Angel Eyes: Ballads & Slow Jams

Angel Eyes: Ballads & Slow Jams

ASIN: B0000046Z7

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The '90s lounge revival and the hubbub surrounding acid jazz would seem ideal reasons for veteran jazz organist Jimmy Smith to pull rank and power up his Hammond B-3 for the sort of greasy grooves and ur-funk riffs that remain the blueprint. Instead, Smith pulls a smarter move: subtitled "Ballads & Slow Jams," the set finds him teaming with younger labelmates Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Mark Whitfield, and Christian McBride and downshifting into a program of ballads culled from jazz and classic- pop perennials. From Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" and Neal Hefti's "Lil' Darlin'" to slices of Mancini, Gershwin, and Matt Dennis's title song (forever associated with Sinatra), a slow jam by any other name translates to make-out music--in this case, of the most elegant, highly satisfying order. --Sam Sutherland

Tracks:

More Than You Know
It Could Happen To You/Here's That Rainy Day
My Funny Valentine
How Are Things In Glocca Morra?
Have You Met Miss Jones/Nobody's Heart
In Our Little Boat
As Time Goes By
My Melancholy Baby
It Only Happens When I Dance With You
Angel Eyes
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
It Might As Welll Be Spring
The Second Time Around
Dance Of Life

Customer Reviews:

Intimate and tuneful.......2005-01-14

I'm an admirer of Previn as both classical and jazz musician, and in both categories he excels. This album has the same intimate, highly musical quality that you'll find in Keith Jarrett's The Melody at Night with You. What I appreciate about both is the fact that the pianist's invention always serves the music; it's never obtrusively artful or showy. Highly recommended. Do yourself a favor and get Jarrett's disc to go along with this.

Underrated Previn.......2002-01-14

Andre Previn has always been an underrated jazz pianist. Because of his astonishing variety of successes as a classical conductor, pianist and composer; a film composer; a songwriter; and a performer of romantic cocktail music, he has been eyed suspiciously by the jazz community. In fact, his Tatum-like virtuosity, and his wildly unique and often playfully humorous piano style has made him one of the most interesting, innovative, and entertaining jazz pianists around. His many trio albums on Contemporary Records in the '50s (with Red Mitchell and Shelly Manne) still hold up as some of the best of their kind. But like Rodney Dangerfield, he never gets any respect. Thus, even his most kind critics are likely to throw darts at "Ballads" as too sweet and not swinging. Nonsense! It's not Monk, but it is nevertheless a beautiful set and a loving tribute to some of the greatest songwriters in Tin Pan Alley. Previn squeezes out every harmonic nuance of each song, yet he sounds like he's playing off the cuff in his living room late at night just to amuse himself. Previn may not swing like Teddy Wilson or Oscar Peterson on this offering, but I can't imagine any serious listener being left unmoved by his version of Burton Lane's "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" It's simply gorgeous. Previn's amazing talents and his proficiency in many musical styles all come together in this unjustly overlooked CD. Give it a chance!

What happened?.......2001-10-03

THe magic is gone. After reading the liner notes, I learned that someone at the studio asked Previn to make an album of just ballads. BIG MISTAKE. I think he was not in the mood.

Average customer rating:

item of rare beauty
Slow down sagg on standards
one of five jazz recordings to take to another planet
His best
Mr. Jimmy does it again.

Angel Eyes: Ballads & Slow Jams
Jimmy Smith
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Damn!
Standards
Dot Com Blues
Master 2
Midnight Special

ASIN: B0000046Z7
Release Date: 1996-11-05

Tracks:

Stolen Moments
You Better Go Now
Angel Eyes
Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
Slow Freight
Tenderly
Days Of Wine & Roses
L'il Darlin'
What A Wonderful World

Amazon.com

The '90s lounge revival and the hubbub surrounding acid jazz would seem ideal reasons for veteran jazz organist Jimmy Smith to pull rank and power up his Hammond B-3 for the sort of greasy grooves and ur-funk riffs that remain the blueprint. Instead, Smith pulls a smarter move: subtitled "Ballads & Slow Jams," the set finds him teaming with younger labelmates Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Mark Whitfield, and Christian McBride and downshifting into a program of ballads culled from jazz and classic- pop perennials. From Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" and Neal Hefti's "Lil' Darlin'" to slices of Mancini, Gershwin, and Matt Dennis's title song (forever associated with Sinatra), a slow jam by any other name translates to make-out music--in this case, of the most elegant, highly satisfying order. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

item of rare beauty.......2007-06-18

A somewhat dismissive review of this album on allmusic.com (''the results (although pleasant) are uneventful and somewhat predictable. Good for late-night background music rather than for close listening'') spurred me to write a counter view on an album I have come to love. But I see several other Amazon consumers are there ahead of me, and express opinions with which I concur. This is one of the most finely developed collections in the entire Jimmy Smith oeuvre. We fans of Smith love the Chicken Shack groove and the Mojo heat, but here he is surpassingly sublime on, for example, ''Tenderly'' in duet with Christian McBride. I can only endorse the other five-star reviews and am pleased to find others share my delight.

Slow down sagg on standards.......2006-04-07

One of the great mysteries in the history of organ jazz is the lack of solo recordings from the old organ masters (you can find solo organ recordings from Barbara Dennerlein and Rhoda Scott). Given the unlimited possibilities and sounds from the Hammond B-3 organ, this instrument is far more colourful than the piano for solo recordings. Recording history can't be changed but with this excellent small format album, Jimmy Smith delivers one of his most memorable albums, almost closing the gap to a have a solo recording under his belt (yes, he recorded some great solo tunes on "The Sound Of Jimmy Smith" on Blue Note, not to forget). This recording marks Jimmy return to Verve Recorded in 1995, which also resulted in the "Damn" album. "Angel Eyes: Ballads & Slow Jams" presents Jimmy in a variety of small formats - from solo, duo, trio..and sextet. Jimmy gives the beloved tunes "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess" and "What What A Wonderful World" a real solo treat utilizing the dynamic range of two manuals and pedals with his phenomenal technique and passion for the balladry. An unusual and stunning performance is the duo performance with Christian McBride on acoustic bass and Jimmy on organ bass, "Tenderly" will never be the same after this. With Nicholas Payton, Mark Whitfield, Roy Hargrove and Gregory Hutchinson as sidemen gives the album the right high quality slow-down moods as expected from the album title.

one of five jazz recordings to take to another planet.......2000-12-27

Being a a fan of Jimmy Smith since 1966, I was impressed how Smith had advanced his art. Smith has always been famous for his speed, funk and melody, but "Angel Eyes" greatly magnifies these traits beneith the heavy cloak of soporific balladry - and these ballards are absolutely beautiful. If you are new to the B3 organ or a long time fan, there is no better recording to highlight the power of this instrument and its Godfather. Smith distills a half century of life and playing into one of the finest jazz recordings of all time. This recording just gets better and better after every listening. If you could pick only five jazz recordings to take to another planet (assuming you couldn't return home for more), this would easily make the cut. (The guitar work is very tasty as well.)

His best.......2000-07-26

Who would have suspected that Jimmy Smith would put out something this great this late in his career? This is music so cool and laid-back that it takes a few listens to realize how deep and complex it is. This is fine music by a mature artist.

Mr. Jimmy does it again........1999-03-26

The grooviest slow jams you'll ever hear. Buy it. Play it. Enjoy

Average customer rating:

Classic Rock Ballads
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Legacy Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000K7GNCC
Release Date: 2006-10-06

Tracks:

Alias "More Than Words Can Say"
Sheriff "When I'm With You"
Poison "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
John Waite "Missing You"
April Wine "Just Between You And Me"
Helix "Deep Cuts The Knife"
Billy Idol "Eyes Without A Face"
Great White "The Angel Song"
Slaughter "Fly To The Angels"
Pat Benatar "We Belong"
Poison "Something To Believe In"

Average customer rating:

Eyes of An Angel

Manufacturer: Simone Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAJF18
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Average customer rating:

Look into My Eyes/Mira a Mis Ojos
Melanie
Manufacturer: cacike records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAJFTA
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Average customer rating:

Angel Eyes: Live in Tokyo
Irene Kral
Manufacturer: Absord Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000065E21
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Angel Eyes
Corcovado
It Isn't So Good
Everytime We Say Goodbye
You're the Sunshine of My Life
Guess I'll Hang My Tears out to Dry
Misty Roses
Oh! You Crazy Moon
Star Eyes
Song Is You

Album Details

Recorded in Tokyo, Japan, 1976.

Average customer rating:

Angel Eyes (Forgotten Ballads)
Franco d'Andrea
Manufacturer: Philology
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004YAF2
Release Date: 2001-01-01

Tracks:

Angel Eyes
Yesterdays
My Old Flame
You Go to My Head - Franco D'Andrea, Jimmy Smith
I'll Be Seeing You
Willow Weep for Me
I Got It Bad
Almost Like Being in Love
Tenderly/Laura
(Warmin' On) Lover

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music