What Are You Listening To? November 2018

Status
Not open for further replies.
André Previn ~ A Different Kind of Blues (1980)



With Izthak Perlman, Shelly Manne, Jim Hall, and Red Mitchell

This looked like a debacle in the making on first glance -- Andre Previn, out of jazz for nearly two decades as of this session, indulging classical violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, who had never played jazz before in his life -- but the two classical partners actually made a really charming album the first time around. Of course, Perlman had a lot of expert help as he waded into the jazz pool, for Previn wrote out all of the tunes and solos for him and populated the rhythm section with can't-miss stalwarts Shelly Manne on drums, Red Mitchell on bass, and Jim Hall on guitar. That wouldn't guarantee a great record all by itself (see the It's a Breeze review) but in this case, the results are swinging, musical, lyrical and inordinately entertaining. Like the proverbial bicyclist who took a long sabbatical but never forgot how to ride, Previn still had plenty of keyboard invention in his fingers, and his tunes are consistently witty. The catchiest tune of the lot also has the funniest title, "Who Reads Reviews" -- aimed no doubt at the anticipated pack of jackals who were expected to eat this album for breakfast. But Perlman gives an attractive account of himself, not quite swinging but creating an alluring illusion of jazz feeling; in the ballads, he sounds as if he had been definitely listening to a lot of Stephane Grappelli. A historical note: this record, now on CD, actually anticipated the rash of "crossover" albums by classical artists that didn't take hold until late in the 1980s. And it remains more enjoyable than the vast majority of its successors.
~ Allmusic Review
 
Hemispheres ~ Crossroads (2009)

hemispheres-crossroads.jpg

If you like Shadowfax and the band Oregon, you should appreciate this album. Ralph McCandless (formerly of Oregon) performs.

Jazz musicians seem to be increasingly flexible stylistically and inspired by music from all over the globe. This fusion of musical influences has created performers who enjoy advanced technical facility and have open ears, furthering the progression of modern music. Percussionist Ian Dogole is one such musician and his new recording Crossroads displays his overarching vision of music as a conglomeration of the many sounds from around the world. Dogole has been dedicated to the research and performance of music from indigenous cultures and applying this to jazz performance.
The recording displays this cultural blend along with Dogole’s prowess as a composer and improviser. He is joined by his Hemispheres band, which is made up of other like minded musicians including the legendary woodwind player Paul McCandless (of Oregon fame), saxophonist/clarinetist Sheldon Brown, bassist Bill Douglass, pianist Frank Martin and Hossein Massoudi covering vocals and tombak. Crossroads meets at the middle ground between world music and jazz and is a persuasive argument for their increasing cross-pollination.


https://sunnysidezone.com/album/crossroads
 
Ten Years After - Cricklewood Green (1970)

MI0001642776.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mitch Miller - Sing Along With Mitch (1958)

R-1519125-1437434996-6296.jpeg.jpg


Are there multiple covers for that album? Because I swear I have seen other pix for that one. Could be wrong. Could be not.
Actually Zeeb posted the cover from MORE Sing Along With Mitch which has the titles he name-checked. Not to be confused with STILL MORE Sing Along With Mitch.

Above is the original US cover. And here's the Dutch version:

R-842184-1537944941-9985.png.jpg


It was Mitch (not Nelson Riddle) who deserves the credit for Frank Sinatra signing with Capitol Records. When he was head of A&R at Columbia, he made Ol' Blue Eyes wax this little ditty with the statuesque Dagmar:


330px-Dagmar_1958.JPG


Frankie got so mad that years after leaving Columbia, he refused to shake hands with Mitch.

I used to watch Mitch's sing along TV show with my mother and grandmother. None of us sang along, but I did learn the lyrics to all of these pre-WWI hits so well that I can sing them to this day.
 
Mitch Miller - Sing Along With Mitch (1958)

R-1519125-1437434996-6296.jpeg.jpg



Actually Zeeb posted the cover from MORE Sing Along With Mitch which has the titles he name-checked. Not to be confused with STILL MORE Sing Along With Mitch.

Above is the original US cover. And here's the Dutch version:

R-842184-1537944941-9985.png.jpg


It was Mitch (not Nelson Riddle) who deserves the credit for Frank Sinatra signing with Capitol Records. When he was head of A&R at Columbia, he made Ol' Blue Eyes wax this little ditty with the statuesque Dagmar:


330px-Dagmar_1958.JPG


Frankie got so mad that years after leaving Columbia, he refused to shake hands with Mitch.

I used to watch Mitch's sing along TV show with my mother and grandmother. None of us sang along, but I did learn the lyrics to all of these pre-WWI hits so well that I can sing them to this day.
I don't get why Old Blue Eyes was angry. Was she too tall for him?
 
Mitch Miller - Sing Along With Mitch (1958)

R-1519125-1437434996-6296.jpeg.jpg



Actually Zeeb posted the cover from MORE Sing Along With Mitch which has the titles he name-checked. Not to be confused with STILL MORE Sing Along With Mitch.

Above is the original US cover. And here's the Dutch version:

R-842184-1537944941-9985.png.jpg


It was Mitch (not Nelson Riddle) who deserves the credit for Frank Sinatra signing with Capitol Records. When he was head of A&R at Columbia, he made Ol' Blue Eyes wax this little ditty with the statuesque Dagmar:


330px-Dagmar_1958.JPG


Frankie got so mad that years after leaving Columbia, he refused to shake hands with Mitch.

I used to watch Mitch's sing along TV show with my mother and grandmother. None of us sang along, but I did learn the lyrics to all of these pre-WWI hits so well that I can sing them to this day.
"Say, Mitch! We've got the photo of you smiling for the cover. Anything else you want on there?"
"What about if we put the song titles on the front too, instead of the back?"
"Great idea! Anything else?"
"Yeah. Why don't we add a little graphic after each song title which relates to the title?"
"Fantastic! What would you like to use?"
"Well now....hmmm....let's see..."That Old Gang of Mine"? Lets use tops hats. We were a dapper bunch!"
"Done and done, Mitch!"
"For 'Down by the Old Mill Stream' we clearly need a fish, and for 'Sweet Violets' lets use some flowers"|
"Makes sense! What do you want to use for 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'?"
"..................a pistol"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top