Some of My Best Friends [Import]

Product Description
Title is Taken from Two Original Albums featuring the Jazz Couriers Recorded in 1957 and 1958 Respectively. Led by the Late Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes Both of Whom Were Central to the Development of Modern Jazz in the UK.

Some of My Best Friends,Jazz Couriers,Ember,Hard Bop,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Soul-Jazz

Jazz

Music

jazz

music

Average customer rating: Fabulous for any Broadway-lover Top Shelf TERRIFIC CD'S Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs Great Compilation!

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Broadway: The American Musical Broadway: The American Musical Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
2. Swanee- Al Jolson
3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
5. My Man- Fanny Brice
6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
19. Summertime- Anne Brown
20. September Song- Walter Huston
21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
15. People- Barbra Streisand
16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
16. Come Follow The Band
17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

1. Memory- Betty Buckley
2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
9. With One Look- Glenn Close
10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
12. Seasons Of Love-
13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating: Jazz guitar fan One Of My Best Albums Is This CD! Very swinging! Crowning achievement of a long life in and for jazz.

Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists Ray Brown Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players The Giants Some Of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players Ray Brown: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... Singers ASIN: B00006878R Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

1. Squeeze Me
2. I Want To Be Happy
3. Heartstrings
4. Blues For Ray
5. Fly Me To The Moon
6. The Song Is You
7. Little Darlin'
8. Blues For Junior
9. Tangerine
10. My Funny Valentine
11. Blues For Wes
12. Soulful Spirit (Dedicated To Billy Higgins)

Amazon.com

Bassist Ray Brown has been a quietly forceful presence in the jazz world since he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1946. He's played in a variety of settings since then, and has always returned to the trio format (he formed his first one in the late '40s, with pianist Hank Jones). This release is part of a continuing series that has teamed Brown with a variety of singers, trumpet players, saxophonists, and pianists. Here the 75-year-old Brown augments his regular trio (pianist Geoff Keezer and drummer Karriem Riggins) with a half-dozen guitarists. From the snappy articulation of Herb Ellis to the big-bodied warmth of Kenny Burrell and the smooth coolness of John Pizzarelli, these dozen performances are a veritable tour through contemporary traditional stylists. The repertoire is a mix of standards and a few originals, with Burrell's gorgeous "Soulful Spirit" (dedicated to Billy Higgins) bringing the set to a close with quiet grace and emotional resonance. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Jazz guitar fan.......2007-03-16

This album mixes good jazz-blues and standards. Great version of Autumn Leaves by Kenny Burrell and Herb Ellis plays some great blues. A must for all guitarists, we can learn by listening to the masters.

One Of My Best Albums Is This CD!.......2005-03-06

One Of my best albums is this cd. Undoubtedly the most stellar performance throughout the cd is by Russell Malone on track 3 Heartstrings, one of his own ballad compositions. Around half-way through they speed up into a faster beat and Russell has an excellent and uncomparable solo. His technique is unmatched. Herb Ellis is a different story, his technique on the following song was horrible, but throughout the rest he was great. Ulf Wakenius has a lot to offer on this cd especially. Watch out for him. Overall, this cd is great, exposing you to many different styles of soloing. All the music is straight jazz. Ray Brown, Kareem Riggins, and Geoff Keezer all do spectacular jobs comping behind the featured soloists. Below are some other cd's I recommend from artists similar to these:
1. Last Session or Ray Brown/Monty Alexander/Russell Malone (Ray Brown (b), Monty Alexander (p), Russell Malone (g)) Very similar to this, however without a drummer, extraodinary solos.
2.Straight Ahead (Ray Brown(b), Monty Alexander(p), Herb Ellis (g)) Very similar to this, however without a drummer, two cds included!
3. Summertime (Ray Brown (b), Geoff Keezer (p), Gregory Hutchinson (d), Ulf Wakenius (g) Similar to this.

P.S Please Check Out My Reviews On The Recommended CDs!

Very swinging!.......2004-05-27

As an aspiring jazz guitarist I picked this up on a whim a while ago, coincidentally around the time Ray Brown died. I knew little about him or the trio, but had heard some of both John Pizzarelli and Russell Malone so expected good things. I was just delighted by this record from the get-go. Pizzarelli's version of 'Squeeze Me' opens with a strangely classical-sounding piano intro (think George Shearing) but immediately opens into a happy & strongly swinging tune with a great groove that sets the tone for the whole record. There's not a bad tune on the record, and it's great to hear such a great variety of guitar styles. Blues for Wes is just awesome -- impossible not to think of Wes Montgomery when hearing this. And the closing ballad 'Soulful Spirit' is just so sweet and touching. A great record!

Crowning achievement of a long life in and for jazz........2002-07-03

I bought this CD on Tuesday, July 3, 2002. The very next morning
-today- I found the notice on German TV-videotext that Ray Brown had died. The album is a fitting tribute to his genius. Accompanying a stellar cast of guitarists, among them Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis and John Pizzarelli, Ray proves for the last time the defining qualities of his musicianship - the swing, the precise timing and, on the fast tracks, an astonishing nimbleness: he recorded this album at 73! Each of the guitarists featured on this CD are first-rate; they present a collection of mosty traditional, in some cases original material. Three of the most outstanding tracks are blues: 'Blues for Ray' (Ulf Wakenius), 'Blues for Junior' (Herb Ellis) and 'Blues for Wes' (Bruce Forman), the latter a tribute to may favourite jazz guitarist (maybe yours, too?). On each of these blues Ray's bass accompaniment is excellent. On 'Tangerine', John Pizarrelli
and Ray Brown play so fast it's unbelievable. The recording is excellent, although my stereo is not good enough to bring out the subtleties promised by 'Direct Stream Digital', so I can say nothing about that.

Average customer rating: Bass and piano - some great Interactions Great Album

Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players Ray Brown Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists Some Of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players Ray Brown: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... Singers Bassics: Best of Ray Brown Trio 1977-2000 Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players ASIN: B000003D4Y Release Date: 1995-02-28

Tracks:

1. Bags' Groove
2. Love Walked In
3. St. Louis Blues
4. Lover
5. Just A Gigolo
6. Ray Of Light
7. Giant Steps
8. My Romance
9. Close Your Eyes
10. St. Tropez
11. How Come You Do Me?

Customer Reviews:

Bass and piano - some great Interactions.......2006-12-11

Being considered one of the greatest bass players in the history of jazz (alongside Blanton, Mingus and very few others), Brown had a great rapport with many pianists. This CD is, however, an interesting combination of a current colaborator (Green), an old pal (Peterson), some new forces Brown was always so eager to promote (Moroni, Keezer) and a respected veteran he allegedly hadn't worked with previously (Jamal). They are all allegedly friends with Brown, but it is the music that interests us here, not their friendship.

It is the latter pianist (Ahmad Jamal) who kicks this great album off with some really imaginative and often surprising playing based upon Milt Jackson's "Bags'Grove".
Jamal actually merges Jackson-style funk and modern harmonies with witty quotations of and allusions to Ellington (a great pianist Brown had worked with). In addition to that, Jamal interacts with the star of the CD in a fashion that does not reveal that they are new collaborators.

Another gem from Jamal's set is (believe it or not) W. C. Handy's good old "St. Louis Blues", where Jamal (an important protagonist of modern jazz revolution on piano) quotes both Ellington and Charlie Parker ("Now's the Time" pops up unexpectedly), while Ray Brown gets low down, dirty and blue; nevertheless not forsaking his own contributions to the modern jazz revolution. Brown manages to play this blues in a fashion that at the same time evokes classical blues and transcends it into some sort of postmodern pastiche...

Without commenting upon every pianist's contribution, it would be simply silly to miss Benny Green's gentle ruminations on "Lover" and "Just a Gigolo", played in a slow tempo that really gives this popular tune a vast array of new musical meanings (just try to sing the well known lyrics at this tempo and see how they fit the song).

And then there is absolutely silly Erroll Garner impersonation by the Italian pianist Dado Moroni on Coltrane's "Giant Steps"; something that contributes very much to the overall feeling of jazz history being treated as a goldmine Brown and his associates freely dig through... It also made me think of the way Garner played Rodgers' and Hart's "Lover", quite different than Green's mainstream fashion...

Naturally, Oscar Peterson is also here on "St Tropez" and "How Come You Do Me"; although I have heard him sounding better in previous years, this is still a very pleasant occasion, a musical reunion of two giants with similar approach to rhythm, melody, inovation and tradition in jazz...

Great, great, great album! It is only pity that the front cover is the collage of pianists' photos, instead of the beautiful photo of Brown (with transparent hand that carresess the neck of his instrument) also included in the CD.

The format of this music is classical to the extreme - piano, bass and the quite competent drums of Lewis Nash, but the spirit is very (post)modern, so I'm quite surprised that a jazz record guide I consulted recently described the pianists on this CD as (more or less coherent) group of Peterson's desciples, which would make the album somewhat predictable and monotonous.
I strongly, strongly, strongly disagree.

Great Album.......2004-10-23

Love this album....great piano players here...dado moroni...geoff keezer...benny green...i believe oscar peterson is on it. Great rendition of coltrane's "giant steps" - just a great, varied collection of superb piano playing.

Average customer rating: Disappointing Upbeat, Straight Ahead JAZZ

Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players Ray Brown Trio Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists Ray Brown: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... Singers Bassics: Best of Ray Brown Trio 1977-2000 ASIN: B00004Y6SC Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

1. Our Delight
2. Bag's Groove
3. I Thought About You
4. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
5. Violets For Your Furs
6. Itty Bitty Blues
7. Stairway To The Stars
8. Original Jones
9. When You Go
10. The Kicker
11. Clark's Tune (Legacy)
12. Goodbye

Amazon.com

This is the fourth in a series of CDs that has had the great bassist hosting distinguished guests: singers, pianists, and saxophonists. Now it's time for six trumpeters, covering several generations, from the veteran Clark Terry to Nicholas Payton, 26 at the time of recording, but there's no incompatibility between their individual meetings with Brown's smoothly swinging, energetic trio. With pianist Geoff Keezer and new drummer Karriem Riggins, Brown's band at times suggests the Oscar Peterson trio (whose bassist was Brown).

As for the trumpeters, each gets two opportunities with the trio. Clark Terry is puckishly witty on "Itty Bitty Blues" and does a nice job of alternating muted trumpet and flügelhorn on "Clark's Tune." His muffled, personal sound is an effective contrast to generally brassy attacks, but Roy Hargrove, too, shows fitting restraint on his exposition of "Stairway to the Stars." No one's brassier than Jon Faddis, who even plays muted slow blues with unlikely force on "Bags' Groove," then swaggers in his upper register on "Original Jones." Hargrove and Payton acquit themselves admirably on the boppish "Our Delight" and "The Kicker," respectively. Terence Blanchard takes "Getting Sentimental over You" at an unlikely clip, showcasing the trio as well as his own sparkling chops. His concluding "Goodbye" may be the best ballad performance in a good assortment, though Payton's "Violets for Your Furs" is eloquent and moving.

There's a real surprise here in the lesser-known Australian, James Morrison. His brash sound on "I Thought About You" evokes memories of swing-era greats, while Morrison double-times and bounces around the horn with Dizzy-like abandon on Brown's otherwise subdued "When You Go." --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2005-03-06

Ray Brown has been my favorite bassist for years now, and this has got to be one of his biggest disappointments ever. He has recruited some of the best trumpets out there (not mentioning Wynton Marsalis) but the song selection isn't that great. Jon Faddis is amazing and can reach high notes. Terence Blanchard, Roy Hargrove, Clark Terry, and Nicholas Payton do not give it their best on this cd. Great playing, I couldn't play it for sure, but the effort here for the trumpet players was close to none. However, Ray Brown, and the rest of the rhythm section are great. Below are cds I recommend:
1. Dizzy's 80th Birthday Party (Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars) Great trumpet playing, and saxophone playing especially by Antonio Hart.

P.S Please Check Out My Reviews On The Recommended CDs!

Upbeat, Straight Ahead JAZZ.......2000-11-06

I'm ordering the CD now, so I haven't heard the whole thing or I'd give it a five, but I'm driving along in my car, sober of course, and I hear a song from Ray's new CD. It knocked my socks off. Very upbeat Jazz, almost kinda just this side of free jazz because it's fast, but very polished. Fast. These guys were working hard when they cut this one. I haven't sought out a tune like this in a long time, I don't even remember the name of it. I can't wait. Hey thanks for reading this! Have a great day!

Average customer rating: Scientist Of Sound (4.5 stars) Do You Get Your Money's Worth? the turntable as an instrument Some Of My Best Friends Are DJ's Some Of My Best Friends Are DJ's

Some of My Best Friends Are DJs Kid Koala Manufacturer: Ninja Tune ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Turntablists | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music IDM | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Your Mom's Favorite DJ Live From the Short Attention Span Audio Theater CD + DVD Bullfrog Wave Twisters, Episode 7 Million: Sonic Wars Within the Protons ASIN: B0000CC88D Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

1. Untitled
2. Basin Street Blues
3. Untitled
4. Radio Nufonia
5. Stompin' At Le Savoi
6. Untitled
7. Space Cadet 2
8. Skanky Panky
9. Flu Season
10. Robochacha
11. Elevator Hopper
12. Annies Parlor
13. More Dance Music
14. Vacation Island
15. Bonus Track 1

Amazon.com

As his alter-ego, "Kid Koala," might suggest, Eric San applies a joyous childlike vision to his music on Some of My Best Friends Are DJs. Following turns with Money Mark, Deltron 3030, and Lovage, Canada's cheekiest mixologist defied weighty expectations with his beguiling debut album, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Three years later, and Kid Koala has retained his youthful verve. Packaged with a 52-page, self-penned comic and a travel chess kit, Some of My Best Friends Are DJs offers less in the way of music, with the 35-minute running time meaning the restless sonic snippets wisely end before his humor has a chance to grate. Mixing sleazy whisky-bar vibes with adolescent antics, his second album never allows the listener to settle. Moments of playful mixing magic are at times followed by baffling inanity as "Skanky Panky"--with its wonderfully shattered Ska rhythm and frantic scratches--runs into "Flu Season", ostensibly a series of beat-accompanied coughs, sneezes, and sniffs. Blending blues, jazz, and funk with a myriad of bizarre samples, moments of pure eccentric genius such as "Robochacha" and "More Dance Music" make this a flawed yet fascinating slice of beat-driven bravura. --Christopher Barrett

Customer Reviews:

Scientist Of Sound (4.5 stars).......2006-03-01

Kid Koala took the critics by storm with his exploration of using the turntable as an instrument like no other on his proper debut "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". Since then, he's toured with the likes of Ben Harper, the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, and Bullfrog (as well as headlining his own shows). In addition, he's also worked with Dan the Automator and Deltron 3030 (aka Del Tha Funkee Homosapien) and Gorillaz. Not to mention he also released a 300-page comic book. For the most part, Koala dives into the leanings of his debut. In some ways, "Some of My Best Friends Are DJs" is better than his debut. He's found ways to expand his style and experiment in ways that even the converted will be shocked by. The soaring scratch melody of "Basin Street Blues", the exuberance of "Stompin' at le Savoi" and the enthralling "Skanky Panky" are arguably better than anything off of "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". With that said, there is a bit less rhythm and unity here. A slight complaint would be that the music stops too much, and doesn't flow quite as well. But like his debut, repeat listening overshadows these weak moments with all of it's positive aspects. Overall, if you were a fan of the first record, this should definitely please you.

Do You Get Your Money's Worth?.......2005-03-09

Ah, what a tangled web we weave as the amazingly talented Kid Koala lets loose a beautifully frustrating concept Jazz-turntablist album. Clocking in at just 35 minutes, including the four bonus tracks, the question is, was it worth the wait? Yes and no. The amount of precision skill involved in his first album, 2000's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, is built upon to a point of superhuman proportions. Each play has its own reward as the many rich textures and impenetrably deep production cascade between your headphones. Jazz to the core, he plays each sound as if it's its own instrument recalling legendary old tunes while creating new ones. Even with the bonus tracks the album, as a whole, is a tight listen ... but 35 minutes? That's not even long enough for a good shag, at least not where I came from, and isn't that in some way the point of those funky beats? And, despite his fantastic display of scratch perversion, most songs lack that extra punch DJ Shadow possesses and the fun and adventure that made Carpel Tunnel so good. Most of the album can slide by unnoticed for the hyperactive child in each of us and for an album this length that is unacceptable.

So while Kid firmly cements his position as one of the greatest humans to ever destroy vinyl with this disk, he has also proved that he can get a chimp like me to pay him £20 an hour for him to do it. It's pretty hard to say if you get you money's worth.

the turntable as an instrument.......2004-12-01

Eric San is one creative guy. He makes music, writes comic books and can even make a chess board. He doesn't necessarily do these things seperately either. Some of my best friends are djs comes with the lot. The comic makes for a good read and the chess board ... well I just can't bring myself to cut up the cd packaging. These are side issues really though, what I'm interested in is the music.

I'm not that familiar with 'carpel tunnel syndrome', a previous album, but i would say this album is a little more cohesive. There's a sense of beginning and end and a little more structure. 'Basin street blues' kicks of the album and it's a piece of genius. It's got a slow looping drum with a trumpet (sic) sample strectched out over the top. The beat rolls in about 1 minute into the tune. It's brilliant, especially the bit about epileptic chram. The jazz theme rolls on through to 'elevator hopper' and 'annies parlour'.

I've never met him but i'd say Kid Koala must be a pretty fun guy. Some of my best friends is full of jokes, crazy statements and animal noises. It's also a pretty laid back affair, there are no guest MC's and no huge banging club hits. Is subtle turntabelism, not some over the top scratching for scrathing's sake hip hop. This is a very enjoyable album.

Some Of My Best Friends Are DJ's.......2004-08-31

This album I bought simply thinking, I'll put one or two songs on my iTunes library, and then just keep it in my album collection and eventually just forget about it. But that didn't happen. I ended up putting eight songs on my iTunes library. The album captivated me in a way that its style inspired me to be a DJ myself. And now I am a DJ. I will break the album down for you, listing the good, the bad, and the just okay.

THE GOOD:
Basin Street Blues
Radio Nufonia
Stompin At Le Savoi
Skanky Panky
Elevator Hopper
Bonus Materials: On The Set Of Fender Bender
More Dance Music
Vacation Island

THE OKAY:
Strat Hear
Grandmaphone Speaks
Flu Season
Negatron Speaks

THE BAD:
Space Cadet 2
Robochacha
Annie's Parlor

There's the breakdown for you. Hope it helps. This is DJ Alpha (yup, I'm a DJ thanks to DJ Shadow, RJD2, & Kid Koala...thanks for your inspiration!!).
Peace Out!!!

Some Of My Best Friends Are DJ's.......2004-08-31

This album I bought simply thinking, I'll put one or two songs on my iTunes library, and then just keep it in my album collection and eventually just forget about it. But that didn't happen. I ended up putting eight songs on my iTunes library. The album captivated me in a way that its style inspired me to be a DJ myself. And now I am a DJ. I will break the album down for you, listing the good, the bad, and the just okay.

THE GOOD:
Basin Street Blues
Radio Nufonia
Stompin At Le Savoi
Skanky Panky
Elevator Hopper
Bonus Materials: On The Set Of Fender Bender
More Dance Music
Vacation Island

THE OKAY:
Strat Hear
Grandmaphone Speaks
Flu Season
Negatron Speaks

THE BAD:
Space Cadet 2
Robochacha
Annie's Parlor

There's the breakdown for you. Hope it helps. This is DJ Alpha (yup, I'm a DJ thanks to DJ Shadow, RJD2, & Kid Koala...thanks for your inspiration!!).
Peace Out!!!

Average customer rating: Just the Best Ray Brown is always a source of reliable satisfaction!

Ray Brown: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... Singers Ray Brown Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players Some Of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players Bassics: Best of Ray Brown Trio 1977-2000 ASIN: B00000AFY9 Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

1. I Thought About You
2. Poor Butterfly
3. More Than You Know
4. Little Boy
5. But Beautiful
6. At Long Last Love
7. Skylark
8. Cherokee
9. (There Is) No Greater Love
10. Imagination
11. The Party's Over
12. The Perfect Blues

Amazon.com

Bassist Ray Brown spent 15 years in the Oscar Peterson trio. Since then, he's never fallen off the jazz map, becoming a mainstay in the mainstream with his own swinging, bop-smart trio. His "Best Friends" series has also elevated the dialogue of collective ensembles, integrating seasoned elders and neophytes into his expanding band. With this release, Brown brings singers on board; from the savvy old-world swing of Etta Jones to the hip postbop of Dee Dee Bridgewater, he moves both smoothly and solidly. There are also particularly strong surprises, from Kevin Mahogany's deep blues tracks to Nancy King's underheralded excellence. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Just the Best.......2003-08-21

Whether you're 40 or 80, this is cream of the crop. The best of
arrangements, a minimum of orchestration- usually piano and bass, so as not to clutter the vocals. This all makes for a timeless collection. One can almost see the smoke in the bar!
Great scat, too.

Ray Brown is always a source of reliable satisfaction!.......1999-03-17

Ever since his Oscar Peterson days, Ray has delivered a solid swing below any balad or fast piece, instrumental or vocal. And I bought this album just for the Diana Krall songs... keep your eye on her!

Average customer rating: Fantastic saxmen complementing one of the greats of bass

Some Of My Best Friends Are ... The Sax Players Ray Brown Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Some of My Best Friends Are...The Piano Players Some of My Best Friends Are...The Trumpet Players Some of My Best Friends Are Guitarists Ray Brown: Some Of My Best Friends Are ... Singers Three Dimensional ASIN: B000003D5B Release Date: 1996-05-28

Tracks:

1. How High The Moon
2. Love Walked In
3. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
4. Crazeology
5. Port Of Rico
6. Moose The Mooche
7. Easy Living
8. Just You, Just Me
9. Fly Me To The Moon
10. (When It's) Sleepy Time Down South
11. These Foolish Things
12. God Bless The Child
13. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Joe Lovano
14. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Benny Carter
15. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Stanley Turrentine
16. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Jesse Davis
17. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Joshua Redman
18. Ray Brown In Conversation With Guest Artists: Ralph Moore

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic saxmen complementing one of the greats of bass.......2004-02-18

A fantastic album, mainly ballads & midtempo swing tunes, with 2 uptempo bop tunes thrown in to spice things up a bit. All of the saxophonists shine, especially Joe Lovano on "How High the Moon" & "Easy Living," Ralph Moore on "Crazeology," Jesse Davis on "Moose the Mooch," Joshua Redman on "Just You, Just Me," and Benny Carter on "Fly Me to the Moon." Benny Green is phenomenal throughout, supporting each sax players unique style in just the right way.

Average customer rating: the coldness Underrated -> serious p-funk classic slept on p funk

Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends George Clinton Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Funk | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Funk | R&B | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish Hey Man, Smell My Finger Dope Dogs The Cinderella Theory The One Giveth, The Count Taketh Away ASIN: B000002UXV Release Date: 1996-05-28

Tracks:

1. Double Oh-Oh
2. Bullet Proof
3. Pleasures Of Exhaustion (Do It Till I Drop)
4. Bodyguard
5. Bangladesh
6. Thrashin'
7. Some Of My Best Jokes Are Friends

Customer Reviews:

the coldness.......2005-04-11

the greatest solo effort by clinton, a wonderful display of funk on this one, the coldest.

Underrated -> serious p-funk.......2004-11-07

This is the last serious p-funk album. Yes, GC uses eighties drum machines and synthesizers, but p-funk always changed with the times. On this album GC collaborated with Steve Washington (of funk band Slave), Doug Wimbish and Thomas Dolby. And GC's brand of eighties music sounds nothing like anything else around at the time. Vocally GC's on top of his game. He could still do those weird falsettos. It's the last p-funk album with a theme; the Cold War. Despite the hyper vocals and dance grooves it has a dark, almost depressing undercurrent that may put many people off. But I kinda like it...

classic slept on p funk.......2003-03-14

clinton's trying hard to cash in the 80's not his best work but not his worst either if you truly love p funk you should get this.

Average customer rating:

Some of My Best Friends Jazz Couriers Manufacturer: Ember 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 Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004C8TR Release Date: 2000-03-21

Tracks:

1. Through The Night Roared The Overland Express
2. Royal Ascot
3. On A Misty Night
4. Cheek To Cheek
5. Oh, My
6. Plebus
7. Reunion
8. A Foggy Day
9. What Is This Thing Called Love
10. Some Of My Best Friends
11. The Serpent
12. Time Was
13. Speak Low
14. Cheek To Cheek

Album Details

Title is Taken from Two Original Albums featuring the Jazz Couriers Recorded in 1957 and 1958 Respectively. Led by the Late Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes Both of Whom Were Central to the Development of Modern Jazz in the UK.

Average customer rating: To be sipped and savored with exquisite pleasure Vocal Perfection really good It made me cringe, and got my head wet. Wonderful Voice

Some of My Best Friends Are Songs Colm Wilkinson Manufacturer: Original Cast Record ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: Stage Heroes Highlights from Jekyll and Hyde (1990 Concept Cast) Music Seasons of Love Michael Ball Christmas ASIN: B0001CNR8Y Release Date: 2004-02-16

Tracks:

1. Funny How Time Slips Away
2. Song for You
3. Suzanne
4. Red Sails in the Sunset
5. Fathre and Son
6. We Are One
7. If I Knew Then
8. M.L.K./I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
9. Last to Know
10. You Don't Know Me
11. Home Thoughts from Abroad
12. I Cannot Stay

Album Description

Full title - Some Of My Best Friends Are Songs. Colm Wilkinson, the original star of the musical 'Les Miserables' & creator of the role The Phantom in 'The Phantom of the Opera', returns to his roots with a fantastic CD full of great songs, 'Suzanne', 'Father & Son', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', 'You Don't Know Me', 'A Song For You', & many more. 12 tracks packaged in a digipak. EMI. 2004.

Album Details

The Longtime Star of the Theatre Stage Presents a Collection of his Favorite Songs that He Would Perhaps Not Be Able to Do in his Chosen Oeuvre. His Choice of Material Spans the Generations and Various Styles, Like Cat Steven's "Father and Son", U2's Mlk/I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne", Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away" and Many More.

Customer Reviews:

To be sipped and savored with exquisite pleasure.......2005-07-02

One thing that needs to be made clear from the start - Jean Valjean is not singing on this album. That heroic persona is only a role (OK THE role he was born to play), but it's only one facet of this extremely talented singer. If you only want the grand theatrical style, then check out Stage Heroes. On this album, his voice is as rich, smooth and mellow as the finest Irish whisky, to be sipped and savored with exquisite pleasure while it warms a path right to your heart.

The range of musical styles covered is amazing, but Colm makes them all his own - blues, country, rock and folk/pop. What unifies them all is the tremendous heart he puts into singing that allows him to make such an emotional connection with the listener. I can (and do) listen to this CD everyday. It hasn't chased my other Wilkinson CDs out of my player, but it definitely makes them share. My personal favorites are the rock n' roll standard "Red Sails In the Sunset" and 2 original tracks, "We are One" and "I Cannot Stay". The covers of " Father and Son" and "MLK/I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" are also exceptional.

So, if you like them slow, sad, soulful and romantic, buy this album. If your lady does, then buy it for her. (And don't complain or you'll be wearing your cereal too!)

Vocal Perfection.......2005-05-15

Having been a long time fan of Colm Wilkinson's theatrical music, this CD displays his versatile range of blues, rock, folk, and country genres amazingly well. Think a` la Van Morrison, Ray Charles, Aaron Neville in style with not just an accomplished vocal capacity but a voice that is truly an instrument. The emotion, passion, and soul integrated in every note he sings is powerful. Amongst my favorite cuts are U2's MLK/I Still Haven't Found and the original compositons written by Colm himself. The surprise about this long awaited album is that he is an unknown in the mainstream culture. Why this enormously gifted gem is not a household name and megastar is a mystery to me!

really good.......2004-07-19

This cd is really nice as Colm Wilkinson is so good singing Irish
songs and he is in his element . He has souch a rich powerful yet gentle voice. He has one of the greatest broadway stage voices and also one of the best voices ever in my opinion. This a a great cd , that is wel worth getting for anyone who likes Colm's voice or Irish celtic music and ballads.

It made me cringe, and got my head wet........2004-06-03

Well this odd little album led to a food fight at my house. My partner enraptured by the music expected me to share her feelings. Unfortunately, I could not hide the fact that Colm Wilkinson's style of singing always has me running for the stop button. My grimace led to a bowl of Grape Nuts being dumped over my head... ah well. Sorry all you fans, but to my mind, Wilkinson is vastly overated. His exaggerated, affected style is strained, irritating and dripping with fake sincerity. His modulations and phrasings are all formulaeic and dished out in overcooked mounds of soggy sentimentality. Blah. Nothing new is heard in any of these songs and the whole album has a hurried feel about it, especially Suzanne which is run through with cursory interpretation. Great photo on the front though.

Wonderful Voice.......2004-03-24

First, I have to mention that I am a huge fan of Colm Wilkinson. I have several Broadway albums from a variety of shows that he has appeared in or made recordings for. I was excited when I got this CD. I mainly bought it because there was a recording of that song, "Father & Son" which I heard him sing with his son in his concert that aired on PBS. I listened to the entire album, and was somewhat disappointed with the other songs, at first. It was difficult for me to listen to this guy sing something other than showtunes. I had to listen to this album several times before it could stick with me...The songs are kinda catchy now that I've gotten used to them. Needless to say, the songs weren't bad, since I could sit through this whole album more than once. This album is a must have for any of you Colm Wilkinson fans out there. It shows the range in musical styles he has. And it shows that he is a really good songwriter as well, he wrote a few songs in this album. Go out and buy this, you won't regret it...I guess my only complaint about this CD is that there are only 12 songs on it...at a cost over over $20, there should be more music on this disc (that's why I'm giving this album only 4 stars).

Jazz Music:

1. Song for My Lady
2. Soundscape
3. Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio
4. Steal Away
5. Strut Miss Lizzie
6. Super Funky Sax
7. Sweet Innocence
8. Sweet Piece - Original Score (EP)
9. Swing Time
10. Swing Time, Vol. 1

Jazz Music

jazz music