Swing Is the Thing!

Swing Is the Thing!

ASIN: B00004S5G9

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There's never been an 85-year-old tenor saxophonist as vibrant as Flip Phillips, and the sheer marvel of his longevity influences one's reaction to this record. After retiring from golf some years back and releasing a few competent records on Chiaroscoro during the 1990s, he's primed for this major-label comeback, holding his own with a premiere, propulsive rhythm section that includes Christian McBride, Kenny Washington, and Benny Green. His tone is a bit flabby in places, and he can't sustain the roustabout phrases he once unfurled with Woody Herman's First Herd or during Norman Grantz's Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts. But on "Where or When," paired with the pyrotechnics of James Carter--whose showboating style bears some resemblance to a young Phillips mugging his way through "Perdido" decades ago--Phillips proves his mettle as a wizened counterpuncher. He's also pretty spry playing tenor tag with Joe Lovano on "Flip the Whip." As the album title indicates, however, Phillips's facility for swing is the thing that may have actually gotten better with age. His lilting tempos always hit the sweet spots (especially on tracks he has cowritten with guitarist Howard Alden) but also plumb little nuances with a pause or an aside that deepens the quality of the groove. His durably delightful duet with McBride on Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone" not only highlights this set but stands among the best work either man has ever done. --Britt Robson

From Jazziz
Eighty-five-year-old tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips returns to recording with Swing Is the Thing. Phillips, who made his initial mark as part of the Jazz at the Philharmonic jam sessions, is joined by a cast of younger musicians, including pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, guitarist Howard Alden, drummer Kenny Washington, and guest tenor players Joe Lovano and James Carter. 'The Mark of Zorro,' features Lovano and Carter. 'Zorro had his own kind of swing,' Phillips says of the tune. 'Like 'zip, zap, zip.' I loved those old movies with Douglas Fairbanks and Tyrone Power.'

Tracks:

Overture
Summertime
I Wants To Stay Here
My Man's Gone Now
I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'
Buzzard Song
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
It Ain't Necessarily So
What You Want Wild Bess?
A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
Oh, Doctor Jesus
Medley: Here Come De Honey Man/Crab Man/Oh, Deh's So Fresh And Fine (Strawberry Woman)
There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Amazon.com

Getting the two most personable voices in jazz to sing an hour's worth of George Gershwin's opera Porgy & Bess (Ella doing all the female parts, Satchmo all the male) was a good idea, but not quite as great as it sounded. Armstrong savors the down-and-dirty Charlestonisms that inspired the cadences of the music and lyrics, and they fit his happy rasp like an old shoe; Fitzgerald, conversely, sounds almost prissy every time she has to sing the word "ain't," though her melodic genius gets Gershwin's bold, supple tunes over. The arrangements are full-throttle Broadway, with a few leaps into Dixieland (including some fine Armstrong trumpet solos), but the disc works best when the vocalists break character and let their jazz side out. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely peerless.......2006-11-17

"Porgy and Bess" has just opened (with some controversy) in London's West End, though as a musical and not as an opera as it was originally conceived. Reviews have been promising and I aim to go down and see it soon. I decided to listen to this CD to put myself in the mood. I hadn't listened to it for years and I'd completely forgotten how good it actually is. Ella's voice blends with Louis' perfectly and Russell Garcia's orchestration gives them a dreamy landscape to perform against. I have one or two other CDs by Louis and Ella but this one is by far my favourite. The CD opens with "Overture" and its orchestral performance of classics like "Summertime", "I Wants To Stay Here", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" and "It Ain't Neccessarily So" set the tone nicely, leaving one ever so keen for the vocal versions. Louis Armstong has a very rough tone to his voice but the emotion he packs with it is moving, most especially on the mournful "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" And we get all this and Louis' wonderful trumpet playing too?

Gershwin and Gershwin must be among the top composers of the last century and this opera showcases their talents more than anything I've heard. Ella and Louis are peerless as a vocal duo and though I doubt the West End performance will capture the magic in the same way they did, I still remain very keen to go see it. Is it opera or is it a jazz performance? I don't really know. I just know that I love it. And strongly recommend it.

once-in-a-lifetime greatness.......2006-10-06

Two thousand five hundred musicians have recorded "Summertime" --- it's a classic. (I bet most Americans can name Janis Joplin and no other singer.) As for "Porgy and Bess," the folk opera from which "Summertime" springs, it's such a classic that it's hard to believe anyone ever had a harsh word to say about it.

But after its premiere in 1935, no less than Duke Ellington said, "It has grand music and a swell play, but the two didn't go together. It does not use the Negro musical idiom --- the times are here to debunk Gershwin's lampblack Negroisms."

A quarter of a century later, the producers of the film version had trouble assembling a cast. Harry Belafonte rejected their offer to play Porgy. Sidney Poitier took the part --- and wished he hadn't. Poitier later wrote that the movie insulted black people; when he chose clips of his best performances for his tribute at the American Film Institute, he picked nothing from "Porgy and Bess."

And in 1985, when Grace Bumbry was a sensation as Bess in a Metropolitan Opera production, she slammed the opera: "I thought it beneath me, I felt I had worked far too hard, that we had come far too far to have to retrogress to 1935."

All that may be. All I know is that I have, in a long life, rarely been confronted with more genius than in the Fitzgerald/Armstrong recording of "Porgy & Bess." Set aside the achievement of George and Ira Gershwin in transforming DuBose Heyward's novel into a folk opera. Let's just focus on Armstrong and Fitzgerald, who were at the peak of their popularity when this record was made in 1957.

"Summertime" --- the first song --- sets the tone. A baleful horn figure, then violins. And then Armstrong's trumpet: slow, steady, dignified. But wait --- here comes a slurred note. And a cool little improvisation. Just enough of each. Very tasty.

Fitzgerald sings a verse. She is cool and formal. A lady. Not to be taken lightly. Now it's Armstrong's turn. Tender, but let's not kid ourselves --- this is not singing as others define it. This is melodic speech: rough, gutteral. And thus he is ideally cast: His Porgy may have his charms, but he'll have to stretch to keep Bess.

And so it goes throughout the CD. Trumpet mastery --- Armstrong has dazzling control. His tone is bright, but never shrill; there's a warmth in his playing no one else could produce. And Fitzgerald is just a study in inevitability; to hear her is to wonder how anyone could sing these songs any other way.

"I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'." "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." "A Woman Is a Sometime Thing." "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York." "Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?" "Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way."

All brilliantly conceived, orchestrated and recorded.

The greatest trumpet player in this history of jazz.

The father of scat singing.

The queen of the jazz vocal.

There are no-brainers, and then there is this Ella Fitzgerald-Louis Armstrong collaboration --- music that imprints on your soul.

We love this album.......2006-08-22

We hope they will someday bring this beautiful story back to the stage

Simply great.......2006-03-04

The fusion between the great two voices and the orchestra is just brilliant. Very good brass and violins that accompany Fitzeralds and Armstrongs magic voices leaves you with your mouth open.

A must have for everyone!

Porgy and Bess.......2005-10-14

Could not find this anyway locally. It is a great recording

Average customer rating:

Elly Ameling now more available
Delight in every note
While they last...
Treasures From a Treasure
More than fully earned praise for an exceptional singer.

Artistry of Elly Ameling (Coll)
Elly Ameling
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00007KMSJ
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Matthaus-Passion
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Frauenliebe Und- Leben
11 Lieder
20 Morike-Lieder

Customer Reviews:

Elly Ameling now more available .......2007-03-07

I had a 33 rpm album of Elly Ameling singing Schubert lieder accompanied by piano and clarinet at times. It was one of my all time favorite albums so I have been disappointed that I have not been able to find it anywhere on CD.

Now I can just buy this excellent collection. So much music in one place! Since I confess that I am far from an expert on the rest of her records, I look forward to hearing her sing many other styles and composers.

I think it is silly to criticize her for not singing Wagner, for example, since her version of many songs, especially lieder, are nothing short of sublime. I would like to hear how many Wagnerians sing Schubert or Mozart.

I doubt if they could approach the skill and soul with which Elly Ameling sings lieder.

Delight in every note.......2006-03-10

To speak as briefly as possible about this superb collection from an equally superb singer, what can I say but that Ms Ameling possessed a voice that shone with radiant warmth and star-like shimmer? And unlike many another light lyric soprano, Elly Ameling was possessed of a very high standard of musicianship, considerable intelligence, and a sort of immediate charm that captivates the listener.

So many of her recordings have still to be released on CD, but this 5CD-set goes some way towards remedying the situation. The repertoire spans a wide variety - French mèlodies, Lieder, light-hearted "sentimental" songs, Bach, etc. - and in each piece, Ms Ameling shows that quality of pearl-like beauty. It is a beauty which is also extremely pretty - a beauty of voice that is never overbearing and over-ripe, but perfectly blossoming upon the tree of inspiration.

I recommend this set unequivocally. It truly is sheer delight.

While they last..........2005-05-17

Elly Ameling held the quiet stage for recitals of great artistry and dignity for several decades and sadly most of the enormously successful CDs of her long career output are now unavailable. For those who have little access to the documentation of this very special artist, this box set is a must. It is a compilation of many of her recordings with differing accompanists, conductors, orchestras and composers. And while not all of the choices for inclusion here would be considered her greatest moments, there are enough works that sustain the warm memories of the little Dutch hausfrau who quietly and simply paid homage to composers with her clear and intelligent musicianship and radiant voice.

Ameling was known to schedule recitals of Schubert cycles and songs and in the afterglow of her performance answer the demand for curtain calls with additional Schubert melodies: she gifted her audience with the dignity of honoring a composer's works by maintaining the focus on that composer rather than milk the audience with the usual encore applause-getting favorites. And special moments such as quietly and pensively strolling through the orchestra during the Mahler 4th symphony to arrive at front stage, unapplauded, just in time for the opening line of her singing - those simple homage to composers and collaborators made her selfless manner endearing to audiences.

Despite the fact that Ameling's voice was on the small side she was always able to muster the projection to carry her message solidly in context with an orchestra. Yes, other more famous singers have recorded Ravel's quintessentially French SHEHERAZADE, but few have the perfection of diction and aura of mystery that Ameling maintained. Whether singing with piano or orchestra, or interpreting Bach, Mozart, Handel, and Vivaldi with the same degree of involvement as Brahms and Schumann and Schubert, Elly Ameling spanned a career that engendered passionate commitment from her fans. And this boxed set is a pocket full of memories to be treasured. Buy it before this too becomes unavailable. Grady Harp, May 05

Treasures From a Treasure.......2004-09-25

Treasures from a Treasure.

Ameling, one of the world's most beloved recitalists is captured here in a 5 CD collection offering some of her most beautiful recordings of song. While we are used to her perfection in songs of Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Faure and Hahn, an added joy is her "pop" side, tackling - without a whiff of pretension, Porter, Kern, Gershwin, Ellington, et al.

What an absolute joy it is listening to this amazing artist sing these songs with an almost uncanny natural ease. There is no resorting to a "pop" voice and yet most of these pop standards songs sound as though they could have been written for her. Clean attacks, sometimes a bit of the pop technique of hanging on to a consonant longer than a classical artist normally would shows an appreciation and understanding of the style. Still, there is never once a compromise of her vocal beauty.

I like the way the songs have been arranged for her voice in that she sort of sings them clean, unaffected in the first half and then lets loose and kinda "swings" with it adding embellishments but never really changing her voice (Price, von Stade and other favorite singers of mine seem to have always added a breathy quality to much of their crossover material.)

Ameling doesn't resort to trying to "let her hair down" or get down and dirty, but rather the honest with which she approaches every one of these songs shows how much she enjoys singing them and her style is as refreshing as stumbling onto a cool spring on a sweltering summer's afternoon. A wonderful surprise.

More than fully earned praise for an exceptional singer........2003-07-15

As I had the privilige of hearing this outstanding Lied-singer during her long career in Holland and being the proud possessor of almost all her recordings, I cannot but fully agree with the professional and joyful review of Mr. Robert Holliston from Victoria, B.C. Canada.
Yes, it is unbelievable that of about the 150 recordings Mrs. Ameling made during her long career (for the greater part of course on the 'oldfashioned' LP's, as well as the innumerable Dutch live-recorded radio-concerts), so few CD's have been released.
Speaking of tradition: it was the page-turner of the Wigmore Hall in London who told Mrs. Ameling after her first recital in this hall, that she reminded him of Elisabeth Schumann. (And he certainly didn't mean her looks only!)
For those who are eager to hear her singing Ravel's Shéhérazade (just one example of stirring imagination combined with her Art of Singing) I can tell you that Philips released a 2-box CD of this work in 1999, combined with Debussy's La Damoiselle élue and a compilation of French mélodies, i.e. Debussy, Fauré, Duparc, Satie. One of the gems is Caplet's Le Corbeau et le Renard which even make children, who know the fables of La Fontaine, revel in the singing of the quarrelsome birds....
Her brilliant accompanyist is Rudolf Jansen. Let us cherish great artists in their art!

Average customer rating:

Life Upon the Wicked Stage
Carole Cook , Jerome Kern , Grant Geissman , David Stout [trombone] , Dan Fornero , John Fumo , Brock Peters , James Anderson , Jane Lanier , Lauren Kennedy , Linda Michele , Marissa Jaret Winokur , Melissa Errico , Reece Holland , Robert Morse , Rod McKuen , Roger Rees , Ronnie Franklin , and Steve Orich
Manufacturer: Lml Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Dream: The Lyrics and Music of Johnny Mercer

ASIN: B0000658H9
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

The Song Is You - Jamie Anderson
How'd You like To Spoon With Me? - Jane Lanier
The Land Where The Good Songs Go - Pamela Myers
All The Things You Are - Alan Campbell
The Folks Who Live On The Hill - Lee Lessack
She Didn't Say Yes - Marissa Jaret Winokur
Pick Yourself Up - Street Sounds
You Couldn't Be Cuter - Marsha Kramer
Shimmy With Me - Lea Thompson
They All Look Alike - Bruce Vilanch
There It Is Again - David Holladay
Remind Me - Ron Rifkin
In Love In Vain - Melissa Errico
Make Believe - Linda Michele
Ol' Man River - Brock Peters
You Are Love - Dale Kristien
I Won't Dance - Bonnie Franklin

Tracks:

The Last Time I Saw Paris - Charles Busch
Long Ago (And Far Away) - Pam Dawber
They Didn't Believe Me - Pat Marshall
Look For The Silver Lining - Rod McKuen
A Fine Romance - Jane Carr
Sure Thing - Sally Kellerman
Don't Ever Leave Me/Why Was I Born - Joely Fisher
I'm Old Fashioned - Robert Morse
Yesterdays - Joan Ryan
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Dorian Harewood
In The Heart Of The Dark - Dale Kristien
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man - Valarie Pettiford
The Way You Look Tonight - Hugh Panaro
Life On The Wicked Stage - Carole Cook
I've Told Every Little Star - Carole Cook
Till The Clouds Roll By - The Company

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The Concert Legrand

Manufacturer: Bmg Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Michel Legrand: Live in Brussels Celebrated Film Scores, Jazz Tunes and Chansons

ASIN: B00005YWRT
Release Date: 2002-04-03

Tracks:

Once upon a Summertime
Saddest Thing of All
You Must Believe in Spring
Wonder Where I'll Be Tomorrow " [Theme from "Sheila Levine Is Dead ...]
Christine
Sweet Gingerbread Man " [Theme from "The Magic Garden of Stanley ...]
Happy [Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues]
Snowbirds Serenade
Fickle Fingers
Petite Musique d'Amour (Do You Hear Music in Your Sleep?)
Pieces of Dreams

Album Description

Japanese exclusive reissue of 1976 album featuring live versions of 11 Legrand classics for films, 'Once Upon a Summertime', 'The Saddest Thing of All', 'You Must Believe in Spring', 'Wonder Where I'll Be Tomorrow', 'Christine', 'Sweet Gingerbread Man', 'Happy', 'Snowbirds Serenade', 'Fickle Fingers', 'Petite Musique d'Amour' & 'Pieces of Dreams'. K2 24 bit mastering.

Album Details

First Time Available on CD. Originally Recorded in 1976.

Average customer rating:

For You, For Me

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000B66PNO
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

THE BOATMAN'S DANCE (MINSTREL SONG)
THE DODGER (CAMPAIGN SONG)
LONG TIME AGO (BALLAD)
SIMPLE GIFTS (SHAKER SONG)
I BOUGHT ME A CAT (CHILDREN'S SONG)
THE LITTLE HORSES (LULLABY)
ZION'S WALLS (REVITALIST SONG)
THE GOLDEN WILLOW TREE (ANGLO-AMERICAN BALLAD)
AT THE RIVER (HYMN TUNE)
CHING-A-RING-CHAW (MINSTREL SONG)
SHENANDOAH
A SIMPLE SONG
SEENA
'BESS, YOU IS MY WOMAN NOW'
'FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR EVERMORE'
A WOMAN IS A SOMETIME THING FROM PORGY AND BESS
HOME BLUES
BIDIN' MY TIME
ALL THROUGH THE DAY FROM CENTENNIAL SUMMER
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT FROM SWING TIME
ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE
EVERYBODY SAYS DON'T
IN PRAISE OF WOMAN
ALWAYS

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FANTASTIC
Never Tire of His Timeless Voice
Marvelous!
EXCEPTIONAL
When a good man sings great songs...

Love Is the Thing (And More)
Nat King Cole
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000DQU1
Release Date: 1992-05-01

Tracks:

When I Fall In Love
Stardust
Stay As Sweet As You Are
Where Can I Go Without You?
Maybe It's Because I Love You Too Much
If Love Ain't There
Love Letters
Someone To Tell It To
Ain't Misbehavin'
The End Of A Love Affair
I Thought About Marie
At Last
It's All In The Game
When Sunny Gets Blue
Love Is The Thing

Amazon.com essential recording

Love Is the Thing, a No. 1 album in the early LP era, is best known for Cole's rendition of "When I Fall in Love." The entire slate of Gordon Jenkins-orchestrated classics is a fine affair, though, with "Stay as Sweet as You Are" a particular standout. The pinnacle of smoothness. --Rickey Wright

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

FANTASTIC.......2007-06-14

I have just received the CD, I was leary because of import, well I was blown away. I had found the original LP in my Dads, things I played it to death the summer I was 14. What can you say Nat King Cole first of all is timeless. And of course with all music from a certain period of time it will take you back in your memory bank. What a joy to have this in the car, I made duplicates to have in the kitchen, upstairs. Just a faboulous find.

Never Tire of His Timeless Voice.......2006-07-14

I can listen to this album every day, and I have done almost that for weeks. I have owned it in LP form for years; I bought it on CD (which includes additonal songs not on the LP) perhaps 4 years ago. I recently re-discovered it on my shelf, took it to my car, and began to play it on my way to work each day. I seldom removed it from the CD player. Nat's immortal voice smooths the stresses out of my day as no other can; his rich, true, timelessly beautiful renditon of every song here enriches my life with every play. "Love is the Thing", "Stardust", "Stay as Sweet as you Are", "Ain't Misbehavin'"....these songs flow from his throat, backed by Gordon Jenkins' lush strings, like the smoothest, richest dessert in the most exclusive restaurant in the most elegant city in the world. I know every song by heart and sing along with Nat. I know he would forgive me. I love this album. Buy it now; you will love it, too.

Marvelous!.......2005-06-08

After hearing these delightful recordings on an honest-to-goodness record I bought only last week, imagine my delight when I discovered that it was also a CD, with three additional songs! I can now recommend this CD to my friends, so that they might also hear the glorious Nat King Cole at some of the best songs.

EXCEPTIONAL.......2003-04-19

PROBABLY THE BEST CD I EVER PURCHASED
I HOPE THEY RELEASE IT AGAIN, SO OTHERS CAN ENJOY.

When a good man sings great songs..........2002-02-07

This album is a reminder that Cole didn't have a great big Las Vegas voice. He sang respectfully, making you lean in to share his secrets. He didn't try to reach the back row; he invited the back row to come closer. His voice glided across the surface of Gordon Jenkins' orchestrations. The interplay is incredible; singer and conductor accomodated each other like they had all the time in the world. Peel these songs away from films like "Sleepless in Seattle," and their true power is revealed.

Yes, "When I Fall in Love" has been done to death. Still, the original survives and surpasses all imitators. "Stardust" is haunting, with a simple, aching beauty that I've rarely found outside of dramatic film scores. Musically, it's sort of a Bernard Herrmann ("Psycho," "Fahrenheit 451") ballad. If you haven't heard it before, it'll hurt you the first time. It'll heal you every time after that. The songs are quite similar in pace and style, which is natural given the orchestra and one singer.

People my age and younger (the grandkids of most Nat King Cole fans) are bombarded with music that either dwells on or plainly celebrates hatred and anger. When this album came out in 1957, that was not the ideal time for a black man to sing to packed theatres and assert his dignity. They needed his songs then, and we can sure use them now.

Six of the songs have "love" in the title. Nowadays, that suggests writer's block. The album is called "Love Is The Thing" - cut the guy some slack. He was just staying on topic. The lyrics never stray from the idea that love is there to be had, and to be lost.

Tracks:

Sleepin' Bee/Let's Fall in Love
Stormy Weather
American Minuet
One for My Baby
Hooray for Love
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
Rhythmic Moments for Piano Solo
Come Rain or Come Shine
That Old Black Magic
Over the Rainbow
Blues in the Night
Last Night When We Were Young
I've Got the World on a String
Here's What I'm Here For
Someone at Last
Man That Got Away
It's a New World
Get Happy

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Excellent performer
A unique project
Gershwin historical, manic, perfect, archival
Definative

Authentic George Gershwin, Vol. 1-4

Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0001Z2RSC
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

Swanee
Come To the Moon
I Was So Young (You Were So Beautiful)
Tee-Oodle-Um-bum-Bo
Nobody But You
Limehouse Nights
Drifting Along With The Tide
Rhapsody In Blue
Oh Lady Be Good!
Fascinating Rhythm
Hang On To Me
I'd Rather Charleston
The Man I Love
The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues
So Am I
Kickin' The Clouds Away
Concerto In F

Tracks:

Sweet And Low-Down (I)
That Certain Feeling (I)
Looking For A Boy
When Do We Dance?
Sweet And Low-Down (II)
That Certain Feeling (II)
Irish Waltz
Do, Do, Do
Someone To Watch Over Me
Clap Yo' Hands
Maybe
Three Preludes: I. No.1: Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso / II. No.2: Andante Con Moto / III No.3: Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso
Meadow Serenade
My One And Only
'S Wonderful/Funny Face
He Loves And She Loves
An American In Paris
Liza
Strike Up The Band
Embraceable You
I Got Rhythm (I)
I Got Rhythm (II)

Tracks:

Of Thee I Sing
Jilted
Second Rhapsody
For You, For Me, For Evermore
Cuban Overture
Isn't It A Pity?
Variations On 'I Got Rhythm'
I. Catfish Row: Introduction - Jazzbo Brown - First Chorus, 'Summertime'
II. Porgy Sings: 'I got Plenty O' Nuthin' - 'Bess, You Is My Woman Now'
III. Fugue: Murder Of Crown, Act III Scene 1
IV. Hurricane: Introduction, Act II Scene 3 - Hurricane, Act II Scene 3
V. Good Morning, Brother: Occupational Humoresque, Act III Scene 3 - 'Good Morning, Brother' - Children's Song 'Sure To Go To Heaven' - 'I'm On My Way' (Finale)
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
Our Love Is Here To Stay

Tracks:

Girl Crazy Overture
French Ballet Class
Dance Of The Waves
Slap That Bass
Walking The Dog
I've Got Beginner's Luck
They All Laughed
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Shall We Dance
By Strauss
I Can't Be Bothered Now
The Jolly Tar And The Milkmaid (1st Version)
Put Me To The Test
The Jolly Tar And The Milkmaid (2nd Version)
Stiff Upper Lip
A Foggy day (In London Town)
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Things Are Looking Up
I Was Doing All Right
Love Walked In

Customer Reviews:

Excellent performer.......2007-03-09

This plates are wonderful. I was charmed, and when I close my eyes now, I see scenes with American in Paris or Porgy and Bess but my favorite piece of music is Rhapsody in Blue. It's more than excellent is fantastic. Jack Gibbons perfectly feels the unique tone Gershwin's music, the mixture rythms of jazz with influences of impressionists and clear and beauty melodies.
I'm fascinating.

A unique project.......2006-11-23

Gibbons' undertaking is unique: to reconstruct and then execute and record the note-for-note playing of Gershwin as documented on the composers' piano rolls, sound recordings and certain published arrangements. I agree with the reviewer who points out that the result is like a library and not a recital you sit back and listen to (or get up and dance to). In fact Gibbons does some editing of his "library" now and then, and clearly documents it in his liner notes: in some reconstructions he augments accompaniment effects and even the melodic line itself. I don't mind that at all, especially as Gibbons scrupulously accounts for such tampering in his liner notes; but it seems to me that it is in this area of "tampering" that Gibbons the artist is asserting himself...which of course undermines the "library", the "historical archive": you have to search and read a bit to find out when you're hearing only Gershwin and when you're hearing some added Gibbons. I don't mind; Gibbons is a remarkable artist in his own right, not merely an impeccable documentarian. For sheer generosity of production Gibbons' Gershwin must also be unique: 4 cd's, scholar-level liner notes (yes, you need a magnifying glass to read them), and rock-bottom bargain price.

Gershwin historical, manic, perfect, archival.......2006-06-12

First: this is 4 high-end produced cd's (in low-end jewel cases) for the price of 2. The liner notes of all 4 cd's are condensed in a booklet of microscopic print, so you may need to spend the savings on a magnifying glass. MONEY WELL SPENT.
Second: Jack Gibbons plays (and has recorded) the Alkan op 39 etudes (he probably plays a lot more Alkan than that). For those of you not in the know, this is to say he has world-class chops, indeed history-class (Liszt, who never played his friend Alkan, at least in public). But it's also to say that Gibbons knows how to interpret and personalize fantastically difficult piano music. For me, his Alkan op 39 is personal and passionate and real (contrast the facile and over-pedalled Hamelin and the just-the-notes-ma'me Ringeissen). An appreciation of Gibbons' Alkan is important here because while his Alkan is uniquely personal (as such music must be, no matter how hard it is to play) his Gershwin is deliberately impersonal...which is to say: no pianist, no singer would want to reproduce what Gibbons has given us in these 4 cd's, and in fact few listeners will be able to listen for long to these 4 cd's without a respite, a break , some silence, some minimal styling from somebody (anybody) else...which brings me to
Third: This is an archive, not a recital. This is a library, not a program. There is no track-by-track contrast of moods here, no track-by-track concession to easy listening, varied delight, any more than a library shelf of novels is alphabetized by authors' last names as a concession to mood or fancy or taste of the searching patron. This is the documented Gershwin in his recording mode: manic, notey, clever, "on", and never, as generations of stylists found in him, ravishing, tender, longing, sweet, glad, hopeful...person-to-person, in a word. I can listen to these cd's about half an hour at a time, max. This is Gerwhsin, not Gibbons. And this is just one side of Gershwin. He died at 38, in the summer. Brain tumor. A lot of pain.
Finally, Jack Gibbons has given the world a uniquely valuable and easily available resource. Gibbons could now do us a service by playing us some Gershwin as he feels it, as it hits him and makes him sing (as Gershwin, our American Schubert, does to all of us, and as I think Alkan has done to Gibbons). I would love to see a Gershwin stylings by Gibbons now that Gibbons himself has made sure Gershwin in his authenticity is safe and sound.

Definative.......2005-07-23

Here's the whole Gershwin catalog at a great price... Five plus hours of bliss. Definately five stars!

Gibbons, according to a family friend and biographer Edward jablonski "recreates Gershwin's style." I'll never know. I can say this is a lively recording and has the perfect balance. It's neither stuffy and plodding or cute.

Average customer rating:

Patti Austin and Gregory Hines Are Brilliant

Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hollywood Dreams

ASIN: B00005J712
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

Let Yourself Go - Steppin' Out With My Baby - Patti LuPone
Slap That Bass - Gregory Hines
Love Is Here To Stay - Patti Austin
Mood Indigo - Dee Dee Bridgewater
A Foggy Day - Gregory Hines
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off - Patti Austin/Gregory Hines
Heatwave - Patti LuPone
Something Wonderful - Marilyn Horne
O Mio Babbino Caro - Puccini's Gianni Schicchi
Prelude To A Kiss - Dee Dee Bridgewater
I'm Beginning To See The Light - Dee Dee Bridgewater
Nice Work If You Can Get It - Gregory Hines
The All Laughed - Patti Austin
I've Got Beginner's Luck - Gregory Hines/Patti Austin
Doin' What Comes Natur-lly - Patti LuPone
I Have Dreamed - Peabo Bryson/Lea Salonga
For You, For Me, For Evermore - Patti Austin/Gregory Hines

Tracks:

Gone With The Wind: Main Title - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
An American In Paris - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Carousel: Heaven Effect And Carousel Waltz - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Peyton Place - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
The Wizard Of Oz Concert Suite - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Morning Mood - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Cinema Paradiso - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Somewhere In Time - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Eternal Love - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
John Dunbar Theme - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Throne Room And Finale - John Mauceri/Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Patti Austin and Gregory Hines Are Brilliant.......2007-07-07

I own the Hollywood Bowl Gershwin CD and I love it. I was surprised by it. Play the samples if you can but the singing and sound are clear and crisp and you can understand every word.

Pottery Barn, Dinner at Eight-Just Desserts

Average customer rating:

Pottery Barn, Dinner at Eight-Just Desserts

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000RJOPYG

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music