I thought it would be a funky album.

As I got near the end, Charlie was swinging most of the tunes. I hadn't really heard Charlie Hunter swing before, so it was a surprise.

This is modern fresh jazz. I'm a big Charlie Hunter fan, and this album is great. It's modeled after a classic blue note album cover, and the material is great.

Recommended to modern jazz lovers.

2-For-2 At This Point..........2005-07-27

hunter's second release, and his first for blue note, has him mellowing out a little and focusing more on mainstream jazz. with the same lineup as his initial release, hunter, dave ellis and jay lane mix it up on instrumental selections ranging from funk, jazz, post bop and even a hybrid of jazz and rock. hunter's playing is as top notch as always, both as the soloist and when he is backing up ellis in an organ-like fashion. similarly, ellis' solos are creative and excellent. he blows the instrument hard, but never honks it and always stays in step with rest of the music. jay lane keeps the music steady and shines on certain tracks, especially "bullethead". the group seem comfortable with one another and it shines through the music.

THE Charlie Hunter to own.......2003-02-08

Year after year, this CD finds a place in the household rotation. Sad to say, but that's not the case for the other C. Hunter CDs we own. This one grooves and moves, and yet it settles all around with a supreme subtlety. It's Charlie Hunter's one bottom line statement that he belongs. It's not quite at that level of must have/essential CD, but it offers hope that one day Charlie will deliver on his exceptional promise. And it's an incredibly solid outing, worthy of praise and many reissues down the road.

Absolutely fantastic.......2001-09-01

One of the best albums I own! This is the best lineup Charlie Hunter has recorded with; Dave Ellis is fantastic!

Average customer rating:

An Incredible Album
fantastic debut
Raw Power

Charlie Hunter Trio
Charlie Hunter
Manufacturer: Mammoth / Pgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Return of the Candyman
Bing, Bing, Bing!
Charlie Hunter
Natty Dread
Duo

ASIN: B000004AVO
Release Date: 1999-08-31

Tracks:

Fred's Life
Live Oak
20, 30, 40, 50, 60, Dead
Funky Niblets
Fables of Faubus
Dance of the Jazz Fascists
The Telephone's A'Ringin'
Rhythm Comes in 12 Tones
Mule
Faffer Time

Customer Reviews:

An Incredible Album.......2005-07-27

back before charlie hunter signed to blue note, mammoth records put this release out. it didn't take long for guitar nuts to track this release down. from that, jazz fans started to search it out as well and before long, the charlie hunter trio started to gather a decent sized following, in places other than san francisco. with help from dave ellis on saxophone and jay lane on drums, hunter lays down some great funky jazz tunes on this one. in fact, as a whole, it may be hunter's funkiest release to date. while hunter's playing is completely unique, you can often hear the influences of james brown, stanley jordan and john scofield, especially in tone. hunter and ellis trade solo time equally, and on one of the cuts, scott jensen joins in on trumpet. while it's not quite as polished as his later blue note releases, it's actually better than the release that followed it up with essentially the same lineup. it's an incredible album that shows off the young talents of both hunter and ellis.

fantastic debut.......2003-04-11

This was Charlie Hunter's first album as leader, and I still think his best. It is funky, melodic and raw, which can not too often be said about his later work. Not to pigeon-hole this album though - while Hunter shows his great interest for groovy funk on tunes like 'Fred's Life' and 'Funky Niblets', there is also wonderful jazz ('20, 30, 40, 50, 60, Dead' and 'Rhythm Comes In 12 Tones'), an upbeat latin tune with added horn section ('Dance Of The Jazz Fascists') and a slower bluesy piece ('Telephone's A Ringin'). Hunter also does a beautiful solo rendition of Charles Mingus' 'Fables Of Faubus'.

Hunter's compositions and guitar-playing are really fantastic on this album. His colleagues, Dave Ellis on tenor sax and Jay Lane on drums, are outstanding also. They manage to be solid and tight without coming across as too overly polished, which helps to create that rawness mentioned earlier. Primus' Les Claypool produced this album, which may have a little to do with the freshness and 'edge', which is less evident in Hunter's later albums (on Blue Note, and the like).

Still sounds fresh after all these years!

Raw Power.......2002-02-13

This little-known debut shows Charlie Hunter at the height of his early passions. Whereas he branched out into more lush horn arrangements and involved compositions on his later albums, we hear a refeshingly spacious version of his music here. This album embodies all that the later ones lack in terms of daring and spontaneity. Stylistically, it's not terribly different from his Blue Note debut (Bing, Bing, Bing!), but it's actually more varied, less predictable, and has a sound which is more hard-edged and raw, especially in the drums. The trio format gives each player plenty of room to strut his stuff, and the performances by Dave Ellis and Jay Lane are dazzling. This is some of the most distinctively crisp jazz/funk drumming I've ever heard, and Ellis' sax playing is forceful, confident, inventive, and deeply rooted in tradition. Charlie himself is also in fine form here, and his solos tend to go a little farther out than on later albums, with less strict attention to always maintaining simultaneous guitar and bass activity. Nevertheless, the harmonic concepts are well developed, perhaps more so than on his subsequent efforts. This album features the group's unique takes on funk, post-bop, Latin jazz, Mingus, a slower balladish tune, and an almost folky solo guitar piece. For anyone who enjoys Hunter's music, this glimpse of his pre-stardom days is not to be missed.

Average customer rating:

Groovin'
Undistinguished, but growing on me

Come in Red Dog, This Is Tango Leader
Charlie Hunter , and Bobby Previte
Manufacturer: Rope-a-Dope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Longitude
Latitude
Copperopolis
Duo
Friends Seen and Unseen

ASIN: B0007YMUH0
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Tracks:

All Hell Broke Loose
Ow!
Up There
Said God
Red Dog Strays
Okay, Okay
Wave Link
Can You Hear Me, Tango Leader?

Customer Reviews:

Groovin'.......2005-06-29

"Come In Red Dog, This Is Tango Leader" documents the first meeting between guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer, percussionist and composer Bobby Previte. Their initial recording has a relaxed, atmospheric soulfulness that belies the shape that the duo's future collaborations would take on.

Hunter's gorgeous Hammond organ-like guitar tone is famously present on most of this disc with his trademarked eight string taking endlessly inventive but rhythmically concise solos over Previte's highly arranged accompaniment. Utilizing an acoustic trap-set, a set of electronic drums as well as a sampler, all played live in the studio, Previte weaves a thick but unobtrusive web of sound. Sampled voices push the ambience past mere groove and into the realm of instrumental pop music.

Tonally, the duo delivers astounding variety. Previte's electronic drums ring out like detuned steel drums on "All Hell Breaks Loose," while Hunter's guitar tone on "Wave Link" is all reverb laden surf twang. Hunter even dips into a little gritty overdriven distortion on "Ow!" with Previte locking down a monolithic groove.

Their Groundtruther project, featuring an added third guest, transforms this duo into an ever evolving trio. This initial foray has a casual air of equitable improvisation without the experimental tendencies found on the later records. Filled with supple, mid-tempo lazy afternoon grooves, "Come In Red Dog, This Is Tango Leader" is an auspicious beginning for this pair.

Undistinguished, but growing on me.......2005-04-19

Charlie Hunter and Bobby Previte have made many fine records. I regret to say this is not one of them.

There is, admittedly, a somewhat cool loose-funk vibe pretty much all over this disc, and I do like the way it's mixed. But there's just not enough substance here. It sounds like the boys just went into the studio with a bunch of tune sketches and pretty much just let it all hang out. The percussive add-ons (bells, scratches, blips, voice samples) give the game away. Without them, Hunter's tired funk clichés and Previte's plodding drums don't amount to much. With them, there's a certain alien interest that, however, soon begins to wear thin.

On the other hand, perhaps this meeting spawned Groundtruther, the Hunter/Previte duo + one so far documented in the fine disc, Latitude, featuring Greg Osby. If that's the case, we should cut the lads a little slack. Plus, the price is about 20 percent below the normal disc. And, it does grow on you.

All told approaching, but not quite reaching, ****.

Average customer rating:

Don't Be Scared...
Not his best
Do Not Shake A Baby !!!
Really "cool"
Amazing

Return of the Candyman
Charlie Hunter & Pound For Pound
Manufacturer: Blue Note Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Duo
Charlie Hunter Trio
Ready...Set...Shango!
Natty Dread
Bing, Bing, Bing!

ASIN: B000006DFP
Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

Bongo Confront
Enter The Dragon
Fly Like An Eagle
Dope-A-Licious
Mystic Relaxation
Return Of The Candyman
Pound For Pound
Grinch Comfort
People
Shake, Shake It Baby
Turn Me Loose
Huggy Bear
Of Things To Come

Amazon.com

On his fifth release, eight-string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter drops the horn section. Joined by long-standing drummer Scott Amendola, and new additions Stefon Harris on vibes and John Santos on percussion, Hunter unleashes a series of 13 groove-heavy numbers, including a cover of Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle." The rhythm section is strong and Hunter's playing is masterful as always. Nevertheless, the individual tracks have a tendency to blur into one another due to the somewhat homogeneous sound of the vibraphone. It's a good effort, though not his best. --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews:

Don't Be Scared..........2005-07-27

on this quartet release, it's hunter on 8-string guitar, his much hyped labelmate stefon harris on vibes, john santos playing percussion, and scott amendola on drums. charlie hunter went to a new level on return of the candyman. it's a strange combination of instruments for today's ears, and it is usually quite refreshing. plus, hunter's solos are much stronger than in the past, his playing is deeper, and his style is less restricted. it's every bit as funky as his previous albums, but the jazz licks he plays on this one are way better. the addition of a vibes makes the music sound much more spatial, even graceful at times, and, more importantly, gives hunter more of a chance to be a guitar player. check out that horrible album cover too. creepy!

Not his best.......2004-01-17

This is a decent cd, but I was much more impressed by the albums Charlie Hunter and Duo.

As previous reviewers have noted, yes, there are a lot of vibes. If you don't like vibes, you might not dig this album. There is nothing wrong with the way they were recorded.

Some of the things I didn't like were the cover of Fly like an Eagle, which I find semi-tolerable as a pop song and annoying as a jazz tune. Also there are some really cool jams that meld together, one of which I think was based on a tribe called quest song, but they are too short! Charlie should have spent more time grooving on this album, and less time covering Steve Miller songs.

Do Not Shake A Baby !!!.......2001-08-29

Excellent music. Too much vibraphone though.
When I ordered this CD, I was hesitant because
of the mistaken title of track 10,
"shake, shake a baby"
track 10 is "shake, shake it baby"
good CD,less vibraphone and it would of got 5 stars !

Really "cool".......2000-04-26

This is one of those albums that defines the feeling of "cool", "where it's at, daddy". Pop on this CD and turn your living room into a jazz nightclub for 13 groovy songs.

Amazing.......1999-10-17

Wow, this album is really cool. Charlie Hunter is an amazin player. I don't know why everybody's talking about the vibes; I think they're great!

Average customer rating:

Mistico
Charlie Hunter
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000PKG7JS
Release Date: 2007-07-31

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