Label: RCA
Category: Music
Average customer rating:
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
UPC: 090266373826
EAN: 0090266373826
ASIN: B00005JXRA
Release Date: 2001-06-05
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Artist:
Tom Harrell
Label: RCA Category: Music Average customer rating:
Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 1 UPC: 090266373826 EAN: 0090266373826 ASIN: B00005JXRA Release Date: 2001-06-05 |
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Customer Reviews:
Record of the new century?.......2002-01-11
If, like me, you find those CTI records from the 70's that Amazon refers to plain awful, don't fear, 'Paradise' is absolutely nothing like them. While Harrell makes use of strings, this CD cannot be compared to any other horn-'n'-strings jazz record, because the basic conception is entirely different. The key is that this music is original and through-composed by Harrell for the recording, so the goal was not to restate standards with a pop lushness, but to continue one superb musicians journey into all aspects of his musical voice.
It goes without saying to those familiar with Harrell's work that he is a superb musician, with a wonderful sound, a distinct style of playing that is harmonically rich and rhythmically sharp, a personal voice. This record expresses all that to the nth degree, all these tools pointed towards the goal of producing beautiful sounds. Again, though, the beauty on the record is very different than the pigeon-holing implies.
Harrell uses the strings mainly for their timbre, and he emphasizes the darker colors in their sound. He does not produce over-ripe harmonies and textures, the record still has the clean sound one hears with most small jazz groups. Nor does he abandon the essence of jazz, rhythm. This music swings, it's propulsive and driving. And the beauty is not a simple overlay of major chords - most of this CD features minor tonalities, but the playing is beautiful, the expression of the soloists in the context of the tunes is beautiful, and the arrangements of the music, more sophisticated than small group 'head' arrangements, adds a romantic sense of drama which is itself beautiful. And to emphasize once more, the core is Harrell himself, and the conception is completely his. An inimitable record, strong, beautiful and literally enthralling. An essential item in any contemporary jazz collection, easily the jazz CD of 2001, the decade, the century . . .
Paradise Found. . . ?.......2001-10-11
What stands out on this CD is Harrell's production of an album, not just a string of fancy solos all stuck together on the same CD (as another reviewer mentioned). This disc has a sense of purpose and progression, with the bookending tracks 1 & 9, "Daybreak" and "Sunrise." The high point between Daybreak and Sunrise is "Morning Prayer," tracks 6 & 7. Those tracks capture a variety of sometimes contradictory moods: solemn, mournful, hopeful, joyful, introspective . . . (dare I say worshipful?). Those are the tracks that, at the end of the CD, will get listened to again.
Harrell deserves some major recognition as an arranger and composer. If this album doesn't bring that to him, then the jazz community and the music industry, in general, will both need to hang their heads in shame.
Milton would be very proud.
Great new tunes from Tom Harrell.......2001-09-05
Great new tunes from Tom Harrell.......2001-09-05
Title Fits the Music Within.......2001-09-01
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