All-Star Sessions

1. Woofin' and Tweetin'

2. Juggernaut

3. Blues up and Down [Take 1]

4. Blues up and Down [Take 2]

5. Blues up and Down [Take 3]

6. You Can Depend on Me [Take 1]

7. You Can Depend on Me [Take 2]

8. Stringin' the Jug

9. New Blues up and Down

10. Bye Bye [*]

11. When I Dream of You [*]

12. Lover Is Blue [*]

All-Star Sessions,Gene Ammons All Stars With Sonny Stitt,Ojc,Bop,Hard Bop,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Soul-Jazz

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: nothing great Strictly For The Fans... Testament to a label's power "Roadrunner United" Group Dissection good standard stuff

Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions Various Artists Manufacturer: Roadrunner Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Dark Ages Machine Head - Elegies One Nation Underground IV: Constitution of Treason Chimaira ASIN: B000B8I8X2 Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

1. The Dagger
2. The Enemy
3. Annihilation by the Hands of God
4. In the Fire
5. The End
6. Tired 'N Lonely
7. Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)
8. Dawn of a Golden Age
9. The Rich Man
10. No Way Out
11. Baptized in the Redemption
12. Roads
13. Blood & Flames
14. Enemy of the State
15. I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)
16. Army of the Sun
17. No Mas Control
18. Constitution Down

Album Description

Roadrunner Records has put together a groundbreaking record to mark the label's 25th anniversary. This full-length release is a master class in hard rock/metal. Boasting 57 artists from 45 of Roadrunner's past and present bands, the album contains original tracks that are collaborations between numerous Roadrunner stars. Four central musicians were originally chosen to produce and write the songs: Joey Jordison (Slipknot), Dino Cazares (ex-Fear Factory/Brujeria), Robert Flynn (Machine Head), and Matthew Heafy (Trivium). These four musicians play on the songs they have written and have also assembled a unique team of artists to appear on each track. In order to cover as wide a spectrum as possible, no musician has played for more than one writer/producer and each song features a different vocalist. In addition to these stellar teams of musicians, there are also special additional tracks from ex-Roadrunner artist Josh Silver--Type O Negative's longtime producer/keyboardist. In the spirit of the project, Silver has included Roadrunner artists on his tracks as well--Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt appears on the Silver-written "Roads."

Customer Reviews:

nothing great.......2006-10-21

nothing much to say just a mediocre cd
Overall 75/100
best songs:
no mas control,blood and flames,baptized in redemption

Strictly For The Fans..........2006-08-07

When it comes to heavy metal, no label can hold a candle (or maybe it's a lighter) to Roadrunner Records. One of the few independent labels of any size still left in an increasingly mega-corporate music world, Roadrunner is responsible for bringing the world such genre heavyweights as Fear Factory, Sepultura, King Diamond, Type O Negative, Machine Head, Opeth, Chimaira, Killswitch Engage, and of course Slipknot. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, rather than release a been-there-done-that boxed set, the Roadrunner brass came up with a rather novel idea, one that could only be accomplished in this era of digital recording: select four of Roadrunner's best-known musicians to be "Team Captains," ask each to write and produce four or five new songs, and perform them not with their own bands, but with cherry-picked "supergroups" of musicians, chosen by each captain, from the cabal of Roadrunner artists past and present.

The four chosen captains--Dino Cazares (Fear Factory), Robert Flynn (Machine Head), Matthew Heafy (Trivium), and Joey Jordison (Slipknot)--have produced a total of 18 tracks featuring 55 musicians, and the results are pretty much what you would expect them to be: VERY loud, chaotic, and uneven. Some of the tracks are solid pieces of metal: Team Cazares' "The Enemy" and "Baptized in the Redeption," and Team Flynn's "The Rich Man" (anti-war song; you have been warned) and "The Dagger" (featuring the always superb Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage) are particularly good. But many of the songs sound like the musicians are trying too hard to out-shred each other, while their producers/captains are trying too hard to give each player his day in the sun, and blend the music they wrote with lyrics, penned by the singers who perform them, that don't always mesh. Team Captain Jordison is particularly guilty in this regard, and also of trying to cover too many musical bases, using his five tracks for ventures into death metal ("Annihilation by the Hand of God"), straight-up thrash ("Constitution Down"), emo punk ("No Way Out"), melodic hard rock ("Tired `N Lonely") and goth ("Enemy Of The State"). Sticking to just one or two styles might have yielded better results.

There are also questions about selection process for the Team Captains. It's been reported that Max Calavera of Sepultura/Soulfly fame and Adam D of Killswitch Engage were asked to be Team Captains, but unfortunately declined. Perhaps that explains why the inexperienced Matt Heafy was thrust into a Team Captain role he clearly wasn't ready for. He may be one of Roadrunner's most promising new talents, but he is only 19 years old, and it shows in the tracks he wrote and produced. All too often, they sound like demos recorded in Mom's basement by a kid with dreams of being a rock star. Heafy has a long way to go before he can consider himself a peer of his fellow team captains.

Overall, Roadrunner United gets points for its original concept, and fans of the label and its bands will likely enjoy banging their heads to this cacophonic mob. If this album is intended to be strictly for the hardcore Roadrunner fan, it succeeds. But it certainly isn't going to win over the uninitiated.

Testament to a label's power.......2006-06-12

Either you love or you hate Roadrunner Records. You hate them, because they release "Limited Editions" of CDs you just bought a month after the original is released (curse you Roadrunner for cheating me out of two 'limited' Killswitch albums! Curse you!!!). You love them because they do cool stuff like this.

If you are familliar with this CD, you know the concept. 57 artists from 45 former/current bands on the label come together to create an album of music. The captains were picked, and the bands were formed together.

The biggest thing happening for this album is that it was actually able to be pulled off. Not only is that a testament to the record label, but to the musicians involved- showing that these guys care about thier craft, and each other. This, in turn, gives the listener 18 high quality tracks.

Any lesser of a label would have had 12 hastily thrown together songs- poorly produced, with song crafting thrown to the wind. Not here folks. Each track works as if the makeshift band playing them actually had been together for eons. They work as a unit (although it's revealed in the included DVD that some sessions were phones in- probably due to time constraints) to craft songs worthy of big name releases. Give this CD to an unknowing listener and tell them with a straight face the concept of this albums. Watch as thier jaw hits the ground.

I also would wish you good luck in trying to convince them.

Back to the album, another strong point is it's sheer variety of generes it covers. Here, you have metalcore, death metal, acoustic, straight up metal, doom metal, etc. Don't let my overuse of the term 'metal' fool you, as each of these tracks are far from similar. But by all intents and purposes, this is primarily a metal album.

You can hear each artist's influence on each song. "Dawn of a Golden Age" sounds like a Cradle of Filth track- while the booming "Enemy of the State" would fit well on a Type O Negative album. The guitar work in "No Mas Control" makes it sound like Fear Factory with a different singer. "The Dagger" would make a killer Killswitch track.

In fact, I wish Burton from Fear Factory could have made it on this album, as he is one of my favorite metal vocalists. But that's just me.

Yet again, another highlight of this album is that you might end up digging songs you thought you'd never like. I'm not a death metal fan, but I found myself enjoying "Annihilation by the Hands of God". Likewise, I'm not a...uh...whatever you would classify "No Way Out" as fan, but that is a track I enjoy.

Production values are superb- as expected from a Roadrunner release. No special gimmicks here, just straight up instruments recorded without fault and tarnish. Each musician and vocalist come out loud and clear...especially loud.

Let's talk songs, and there are alot to talk about.

The album starts absolutely strong with "The Dagger". A pickslide and a headbang worth riff immediately sucks you in, teamed by Howard Jone's stunning vocals.

"In the Fire" is a good power meta-ish song, with some great variants in the riffery.

"Dawn of a Golden Age", probably on the top three tracks here is an expertly crafted song. It's written with Dani Filth's trademark picturesque lyrics- and it's help along by an excellent structure. The drumming here is absolutely mindblowing- the breakdown at 3:16 is absolutely dizzying. Even if you're not into this type of song, just listen to it for this one part. One of the musical highlights of the albums.

"No Way Out" is...uh, well I dunno. Funky? Glitzy? Fun? Whatever it is, I love it. It is hands down catchy. This song unfortunately has gotten slammed because it is far from metal (a testament to some of the idiotic fans this label has). I can't put my finger on what makes this song great, maybe the infectious vocals, the riffs, the drumming, bass. I dunno. I just love the track.

"Blood and Flames" is just godly. This is something you might wanna blast while cruising down the highway. Or maybe have playing while getting involved in a bar fight. A nice bluesy rock song that starts out somber and picks up heavy is what you have here. Think metalcore gone Zeppelin. Oh did I mention that the godlike Jesse Leech sings on this? That's all I have to say (for those not in the know, Jesse has RANGE. He can sing with the best, and can scream with the most brutal).

"I Don't Wanna Be (A superhero)" is a nice bite sized punk song, but think The Offspring instead of The Misfits.

"No Mas Control" is great for Christian Machado's vocals (although I haven't heard an Ill Nino song prior to this writing) are great, and he flawlessly switches up between English and Spanish, giving this song a special kind of flair. This sounds like a Fear Factory song, and as eluded to, I am a hige fan of the band- so this song was right up my alley.

Weak tracks? None, really. I have my tracks that I don't like solely because I'm not into that particular kind of song- like "Roads"...where I'm not too big of an acoustic fan (although I do like other band's acoustic performances on other albums), but none that lessened my enjoyment of this CD at all..

All in all, if you are a metal fan, you need this album. It's a shame no one has thought of this before- but done by another label, could this have been pulled off as flawlessly? It would be awesome if Century Media did something like this. Imagine an Arch Enemy/Children of Bodom/Nevermore/Shadows Fall mix up.

Even if you hate and spit on everything that Roadrunner stands for, you should check this out. This almost...almost makes up for thier "Limited Edition" knack, although I did nail them by waiting for Nymphetamine's LE. I'm on to you Roadrunner, I'm on to you.

"Roadrunner United" Group Dissection.......2006-03-23

I felt that the CD is good overall but there are some stinkers. The songs The Dagger, The Enemy, Annihilation By The Hands Of God, Independent (Voice Of The Voiceless), Baptized In The Redemption, and Constitution Down are all solid and deliver. The songs Tired 'N Lonely, No Way Out, and I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero) just flat out suck. All the rest are mediocre/tolerable, the more I listen to them the better they get. This CD is definitely worth checking out. Here is a list of all the band members in each song.

1. "The Dagger" vocals - Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) rhythm guitar/vocals - Robert Flynn (Machine Head) rhythm guitar - Jordan Whelan (Still Remains) guitar solo - Jeff Waters (Annihilator) bass - Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) drums - Andols Herrick (ex-Chimaira)

2. "The Enemy" vocals - Mark Hunter (Chimaira) rhythm guitar - Dino Cazares (Asesino) solo/acoustic guitar - Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) bass - Paul Gray (Slipknot) drums - Roy Mayorga (ex-Soulfly)

3. "Annihilation By The Hands Of God" vocals - Glen Benton (Deicide) rhythm guitar - Matt DeVries (Chimaira) rhythm guitar - Rob Barrett (Cannibal Corpse) guitar solo - James Murphy (ex-Testament) bass - Steve DiGiorgio (Testament) drums - Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

4. "In The Fire" vocals - (King Diamond) lead/rhythm/acoustic guitars - Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium) lead/rhythm guitars - Cory Beaulieu (Trivium) bass - Mike D'Antonio (Killswitch Engage) drums - Dave Chavarri (Ill Nino)

5. "The End" vocals/lead guitar - Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium) rhythm guitar - Dino Cazares (Asesino) bass - Nadja Peulen (ex-Coal Chamber) drums - Roy Mayorga (ex-Soulfly) guitar harmonics - Logan Mader (ex-Macine Head) keyboards - Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly)

6. "Tired 'N Lonely" vocals/piano - Keith Caputo (Life Of Agony) rhythm guitar - Matt Baumbach (ex-Vision Of Disorder) rhythm guitar - Tommy Niemeyer (The Accused) rhythm guitar - Acey Slade (Murderdolls) solo/ harmony guitar - James Root (Slipknot) drums/bass - Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

7. "Independent (Voice Of The Voiceless)" vocals - Max Cavalera (Soulfly) rhythm guitar/guitar harmonies/ keyboards - Robert Flynn (Machine Head) rhythm guitar - Jordan Whelan (Still Remains) solo - Jeff Waters (Annihilator) bass - Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) drums - Andols Herrick (ex-Chimaira)

8. "Dawn Of A Golden Age" vocals - Dani Filth (Cradle Of Filth) lead/rhythm guitars - Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium) rhythm guitars - Justin Hagberg (3 Inches Of Blood) bass - Sean Malone (Gordian Knot) drums - Mike Smith (Suffocation)

9. "The Rich Man" vocals - Corey Taylor (Slipknot) rhythm guitar/keyboards - Robert Flynn (Machine Head) rhythm guitar - Jordan Whelan (Still Remains) bass - Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) drums - Andols Herrick (ex-Chimaira)

10. "No Way Out" vocals - Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw) guitar/bass - Matt Baumbach (ex-Vision Of Disorder) drums/ bass - Joey Jordison (Slipknot) synths - Junkie XL

11. "Baptized In The Redemption" vocals - Dez Fafara (DevilDriver) rhythm guitar - Dino Cazares (Asesino) guitar solo - Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) bass - Paul Gray (Slipknot) drums - Roy Mayorga (ex-Soulfly)

12. "Roads" vocals - Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) keyboards/backing vocals - Josh Silver (Type O Negative)

13. "Blood & Flames" vocals - Jesse David Leach (Seemless) lead/ rhythm/acoustic guitars/vocals - Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium) rhythm guitars - Josh Rand (Stone Sour) bass - Mike D'Antonio (Killswitch Engage) drums - Johnny Kelly (Type O Negative)

14. "Constitution Down" vocals - Kyle Thomas (ex-Exhorder) rhythm guitar - Matt DeVries (Chimaira) rhythm guitar/trade-off solo - Rob Barrett (Cannibal Corpse) intro solo - James Murphy (ex-Testament) trade-off solo - Andy La Rocque (King Diamond) bass - Steve DiGiorgio (Testament) drums - Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

15. "I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)" vocals - Michale Graves (ex-Misfits) lead/rhythm guitars - Matthew K. Heafy (Trivium) rhythm guitars - Justin Hagberg (3 Inches Of Blood) bass - Mike D'Antonio (Killswitch Engage) drums - Dave Chavarri (Ill Nino)

16. "Army Of The Sun" vocals - Tim Williams (Bloodsimple) rhythm guitar - Robert Flynn (Machine Head) rhythm guitar - Jordan Whelan (Still Remains) bass - Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) drums - Andols Herrick (ex-Chimaira)

17. "No Mas Control" vocals - Cristian Machado (Ill Nino) rhythm guitar - Dino Cazares (Asesino) harmony guitar - Souren "Mike" Sarkisyan (Spineshank) harmony solo - Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) bass - Marcelo Dias (ex-Soulfly) drums - Dave McClain (Machine Head)

18. "Enemy Of The State" vocals/keyboards - Peter Steele (Type O Negative) rhythm/acoustic/slide guitar - Steve Holt (36 Crazyfists) bass - Dave Pybus (Cradle Of Filth) drums - Joey Jordison (Slipknot) keyboards - Josh Silver (Type O Negative)

good standard stuff.......2006-03-23

its all about what you like in the case of this cd. Like others wrote before, "theres some songs in here that i love and songs i never want to hear again. But if you enjoy metal and know alot about Roadrunner this is a good cd and the extra dvd really is good to watch for Roadrunner fans. Shoot i found bands on here i didnt even realize were Roadrunner!
All in all, if you like metal buy this cd, if you want new groundbreaking stuff, listen to Children of Bodom!! lol

Average customer rating: A must have for any fan of Art So Glad I Picked This One Up! A Novice Perspective Maybe he IS Roy Hobbs after all. Harry Bosch fans - this is the "lost light" album

The Hollywood All-Star Sessions Art Pepper Manufacturer: Galaxy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions Complete Galaxy Recordings Intensity Gettin' Together Complete Lighthouse Sessions ASIN: B00005CCBI Release Date: 2001-05-15

Tracks:

1. Just Friends
2. Begin The Beguine
3. For Art's Sake
4. Angel Eyes
5. P. Town
6. Funny Blues (alternate)
7. Angel Wings
8. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
10. Jack's Blues

Tracks:

1. Broadway
2. Historia De Un Amor
3. Minority
4. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (alternate)
5. Bradway (alternate)
6. Strike Up The Band
7. You Go To My Head
8. I Surrender, Dear
9. Y.I. Blues
10. Night And Day
11. Everything Happens To Me

Tracks:

1. Out Of Nowhere
2. Y.I. Blues (alternate)
3. Scrapple From The Apple
4. Wee
5. Bernie's Tune
6. How High The Moon
7. Walkin'
8. Groovin' High
9. Groovin' High (alternate)

Tracks:

1. Atlas Blues
2. Lester Leaps In
3. My Funny Valentine
4. Imagination
5. Just Friends
6. These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You)
7. Hollywood Jam Blues
8. Lover, Come Back To Me
9. Limehouse Blues

Tracks:

1. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
2. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (alternate)
3. S'Wonderful
4. Whims Of Chambers
5. A Minor Blue In F
6. High Jingo
7. The shadow Of Your Smile
8. Anniversary Song
9. Cherokee
10. S'Wonderful (alternate)
11. Whims Of Chambers (alternate)

Amazon.com

The Hollywood All-Star Sessions chronicle an important part of Art Pepper's comeback in the late '70s, when the altoist was surmounting years of heroin addiction and imprisonment to play with renewed energy and an impassioned creativity. His Complete Galaxy Recordings from the period have already been collected in a 16-CD set, but Pepper was also recording for the small Japanese label Atlas, appearing as "sideman" on a series of sessions that he usually led in all but name. This five-CD set gathers music from seven LPs recorded between 1979 and 1982, sessions that haven't been issued in the U.S. on CD, and adds two unissued alternate takes and an insightful essay by Laurie Pepper, Art's widow.

The Atlas intention was to recapture the flavor of West Coast jazz of the '50s, and the label matched Peeper with associates and material that would suggest the earlier era. Nominal leaders of the Hollywood All-Stars included West Coast veterans such as trumpeter Jack Sheldon, drummer Shelly Manne, and pianist Pete Jolly, as well as the younger trombonist Bill Watrous, with Pepper himself as the only constant. The material emphasizes standards and jazz tunes from the earlier era, and the group style is suavely relaxed, often with touches of counterpoint. If Pepper's intensity had always marked him as something of an outsider in the cool school, it was also an inspiration: this is small-group modern jazz that's often as lively as it is polished, with Pepper prodding Sheldon, Watrous, and tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper to outdo themselves.

Pepper's ballad playing had a uniquely visceral quality and it often stands out here, especially in a quartet session under pianist Pete Jolly's name, with Pepper unfettered by other horns. There are also meetings with two other giants of modern jazz alto, Sonny Stitt and Lee Konitz. The sessions with Stitt produced two LPs, with the focus strongly on blues and bop. It's spirited music, with Stitt's Parker-like lines contrasting with Pepper's alternately jagged and convoluted phrasing. If Stitt challenged Pepper's competitiveness, then Konitz ignited his imagination. Recorded just five months before Pepper's death, it's an encounter between two of the genuine improvisers, each shaping music anew with every gesture, phrase, and inflection, whether the material at hand is as novel as Konitz's "A Minor Blues in F" or as hackneyed as "Anniversary Song." --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

A must have for any fan of Art.......2006-03-21

Trust me, the price is worth it for some of the best jazz "showdowns" you will ever hear. The sessions with Stitt (tenor) are worth the price alone. I can't really say anything more than the other reviewers here have not already said, but I just wanted to throw in my two cents.

My tastes are very eclectic, But I can honestly say that these are some of the most fresh jazz improv sessions i have ever heard recorded, even if they are decades old.

So Glad I Picked This One Up!.......2005-11-09

I've only owned this box set for two weeks, but it has already joined the list of my favorite jazz recordings. Historia de un Amor (Disc 2) is one of the most beautiful performances I have ever heard.

A Novice Perspective.......2004-02-02

I write as someone with no background in jazz and only recently determined to give it a chance. Early exposure to fusion and speed-artists turned me off and now at midlife I am determined to mine out some of the nuggets. A few albums appealed at once; Kind of Blue, Jazz Samba, a few others; but nothing has reached out and grabbed me like this album. Simply superb performances and recordings. I can't wait till my own copy arrives.

Maybe he IS Roy Hobbs after all........2003-09-24

As much as I had responded to the emotionalism in Art Pepper's playing, I had never taken very seriously his quote about intending to be no less than "the greatest alto player of all time." Not until now.

These five extraordinary CD's capture the altoist in peak form in five different contexts, each swinging from start to finish and each featuring non-stop light and heat from one of jazz' most creative overachievers. During the middle of "Wee," taken at a torrid tempo on Disc 3, Pepper does something unexpected: he reverts to the conventional, proving he had chops sufficient to outpace the very best Bird disciple of them all. Sonny Stitt is his sparring mate. Pepper has just finished one of his jagged, angular solos, emitting brief bursts of brilliance, taking stabs at the overtone series, leaving shards of crystalized emotions in his choppy wake. Expressive and communicative, but certainly no proof of his command of either the horn or the complex syntax of bebop. Then Stitt follows with smooth, logical and assured Bird-like lines, spitting them out with consummate albeit formulaic ease. Apparently that was enough for Pepper, who takes after Stitt, exhibiting the killer instinct of a competitor who's about to humiliate the rival on the latter's own turf. Pepper's note choices, velocity, articulations, energy, and even fluency are sufficient not only to smoke Sonny but to expose his own former elliptical approach to improvisation as the "ruse" of a creator who under most circumstances will go the extra mile to avoid anything resembling a cliche, a familiar lick, a glib formula.

The man was not only the most moving alto saxophonist of them all but indeed may very well have been the best.

Harry Bosch fans - this is the "lost light" album.......2003-05-30

This is the music Harry talks about in "Lost Light." Good Stuff

Average customer rating: Near Classic

The All Star Sessions Elmo Hope Manufacturer: Milestone ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mating Call Big Sound Trio and Quintet Groove Blues High Pressure ASIN: B000000XW8 Release Date: 1991-10-15

Tracks:

1. Weeja
2. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
3. On It
4. Avalon
5. A Kiss For My Love
6. Eyes So Beautiful As Yours
7. Moe, Jr. (Take 2 - Previously Unissued)
8. One Mo' Blues
9. La Berthe
10. Homecoming
11. Imagination

Customer Reviews:

Near Classic.......2003-07-26

Here's a near-classic and historic recording from a tragically under-recorded progenitor of bop. You could buy this because of its rare and early John Coltrane presence, its vintage Donald Byrd, or any of the other masters of modern jazz heard here in their early prime: Hank Mobley and Frank Foster on tenors, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Philly Joe Jones on drums, with Paul Chambers or Percy Heath on bass: not a bad line-up! But the real reason to hear this is Elmo Hope. The CD fairly represents his growth into maturity and even genius. One of the formative bop pianists, close friend of both Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, Hope was not only influenced BY these keyboard masters but was an influence ON them. Hope is truly important and your jazz collection will be more hip with this disc.

Here are the details: the first four cuts are from an early bop blowing session with Byrd, Mobley and Trane; real basic blues and 1-6-2-5 changes. Hope at this point in his career sounds a bit like Powell, but gentler and definitely in search of a voice more lyrical and simple. The second session contains seven cuts from '61 presenting Hope at his peak. Three of these pieces are complex and harmonically stiking Hope compositions featuring the tenors of Heath and Foster and the trumpet of Blue Mitchell. The bass player is no longer Paul Chambers but Jimmy Heath's brother, Percy (of MJQ fame). While the compositions are complex, Hope's piano style has become more direct, with Monk-like chord clusters and profound use of silent spaces. Yet he is more gentle and lyrical than Monk. Between these sessions, Hope was on the West coast recording with Harold Land, Curtis Counce and others - but he found the music out there too stuck in familiar blues patterns without much innovation or edge, so he returned to New York. The CD finishes with four trio cuts where you get to hear Hope with drum and bass only: a lonely, eloquent poet of bebop. Constantly hounded by the police for his past scuffle with drugs, he could never get a cabaret-card, and without that you couldn't work in clubs or get recording sessions.( The same thing happened to Monk and to Gene Ammons, but they managed to be heard anyway.) Elmo was one of the damned who never climbed out of the New York jazz scene's cycle of shadows: racism, drugs, and low social esteem. He was also weakened by chronic respiratory infections and died of pneumonia in '67. His full name was St. Elmo Sylvester Hope, and he was one fallen star in the golden blackness of jazz.

Average customer rating:

All-Star Sessions Gene Ammons All Stars With Sonny Stitt Manufacturer: Ojc 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: Blue Gene Big Sound Jammin' in Hi Fi with Gene Ammons Jammin' with Gene Groove Blues ASIN: B000000Y0M Release Date: 1993-07-09

Tracks:

1. Woofin' And Tweetin'
2. Juggernaut
3. Blues Up And Down (Take 3)
4. Blues Up And Down (Take 1)
5. Blues Up And Down (Take 2)
6. You Can Depend On Me (Take 1)
7. You Can Depend On Me (Take 2)
8. Stringin' The Jug
9. New Blues Up And Down
10. Bye Bye
11. When I Dream Of You
12. A Lover Is Blue

Average customer rating: Gypsy Jive Deserves the name "All Star Sessions"

All Star Sessions Django Reinhardt Manufacturer: Blue Note Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music European Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Gypsy | Eastern Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music Blue Note Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Quintette du Hot Club de France: 25 Classics 1934-1940 Verve Jazz Masters 38 Django Reinhardt (Da Capo Paperback) Empyrean Isles The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order ASIN: B00005JH4X Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

1. Montmartre (Django's Jump)
2. Low Cotton
3. Finesse
4. I Know That You Know
5. Solid Old Man
6. Honeysuckle Rose
7. Crazy Rhythm
8. Out Of Nowhere
9. Sweet Georgia Brown
10. I'm Coming, Virginia
11. Farewell Blues
12. Blue Light Blues
13. Blue Moon
14. Avalon
15. What A Difference A Day Makes
16. Star Dust

Customer Reviews:

Gypsy Jive.......2004-10-18

I wanted to hear more from this artist after being introduced to him on Ken Burns Jazz; I had never heard of him before. I listened to cuts from this CD & decided to give it a try.

After listening, I must say that he has become one of my favorite artists. This is a nice starter CD that will allow you to become familiar with his music. Every track on it is stellar.

Deserves the name "All Star Sessions".......2003-08-28

This CD consists of several separate recording sessions, from 1935 to 1939, of the legendary jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt playing with some of the greatest American jazz musicians of that era while they were touring Europe. As amazing as Django's guitar playing is on these tracks (as always, for him), these are about the only recordings I know of where the other musicians are of the same caliber (except, of course, the recordings with his regular musical partner, Stephane Grappelli, who certainly must be the all-time greatest jazz violinist). Anyone familiar with the history of jazz will recognize the names of Rex Stewart and Barney Bigard (from Duke Ellington's band), Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, and many of the other "all stars" who join Reinhardt (and Grappelli on piano) on this CD. If you're a fan of the great Django Reinhardt, or of great jazz in general, don't miss this CD.

Average customer rating: Review: BoKey's Royal Sessions Musical Comfort Food HYPE You need this CD The NEW Kings of Memphis!

The Royal Sessions The Bo-Keys Manufacturer: Yellow Dog Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stax Instrumentals Instrumental Action Soul Soul Explosion ASIN: B0001Z3IQM Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

1. Coming Home Baby
2. Deuce And A Quarter
3. Seven And 7
4. Spanish Delight
5. Under The Table
6. Back At The Chicken Shack
7. Doin' It To Death
8. I Remember Stax
9. My Country Loves Me
10. Bling Bling

Album Description

The incendiary soul / jazz / funk of The Bo-Keys' "The Royal Sessions" is a hard-hitting and authentic modern take on Memphis' original soul-stew sound - a mixture of original instrumental and vocal features that fuse R&B fundamentals with elements of modern hip-hop.

An all-star section of Stax sidemen - Ronnie Williams (The Bar-Kays, David Porter) on Hammond B-3 organ, drummer Willie Hall (The Bar-Kays, the Blues Brothers), and Charles "Skip" Pitts (Isaac Hayes, Al Green) on wah-wah guitar - joins garage rock prodigy Scott Bomar (Impala) on bass to lay down deep funk grooves for a mighty horn section consisting of Memphis' finest young players.

Recorded and mixed at Willie Mitchell's (Hi Records, Al Green) Royal Studios, The Royal Sessions is steeped in the Memphis tradition. But it's much more than an homage: it's the sound of Memphis now - familiar, fresh, and unquestionably fantastic.

Customer Reviews:

Review: BoKey's Royal Sessions.......2007-01-04

Good CD with good musicians. If you like blues, jazz, or both -- you'll like this CD. The title track is probably the best.

Musical Comfort Food.......2005-01-15

The Bo-Keys are an all-instrumental group who specialize in funky southern soul. Guitarist Skipp Pitts and Drummer Willie Hall are both veterans of the legendary Stax records, the label which called itself "Soulsville USA." "The Royal Sessions" channels the spirit of Memphis and Muscle Shoals; each track is infused with a pulsating rhythm section and down-home horn charts.

The Bo Keys are at their best when they keep it simple; tunes like "Coming Home Baby" and "Deuce and a Quarter" feature soulful organ and horns over a fatback rhythm groove. The ballad "I Remember Stax"- which features some beautiful guitar work by Skip Pitts- is one of the disc's highpoints. While most of the tracks on "The Royal Sessions" are solid performances, there are a few weak-points. A decent performance of the Jimmy Smith workhorse "Back at the Chicken Shack" is marred by a silly vocal track featuring a Wolfman Jack sound-alike babbling about hot sauce or ribs or something. It's the kind of gimmick that might impress House of Blues patrons, but serious music fans will probably find themselves reaching for the "skip" button on their CD player. "My Country Loves Me", another tune with a spoken vocal track, sounds like an attempt at Gil Scot-Heron style political commentary that never quite coheres.

"The Royal Sessions" is the musical equivalent of comfort food; while not necessarily original or innovative, it's hot, greasy and sure to bring a smile.

HYPE.......2004-08-30

i bought this cd recently after i'd read a few favorable reviews, the memphis gunslingers involvment, etc. the cd is okay, but doesn't live up to all the hype. here's a few things: the rap/spoken vocal stuff is really really awful. the jimmy smith cover song is unlistenable. their originals are not that hot. overall, regardless of the personnel, it's not essential. if you are already hip to this genre of music, this cd is no big deal. i already used my copy for trade credit at my local cd store. if you are looking for a new band playing this type of music, try a cd by "the dipolmats of solid sound" - they are a current 60's soul/instrumental quartet who absolutely bury the bo-keys.

You need this CD.......2004-07-09

My sister sent me this CD for my recent birthday. I'm glad she did. This is a nasty, greasy mix of full-on funk, R&B, and soul ripped out by some masters in Memphis. These cats played with Isaac Hayes, Booker T and the M.G.'s, and sat in on Stax sessions. They throw down the jams live to tape and we get to listen in. If you want some music that feels like late 60s music updated for today - this is your stuff. Daddy like. Smoke up some ribs and spin this ASAP.

The NEW Kings of Memphis!.......2004-06-16

It's awful nice when you find a record label you can trust to deliver something great or at the very least interesting. Memphis' Yellow Dog Records is just that. Home to one of the best blues artists of the last couple years Mark Lemhouse as well as The Bluff City Backsliders Yellow Dog now brings us in it's on going tradition of great AND interesting Memphis' own new instumental soulfunk masters The Bo-Keys and their new release The Royal Sessions. I would say first release but they did back up the legendary Rev.Al Green on his gorgeous return to tip-top pop form I Can't Stop. There's been some talk about the Bo-Keys using words like revival,revisionism,and the dreaded retro but that plain don't get it. Yeah, Ike Hayes begat Booker T begat The Bar-Kays begat the Bo-Keys or somethingerother and yeah, it was recorded at the amazing Willie Mitchell's Royal Studio (home to Rev. Green's classic recordings) but that's just a pinch of the spice in the recipe for this new and greasier Memphis stew and supa summer evening BBQ. This is The New Sound of Memphis baby. This is a sharp-dressed and sweatin' at midnight popped crease hangin' loose broke down no need to fix it glide in yr slide dip in yr hip stroll from uptown to straight DOWNtown freshness. I know you already read the Who's WHO on this but to refresh howsabout Skip Pitts (you know his wahwah built the Theme from Shaft)on guitar bobbin' and stingin' like a summer picnic bee. Back that up with keyboard maestro Ronnie Williams (that's him on Rufus Thomas' Do The Funky Chicken) on the B3 organ then back that up with Bar-Kays drummer Willie Hall keepin' it slapped down. Don't forget former garage band bassist and Bo-Keys band leader Scott Bomer drivin' the bottom and trumpeter Marc Franklin and sax man Jim Spake shinin' like new chrome dubs and this Caprice classic is swangin' with funky junque in the trunk to spare. Fans of the old skool Stax/Volt/Atlantic/Motown sound and fans of new soul kool bands like Mofro get yr wallets out now. The Bo-Keys are the Feel Funky hit of the summers to come!

Average customer rating:

Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions Various Artists Manufacturer: Roadrunner Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000GI3PIA Release Date: 2005-11-29

Tracks:

1. Dagger
2. Enemy
3. Annihilation by the Hands of God
4. In the Fire
5. End
6. Tired 'N Lonely
7. Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)
8. Dawn of a Golden Age
9. Rich Man
10. No Way Out
11. Baptized in the Redemption
12. Roads
13. Blood & Flames
14. Constitution Down
15. I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)
16. Army of the Sun
17. No Mas Control
18. Enemy of the State

Average customer rating:

All Star Sessions: Hot Mallets, Vol. 2 Lionel Hampton Manufacturer: Avid Records UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music New York Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Swing Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Open House: All-Star Session, Vol. 1 ASIN: B000024WOX Release Date: 2000-04-15

Tracks:

1. China Stomp
2. I Know That You Know
3. You're My Ideal
4. Sun Will Shine Tonight
5. Ring Dem Bells
6. Don't Be That Way
7. I'm in the Mood for Swing
8. Shoe Shiner's Drag
9. Any Time at All
10. Muskrat Ramble
11. I Can Give You Love
12. High Society
13. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
14. Johnny Get Your Horn and Blow It
15. Sweethearts on Parade
16. Shufflin' at the Hollywood
17. Denison Swing
18. Wizzin' the Wizz
19. If It's Good (Then I Want It) [The I Want It]
20. Stand by for Further Announcements
21. Ain't Cha Comin' Home?
22. Big Wig in the Wigwam
23. Memories of You
24. Jumpin' Jive
25. Shufflin' at the Hollywood

Tracks:

1. Twelfth Street Rag
2. When Lights Are Low
3. One Sweet Letter from You
4. Hot Mallets
5. Early Session Hop
6. I'm on My Way from You
7. Haven't Named It Yet
8. Heebie Jeebies Are Rockin' the Town
9. Munson Street Breakdown
10. I've Found a New Baby
11. I Can't Get Started
12. Four or Five Times
13. Gin for Christmas
14. Dinah
15. My Buddy
16. Singin' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)
17. Flying Home
18. Tempo and Swing
19. Just for Laffs
20. Martin on Every Block
21. Pig Foot Sonata
22. Charlie Was a Sailor
23. When Lights Are Low
24. Heebie Jeebies Are Rockin' the Town
25. Dinah

Average customer rating:

All Star Swing Sessions Bud Freeman Manufacturer: Prestige ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music New Orleans & Dixieland Jazz | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music Dixieland | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000DIJPZ Release Date: 2003-10-21

Tracks:

1. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Head
2. S'Posin'
3. March On, March On
4. Shorty's Blues
5. Love Me Or Leave Me
6. Something To Remember You By
7. Hector's Dance
8. But Not For Me
9. Darktown Strutters Ball
10. It Had To Be You
11. Farewell Blues
12. Keep Smiling At Trouble
13. The Buzzard
14. What Is There To Say?
15. Tillie's Downtown Now

Average customer rating: Squeeze Box King

L.A. Sessions Jo-El Sonnier & Friends Manufacturer: Sonnier Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00009V7VB Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

1. Cajun Born
2. One of Those Old Things
3. Good Deal Lucille
4. Cone on Joe
5. Louisiana Blues
6. No More One More Time
7. Say You Love Me
8. Blue Is Not a Word
9. They'll Never Take Her Love from Me
10. Knock-Knock-Knock
11. I Want to Be With You Always

Customer Reviews:

Squeeze Box King.......2007-05-01

I cannot understand why this album has taken so long to surface. It was recorded in the mid-80's but has only recently been issued on CD and still available on Jo-EL Sonnier's web site or from the Amazon sellers. Any fan of Jo-EL will love it and any fan of good, rockin' country/roots music will search out more of his albums. This album contains 11 great tunes (6 written or co-written by Jo-EL), a great band and superb backing vocals from Jennifer Warnes and Bonnie Bramlett. James Burton and Albert Lee star on guitars and Johnny Gimble, Byron Berline and Sid Page provide outstanding fiddle arrangements and jaw-dropping solos. Jo-EL sings with an amazing passion (similar to Gary Stewart) and pumps that accordion into submission. The sound quality is excellent and sounds nothing like the "demo/audition" tape it was supposed to be. Although a lot of the material appears on his subsequent RCA albums, the versions here are as good if not better than the later ones. This is the sort of album which will have your friends saying "Who's this, it's great" and can be played with confidence at any party where alcoholic beverages are being served (if you can get off the dancefloor long enough to partake). If you wish to explore further, seek out Jo-EL's RCA debut "Come on Joe".

Jazz Music:

1. Always the Ladies/The Gang's All Here
2. And They Called It Dixieland
3. Barbados Heat
4. Bluegrass Reunion
5. Bohemia After Dark [Import]
6. Chant [Original recording remastered] [Import]
7. Coltrane
8. Con Alma [Live]
9. Danger High Voltage
10. Dawg '90

Jazz Music

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