Featured CD and SACD Reviews
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Two legendary jazz guitarist's John Scofield & Pat Metheny teamed up in 1994 to produce this masterpiece. John's style of playing guitar is much different from Pats, but when you team them up, they… |
The Tron Legacy CD Soundtrack is a sonic masterpiece. It contains some of the best orchestral percussion I've heard in a long time and you can see why the Blu-ray movie "brings the boom" as a result. |
Recent CD & SACD Reviews
Tron Legacy (2010) CD Review
Stanton Zeff — March 08, 2013 23:10
Stanton Zeff — March 08, 2013 23:10
The Tron Legacy CD Soundtrack is not only one of the few movie soundtracks I own, but it's one of the few imports (of any media type) I own. While this European import is technically out-of-print, you can still pick it up on sites like eBay. Why did I purchase the import? Because it contains an additional CD with five additional tracks not available in the U.S. and it also comes with some very nice liner notes. This soundtrack is a sonic masterpiece. In fact, this disc contains some of the best orchestral percussion I've heard in a long time (think 1812 Overture). You can see why the (Blu-Ray) movie really “brings the boom” since many of the musical cues are duplicated note for note on the soundtrack.
Yellowjackets: Timeline (2011) CD Review
Stanton Zeff — March 01, 2013 18:43
Stanton Zeff — March 01, 2013 18:43
It's hard to believe the quantity of high quality original music the Yellowjackets have turned out over the past 30 years. Timeline has CD quickly become one of my all-time favorite Yellowjackets releases, and I bet I listen to it an average of once a week. I believe that drummers are the heart and soul of a group, and I think the essence of the Yellowjackets can be found in the grooves of William Kennedy over the last 20 years or so. Unfortunately, this may be the last release to feature both Kennedy and Haslip, as Jimmy Haslip has now officially been replaced in the bass chair by Jaco Pastorius' son, Felix. Only time will tell if this mix yields similar results, but I'm sure many long-time Jaco fans are dreaming of the possibilities. Great music, great sound quality, get this CD!
Joe Sample: Ashes to Ashes (1990) CD Review
Stanton Zeff — January 18, 2013 12:00
Stanton Zeff — January 18, 2013 12:00
To fans of the Crusaders (or Jazz Crusaders) back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Joe Sample needs no introduction. His writing and keyboard work was the heart and soul of the group; without Joe Sample, there would have been no Crusaders. So, it should come as no surprise that Joe Sample has enjoyed the most successful solo career of all the original band members. While he has had several good releases following Ashes to Ashes, I personally view this CD as his last “great” release, on par with some of his hugely successful late 1970’s solo releases (like Rainbow Seeker). This is one of those CD’s on my “sit back and relax” list, and that’s a pretty short list for me.
Chris Standring: Blue Bolero (2010) CD Review
Stanton Zeff — December 19, 2012 20:34
Stanton Zeff — December 19, 2012 20:34
I've been a fan of Chris Standring for quite some time; he was a frequent collaborator with my good friend (keyboardist Rodney Lee) throughout the 1990's in a group called "Solar System" before launching a solo career at the turn of the millennium. This CD is still in heavy rotation for weekend breakfasts at my house (along with a couple other of Chris' CDs). This is one of the few CD's I probably listen to more on my home stereo than on my iPod/iPhone. Years of studio experience has made Chris Standring an outstanding record producer in his own right, and this recording places those skills front and center. Check it out.
Donald Fagen: Sunken Condos (2012) CD Review
Stanton Zeff — October 25, 2012 23:11
Stanton Zeff — October 25, 2012 23:11
After a year’s worth of rumors, Donald Fagen has finally released his fourth solo CD. A follow-up to his self-proclaimed “trilogy” (The Nightfly, Kamakiriad, and Morph The Cat), Sunken Condos is a worthy addition to the library. Unfortunately there’s good news AND bad news. The fact that Warner effectively “snuck out” this release says more about the current state of the recording industry than the capability or popularity of the artist. While the writing and performance is strong in this album, audio quality doesn't quite live up to prior Donald Fagen or Steely Dan albums. Still a must have CD for all fans.
Ravel's Greatest Hit - The Ultimate Bolero
Neil Roble — February 25, 2008 14:01
Neil Roble — February 25, 2008 14:01
Ravel’s Bolero is a composition that rose from the depths of nonchalant dismissal by Ravel’s contemporaries to being one of the few truly recognizable melodies in classical music. Sadly, you rarely seem to see it on the concert bill these days. Perhaps it’s too disciplined for today’s classical conductors who struggle to maintain their freedom of self-expression while they pander to a diminishing audience of aging donors.
DJ Aphrodite: v.2
Gene DellaSala — December 07, 2006 21:50
Gene DellaSala — December 07, 2006 21:50
The British DJ Aphrodite debut album found it's way into my collection by chance. Hearing of this album through peers got me curious, so I went to the local alternative music store and purchased it. Was I suprised! Not only is this of a 'different' sort of techno-hip-hop genre, it's clarity of high's, mid's, and lows was stunning.
DJ Icey: The Funky Breaks
Clint DeBoer — December 07, 2006 21:50
Clint DeBoer — December 07, 2006 21:50
I first had the pleasure of hearing this cd in the car install garages of Sensuous Sounds, Inc. a few months ago and then borrowed it from a friend a few weeks after that. The compilation's style is somewhere between house and techno rythyms, which seems to be the forte of DJ Icey.
George Benson - That's Right CD Review
Gene DellaSala — December 07, 2006 21:50
Gene DellaSala — December 07, 2006 21:50
Last weekend I visited the local used CD store to see if I could spice up my music collection without it costing an arm or a leg. I spent about an hour looking through a few thousand CD's in anticipation of finding a few winners. What I found was disappointment, that is until I stumbled upon a used copy of George Benson's "That's Right" CD.
John Scofield & Pat Metheny: I Can See Your House From Here
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Lee Ritenour: Collection
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Michael Franks : Burchfield Nines Review
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Pink Floyd: Pulse Review
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Sade: Best of Sade Review
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Special EFX: Collection
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Jimmy Buffett Music by Latitude
Clint DeBoer
— December 07, 2006 21:50
George Michael: Ladies and Gentlemen Review
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
Marillion: This Strange Engine
Gene DellaSala
— December 07, 2006 21:50
The King is Dead, Long Live The King
Joe Cornwall
— December 07, 2006 21:50