Jazz Articles about Various Artists

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Various Artists: Rhapsodies In Black: Music And Words From The Harlem Renaissance

by Mike Perciaccante
June 7, 2002

This collection is a four-star, four-CD set complete with a 100-page booklet that in itself could serve as a textbook of the Harlem Renaissance and the music that it spawned. Rhino has again created an innovative package. Rhapsodies In Black includes CDs tucked into graphically cool sleeves that feature the art and music of that Harlem Renaissance. These CD holders recreate the printed sheet music of the following songs: “Ain't Misbehavin'," “Railroad Blues," “Royal Garden Blues" and “Brother Low Down." ...

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Various Artists: Telarc Jazz: Celebrating 25 Years

by Dave Nathan
June 4, 2002

Cleveland-based Telarc has issued a 2 for 1 CD recapitulation of its 2 years as one of the leading jazz labels. Although founded in 1977, it focused on the classical music literature. It didn't turn to jazz until the late 1980's but has made up for the later entry by releasing a horn of plenty recording of top mainstream jazz artists. Even when they decided to try jazz, they were still a bit bashful. Their initial effort was an Andre ...

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Various Artists: Signature Songs

by C. Michael Bailey
June 1, 2002

An effective compilation...

Like many of the independent jazz labels, the major-label Telarc is beginning to produce compilation discs culled from their considerable inventory of music. The immense popularity of the Now that's What I Call Music series in the pop music arena is hope to translate into the jazz arena. Compilations offer a number of pluses. Properly assembled, they provide the listener, novice or pro, a cross section of a catalog. The listener can then choose favorite genres and ...

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Various Artists: The Legacy Lives On

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 2002

The album’s title refers, we surmise, to the straight–ahead idiom developed by modern Jazz’s founding fathers and bequeathed to their contemporary successors who are carrying it into the new millennium. As is true of most compilations, this two–disc set from Mack Avenue Records is an up–and–down experience with a number of engaging selections and others that aren’t quite as effective. Among the more conspicuous ear–grabbers: Pete Jolly’s tasteful piano (“Cloudburst,” “Sweet Lorraine”); Ray Brown’s radar–like bass and the marvelous interplay ...

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Various Artists: Freedom In The City 2001 Large Groups/Small Groups

by Mark Corroto
June 1, 2002

I have to disagree with my Buddhist, musician friend Pilcher. He believes that the proper way to listen to free improvisation recordings is to replicate the spontaneity of the performance by only spinning the disc once! Pilcher understands the experience should be fleeting, with only the memory sense? impression as a reference. He argues, you only read most books in your library once, why not do the same with creative music?

Ignoring the cost of the discs ...

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Various Artists: Signature Songs

by Dave Nathan
May 11, 2002

Telarc has issued a compilation of well-known performances associated with specific jazz artists. But the difference with this release is that it isn't the specific performance one usually has in mind, but another one, all in live performance. Erroll Garner's signature song “Misty" comes not from his 1954 recording in Chicago nor his 1956 recording with Mitch Miller. Instead the version included on this CD is from a live performance at the Seattle World's Fair in August of 1963. Similarly ...

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Various Artists: Verve//Remixed

by AAJ Staff
May 10, 2002

This ambitious project throws the doors of the Verve vault wide open, to be raided by the cream of the crop electronic producers. The Verve Records catalog boasts a plethora of classic jazz vocalists, from Billie Holiday to Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and more. It almost sounds sacrilegious to allow such classics to be exhumed by a bunch of studio vampires and knob-twiddlers. But the results are thankfully impressive, demonstrating not only the producers’ affinity for the music, ...