Just Listen...

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Nigel Kennedy (oops, now he's just "Kennedy") has spent more time thinking about music than playing it, and it shows. In England, he's held up as some sort of victim of the terrible commercial world of classical music promotion and exploitation, against which he is a voice of lonely rebellion. Maybe. But he's also a thoroughly mediocre violinist, and these performances are best passed over and forgotten. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Violin Concerto InD Op. 35: I. Allegro moderato
Violin Concerto InD Op. 35: II. Canzonetta [Andante]
Violin Concerto InD Op. 35: III. Finale [Allegro vivacissimo]
Violin Concerto InD Minor Op. 47: I. Allegro moderato
Violin Concerto InD Minor Op. 47: II. Adagio di molto
Violin Concerto InD Minor Op. 47: III. Allegro, ma non tanto

Amazon.com

Nigel Kennedy (oops, now he's just "Kennedy") has spent more time thinking about music than playing it, and it shows. In England, he's held up as some sort of victim of the terrible commercial world of classical music promotion and exploitation, against which he is a voice of lonely rebellion. Maybe. But he's also a thoroughly mediocre violinist, and these performances are best passed over and forgotten. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

The listening ear.......2007-02-10

I think the problem some "critics" have with this recording is that they are unable to distinguish between the sometimes overly languid support of the orchestra and Nigel's playing. The first movement is performed slower and more deliberately than in other performances of this passionate work I've heard, but I hear no deficiencies in Nigel's performance. I would have wished for him more support rather than having to carry the performance as much as he did... Kennedy's sound is full and rich, full of passion and warmth, intonation intact as well. Must every violinist fit the mold of the staid soloist in appearance? Some of the younger listeners have been turned on to the classical world because they can relate to Nigel's free spirit. When was the last time I read a critic who understood this? Good question.

The Best Recording Out There.......2006-11-25

Recording a war-horse like the Tchaikovsky or Sibelius well and still make it sound interesting is a monumental task (I still have trouble on the Accolay), but recording both is perhaps the final test of a violinist's skill. The recording also new life to in my pinion, the best violin concerto, the Tchaikovsky, and one of the best, the Sibelius. The recording has a number of small but unusual changes that Kennedy did to be interesting, (listen to the beginning of the finale of the Tchaikovsky for an example). Controversy aside, Nigel Kennedy is a superb violinist, and probably the best for these two great works.

Mediocre??? Never.......2006-01-19

Whatever your opinion of Nigel Kennedy - the last thing he could be described as is MEDIOCRE!

I feel David Hurwitz has let his opinion of the violinist's persona affect his judgement, and I, for one, will not bother with this critics MEDIOCRE opinions anymore.

This may not be the best Sibelius/Tchaikowsky - but is a close run thing!

I am old enough to have heard Kennedy live in his younger days and when he pays now, he is every bit as good.

Buy this CD - you will not be disappointed!

And, please Amazon, stop using Hurwitrz as your editorial critic!!

Very convincing in Sibelius, lost in Tchaikovsky.......2006-01-01

Nigel Kennedy's talent for self-promotion is backed by a geniune populism unheard of among violin virtuosos (look, punk hair and he plays rock!) The combinaiton has made him a millionaire and a media star in the U.K. As to his musical talents, there can be no doubt that Kennedy has a definite profile: he is an individualist, poetic by temperament, shy of virtuosic tricks. His tone is not exceptionally large or sweet, especially as recorded here.

Like all individualists, Kennedy can run hot and cold. His Tchaikovsky concerto is a total miss. Both he and Okko Kamu seem to lack the slightest interest in the work, which they run through sans lyricism, fireworks, panache, or involvement. The violin sounds thin and squeaky to boot.

The Sibelius concerto, on the other hand, is a hit. Simon Rattle is a dedicated Sibelian, and he joins Kennedy in trying to mint the work afresh. Their pace tends to be on the deliberate side; there are no fireworks but also no soupiness or saccharine swoons--this concerto is liable to both. Their reading depends on integrity and sober musicianship. Not the Sibelius of everyone's dreams, but I responded very positiviely.

The fact that both conductor and soloist are reticient at times also works well. The only drawback is EMI's recessive sound, which makes the violin sound too distant and uninvolving. Even so, this is one of the recordings I return to regularly for this work when I am not in the mood to hear barnstorming.

Forget the controversy and enjoy the CD!.......2005-10-30

First off, I think people spend WAY too much time criticizing Nigel Kennedy's image and too little time criticizing his musical abilities (David Hurwitz comes to mind!). And on top of that, even many of those critics who actually do get down to the point and look at his music-making are influenced too much by that same image and by any conceptions they might have about his character and personal integrity to give an honest review.

That being said, I think that everyone should just forget the controversy surrounding Nigel Kennedy and enjoy the CD for what it is: a great piece of artistry and a showcase for the abundant talent of the soloist. So forget the tacky outfits and the bad haircut; forget the goofy comments in the liner notes (they are quite odd) and the name changes: if he feels that these things work for him, great... good for him. But when it comes down to what really matters, the music, Kennedy is a truly great and uncompromising artist, and it shows in this album.

The Tchaikovsky concerto is an unbridled display of bravura in the first and third movements. This was the first rendition that I ever heard of this concerto, and the initial hearing came along with learning that this was one of the most difficult violin concertos ever composed (a violinist friend of mine says that the sheet music looks like an exponential growth chart!). I was very impressed at the time, and I still am. This is, in my mind, the greatest of all the great Romantic-period violin concertos, and Nigel Kennedy certainly does it justice (more so than any other violinist I've heard). His treatment of the first movement is wonderfully expansive; his intonation ranges from soft and warmly romantic to strong and aggressive. Kennedy's violin playing is the most aggressive I've heard, bringing a powerful, masculine quality to this most Russian of concertos that I feel is most welcome in this situation. He constantly builds in intensity throughout the first movement, until the orchestra comes in at full force with a powerful fanfare in the brass combined with a sweeping, majestic theme in the strings that just knocks your socks off! But Kennedy doesn't let his aggression get the better of him; the second movement is stripped-down (no embellishments here!), a soulful and passionate rendition; an island of calm and tranquility in the midst of the technical fireworks of the fast movements. It segues directly into the third movement with a sudden burst of sound that startles me every time. From there on out it's a dazzling display of sheer virtuosity, and Kennedy delivers admirably.

The Sibelius coupling provides a wonderful contrast to the Tchaikovsky. The D minor concerto is full of a cold longing, the true antithesis to the passionate warmth of the Tchaikovsky D major. Kennedy is introspective in his interpretation, conveying the heartbreaking, tragic nature of the work completely without sentiment. A beautiful, ruminating reading of this cold, Nordic concerto.

Overall, the EMI recording is excellent, with perfect balance between the soloist and orchestra; I especially laud the clarity in the recorded sound of the wind players in their more exposed passages. A message to those who can see past Nigel Kennedy's bad-boy image and all the marketing hype: buy this CD and enjoy the great music!

Average customer rating:

Energetic and fun!
Wonderful
Go Joe
Bounce,Bounce, Bounce!

Everywhere You Go
Joe McDermott
Manufacturer: Big Kids Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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I Am Baby
Great Big World
For The Kids

ASIN: B000094TVX
Release Date: 2003-04-10

Tracks:

Spider Detective
Patience and Time
Transportation Vacation
Flying Saucer
Everywhere You Go
Noise
Thank You Mud
Baby Kangaroo
Let Your Light Shine

Album Description

Everywhere You Go is the third CD release by the Texas-based children's singer/songwriter, Joe McDermott. This is his most ambitious recording to date featuring talents from other Texas-based groups like Asleep At The Wheel and Monty Mongomery. Most of the tracks, for example, Transportation Vacation, Flying Saucer and Everywhere You Go support this CD's conceptual theme of traveling about the world (and beyond) through a child's imagination. These songs explore various modes of transportation, and the people one may meet on these journeys. However, Joe is best known for his clever, foot-tapping tunes that are present on this release by the titles of Thank You Mud and Baby Kangaroo.

Customer Reviews:

Energetic and fun!.......2005-06-15

My 1 year old loves this cd! It is the only one that makes him stop crying on long trips. I highly recommend Joe McDermott CDs.

Wonderful.......2005-04-09

Recently we were lucky enough to see Joe Mcdermott perform at our city library (promoting the summer reading program) and it was wonderful! Extremely entertaining for the children (and me too!) and not at all irritating for the parents or teachers. A double plus!

Go Joe.......2004-11-24

Super stuff that is smart for kids and parents too. We took a leap of faith and were not disappointed. Very appropriate and very fun.

Like the other review, XM is truly a great place to hear kids music (unlike the Disney channel which is a little too irreverent). Anyway, we've heard some really great music on their Kids channel.

Bounce,Bounce, Bounce!.......2004-02-24

We noticed "Baby Kangaroo" on XM Radio and my daughters can not get enough!! This tune is one of the funniest things I've heard for children's music. We ordered Everywhere You Go from Amazon and were glad to hear that the rest of the CD is as good as "Baby Kangaroo". The songs have a positive message that children need to hear while the lyrics and music are entertaining so the children never lose interest. The other childrens CD's are intolerable after a few listens but we never get tired of this one. Joe McDermott is the best!!

Average customer rating:

Highly Recommended

Just Listen
Cam
Manufacturer: Executive Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
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After the Music Stops

ASIN: B000NOK29M
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Product Description

R&B singer Cam defines the word smooth with his relaxed mixture of Pop, R&B and Rap. His debut album Just Listen presents a message of purity, hope and God s love, challenging the listener to make Godly decisions in life. Just Listen features guest appearances from Cleo Draper, Dre Murray and South City.

Customer Reviews:

Highly Recommended.......2007-07-02

I was very pleased at the timeliness of the order, the product was delivered in tact, and I am enjoying the CD itself. I really like this CD. Almost every song is excellent! I will recommend Amazon to people particularly for ordering items I can't find in my city. Thank you for asking for my opinion.

Sincerely,

Rebecca A. Outlaw

Average customer rating:

Don't Talk Just Listen
B5
Manufacturer: Bad Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000TUXKZS
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Average customer rating:

Follow-up album a work of art
fantabulous classic

New Yallopin City
Yalloppin' Hounds
Manufacturer: Yalloppin Ent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Retro Swing | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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General | Pop | Styles | Music

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Ghetto Swing Extreme
Lindy Hop Deluxe

ASIN: B00005UKLM
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

Romantic Thugz
Sun Ray
You're Taken
Thugbrat
Reason for My Pain
Swing Free Rider
Keep It Tight
Don't Hate on the Hounds
Jacquet, Here's Ya Jacket!
Letting Go
Get Out That Hole
Look for Love
Why?

Album Description

The freshest musical entity for the new millennium. An innovative blend of the Hip-Hop attitude with real authentic Harlem Swing, as played by some of the best jazz musicians in the world today, who have paid dues with some of the Royalty of Swing, such as Lionel Hampton, the Louis Armstrong Band, Illinois Jacquet, and Panama Francis. They represent a return to truly original melodies, along with lyrics that are pertinent to life in the times we live in, rather than being retro. And...most of all, they swing their butts off!

Customer Reviews:

Follow-up album a work of art.......2003-08-07

This album, the much anticipated follow-up to the Hound's ground-breaking Ghetto Swing Extreme does not disappoint.

The lyrics are as usual beautiful and breathtaking and the musicianship is tight, the Mad Komposa's performances being no exception.

G-Clef's slice of life, original writing is a refreshing change to the countless cover bands trite renditions of classic swing songs that now typify the modern swing movement and cause the old masters to roll over in their graves.

The vocalist on this album is no other than Star Search Winner Vickie Natale, whose smooth melodic tones accentuate the solid musicianship. Peter Hartmann's Chet Baker-esque tones float lightly along the meloncholic track "You're Taken".

There is not a bad song on this album! However, this reviewer's personal favorites are Sunray and Letting Go.

Lord Sledge, Jeremy Bacon, and Herman X appear on this album as they did on GSE and their performances do not dissapoint. Mark McGowan, who also did a disc "Live at Showman's " with G-Clef is also showcased, as is the young, up-and-coming drummer, Marlon Sobol.

fantabulous classic.......2003-07-28

All I can say is.... everyone who knows the swing ressurgence knows this album as a classic now, with Sun Ray, Thugbrat and Romantic Thugs on it, not only is this one a classic for those who want an entire album to swing dance to, but musically speaking this one's far and above the rest. This may have been far and away the best Hounds' LP.

Average customer rating:

Undine - Complete Opera in Four Acts

Manufacturer: Capriccio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00002604Q
Release Date: 1995-12-12

Tracks:

Rhinestone Cowboy
Gentle on My Mind
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Dreams of the Everyday Housewife
Heartache Number Three
Please Come to Boston
It's Only Make Believe
Crying
Blue Grass Medley
Milk Cow Blues

Average customer rating:

from Solo Piano Publications
from Solo Piano Publications
from Solo Piano Publications

O Come Emmanuel
David Nevue
Manufacturer: Midnight Rain Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Jazz | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Whisperings: The Best of David Nevue
The Vigil
Overcome
Sweet Dreams & Starlight
While the Trees Sleep

ASIN: B00009VPH2
Release Date: 2002-11-21

Tracks:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Away in a Manger
Watching Their Flocks
Joy to the World
Angels We Have Heard on High
Silent Night
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Coventry Carol
We Three Kings
The Gift
Some Children See Him
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Album Description

'O Come Emmanuel' includes many of your traditional Christmas favorites in new and interesting arrangements. Through his music, David captures both the emotion and magnitude of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. From the haunting 'Silent Night' to David's rousing rendition of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' you'll find this Christmas album a unique and enjoyable addition to your collection.

A Comment from the Artist...

"With 'O Come Emmanuel,' I've done my best to create a Christmas album a bit different than anything you've heard before. I realize there are a million Christmas CDs out there. That's one of the reasons I resisted the idea of doing a Christmas album for so long. I mean, do we really need another solo piano Christmas CD?

But one of my friends challenged me on this idea. 'Consider it an opportunity, David. Rather than thinking of it as 'just another Christmas album', think of it as music written to express the emotion of the Christmas story. Take these songs people have loved for years and wrap them around your piano style. People love your piano music, and they love Christmas music. So, put the two together. Just create a Christmas album you yourself would like.'

These words gnawed at me, and I began thinking about how I could use my music to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. And so, I started working on it, playing around with some of the popular (and more traditional) Christmas melodies and began adapting them into my personal style. Now I'm ready to pass the CD on to you. It's most definitely not your 'typical' Christmas album, but for that very reason I think you'll find it refreshing. Of all my CDs, I can easily say that 'O Come Emmanuel' is the album that I'm most proud of."

Customer Reviews:

from Solo Piano Publications.......2003-06-17

Being a piano teacher who starts students on Christmas music in early-November in preparation for the winter recital, I'm not always very receptive to reviewing Christmas albums much past Thanksgiving, but David Nevue's "O Come Emmanuel" is truly exceptional. David's retelling of the Christmas story with his solo piano arrangements and interpretations is deeply personal as well as spiritual and inspirational. The fourteen selections include two originals, and all are of a religious nature. David Nevue has a wonderful way of taking a simple melody line and making it full of meaning. His elegant playing style is never overly showy, preferring a direct and honest approach, which takes a lot more skill and heart than pure showmanship takes. Nevue set out to create a Christmas album that was truly something different, and succeeded well.

The CD opens and closes with hauntingly beautiful arrangements of the title song, rich in its dark minor key moodiness. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is one of the oldest Christmas carols still sung today, but in capable hands such as Nevue's the song is both ancient and contemporary, full of deep emotion that is ageless. "Away in A Manger" is a song that is often the first Christmas song learned in Sunday School, and Nevue introduces his lovely version with a one-hand melody line, emphasizing the children's view of this sweet song. He then brings in some of the other melodies (there are at least 40 melodies that go with this song!) that are often used, making each verse a little different. "Watching Their Flocks" is one of the two original pieces, and is quietly introspective, possibly suggesting the peaceful solitude of shepherds tending to their flocks late into the night - very beautiful. "Joy to the World" opens with a long, improvisational intro and then comes into the song itself at the chorus - a very interesting and effective approach. "Silent Night" is pure peacefulness. "Coventry Carol" is one of my favorites. Nevue again opens the piece with a long prelude that is mysterious and dark, and his interpretation of the piece itself is emotionally charged - a wonderful arrangement. "The Gift" is the second original piece, and it is also a real beauty in its simple honesty and gentle message. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is the most upbeat piece in the collection, with a jazzy treatment - starting out slowly with a rubato rhythm, and evolving into several variations. Great stuff! "O Come Emmanuel" is one of my favorite Christmas albums now, and I highly recommend it!

from Solo Piano Publications.......2003-06-17

Tracks:

Griptape
Miss California
Payback
S.O.S.
Fighter
Baylor Drive
Runaway
No Place Like Home
You Are You
Games
Take It Easy
Ash O'Neal
Bar Song

Average customer rating:

Listen, Lord

Manufacturer: Gothic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0001Z51LM
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

Three Spirituals
Tell 'Em I'm Gone
You Can Tell The World
This Morning
O, It May Be
This Man Of God
When I've Done
I Want Jesus To Walk With Me
He's Got The Whole World
Mary And Martha Have Just Gone 'Long
Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
I'm A-Rollin'
God Loves All His Many People
Welcome Table
Father's Got A Home
Come And Go With Me
Blow Yo' Gospel Trumpet
Can't You Hear
Holy, Holy
Let The Church Roll On
Glory, Hallelujah

Album Description

This album consists of one cantata, two suites and eight spirituals in choral settings by nationally acclaimed composer/arranger Alice Parker. The cantata "Listen, Lord" for solo contralto, chorus, and jazz combo sets the text of the opening prayer from "God's Trombones", James Weldon Johnson's imaginative recreation of sermons remembered from his youth.