Rebuild the Wall pt.1 / Luther Wright and the Wrongs
Skindive / Skindive
On The Town With the Oscar Peterson Trio
Oh! The Grandeur! / Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross /Sing a Song of Basie
Kasey Chambers / The Captain
Cydonia / Orb
Taraf de Haïducs / Taraf de Haïducs
Roni Size / Reprazent : In The Mode
Semisonic / All About Chemistry
Jazz; Live From New York / Various Artists
Superharps II / Bell, Lester, Neal, Pryor
John Coltrane / Coltrane for lovers
3000 Miles To Graceland / Bande sonore originale
Night And Day II / Joe Jackson
Frampton Comes Alive! (Deluxe Edition) / Frampton
Bud Powell / Jazz Giant
Soundtrack / Hannibal
Plus de Revues Musiques / More Music Reviews (page 8)
The title track on this fantastic CD is a very suave original composition written by piano man Billy Taylor. A Grand Night For Swinging sets the pace for a dynamic, intimate and intellectual interaction among five fine muscians. Guitarist Mundell Lowe’s long-standing reputation for being a “tasteful” and “skillful” jazz musician shines through in this new CD release. Backing Lowe on this album are Bill Taylor on (piano) Les Grinage (bass), Ed Thigpen (drums), and Gene Quill (alto sax). You feel the syncopations, notice your head bopping to the bass, and raise your eyebrows while eavesdropping on vivid conversations between guitar and piano. Quill’s sax playing is like a shot of liqueur in your coffee, melting smoothly into the groove, but with a flavour all its own. Filled with fun solos and great musicianship, this CD will keep your toes tapping and make you wish there were more than just seven tunes on the disk.
Rebuild the Wall pt.1
Luther Wright and the Wrongs / Universal Music
By Ranya
If you thought Pink Floyd would never be played at a barn dance, think again.Kingston’s Luther Wright and the Wrongs have released a cover of Floyd’s album The Wall, only… it’s done country style. This is not, however, your mainstream, top-of-the-charts country. Rather, Luther and his band provide some folksy, bluegrass renditions of all the tunes on Pink Floyd’s historic album, including, of course, the (in)famous title track, “Another Brick in the Wall.” The Wrongs are talented musicians, and present the old, familiar tunes in an entirely new packaging. And while upbeat bluegrass may seem an odd choice for an album originally intended as a dark, social commentary, the cover version possesses a tongue-in-cheek quality which absolves the band of any potential irreverence. What’s more, The Wrongs don’t suffer from Pink Floyd’s notorious long-windedness. The songs here are short, peppy and sweet, and while a diehard Floyd fan may find it difficult to digest this new offering, those coming to it from a fresh perspective will find it hard to resist.
Skindive
Skindive / Palm Pictures
By Cat
Yummy soundtrack material, Skindive pushes power pop into the industrial warehouse. This Dublin quartet dares to pull special effects into a brilliant album that can induce paranoia as easily as it instills a sense of complete serenity.I wish I had a mega sub-woofer to enhance the overall experience that Skin Dive dishes out in this new release. Singer Danielle Harrison applies her remarkable vocals with a freshly honed dagger throughout Gerry Owens’ Lucky 13-course buffet of original tunes, each of which is exceptionally arranged and mixed to a dynamic and perfect balance of left, right, top & bottom. Incorporating vocals, guitar, bass, drums and, of course, SFX – there’s lots to chew on here. The modern use of classic sounds, like solo strings that move in dissonant directions is just one indication of the innovativeness of this wonderful band. Warning to the adventurous: Skindive’s intrigue will stick with you and their disc will stick around your player for a good long while. Make way…
On The Town With the Oscar Peterson Trio
Oscar Peterson Trio / Verve
By Alex
Remastered and better-sounding than ever, On the Town was originally recorded live on July 5, 1958, at the Town Tavern in Toronto. With distinguished sidemen Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass, On the Town is among Oscar Peterson’s greatest live recordings ever. This Montreal native’s re-released album includes half a dozen jazz classics. Pennies from Heaven, along with Sweet Georgia Brown, are among the most recorded songs in the history of popular music. As many of you are aware, Sweet Georgia Brown was popularized as the Harlem Globetrotters’ anthem. The musicians’ tireless rehearsing has clearly resulted in the creation of perfect rhythmic patterns. On the Town also contains five bonus tracks. These songs, never before released, were initially destined for a sequel album that was never completed. A must for serious Oscar fans and jazz purists.
Oh! The Grandeur!
Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire / Rykodisc
By Cat
Swinging out in fine style, this band’s third release shows off a great sense of humour and uplifting writing that features some pretty cool techniques on the violin. Jazz and swing-inspired, complete with voice, plucked upright bass, brushed percussion, horns and of course, fiddle. Just when you thought you were revisiting the legendary era of vinyl and gramophone, Bird humbly tucks in a number of extraordinary, not-quite-classical string stunts. Kudos to the tech team who capture the essence of each instrument, the period, and the way the collective all fits together. Just one more comment, this one on the packaging: there’s design genius here, and if the disk wasn’t so much fun, I’d say that it’s worth picking up just to examine the contents. Won’t give away the punch line though; be prepared for something completely fun and original. This CD will leave you with a huge grin!
Kasey Chambers
The Captain / Asylum Records
By David
Kasey Chambers first solo release, The Captain, evokes images of crystal-clear blue prairie skies and the coarse finery of a blowing dustbowl tumbleweed. With this kind of pervasive aesthetic, one might be inclined to believe Mrs. Chambers hails from the "Deep South"...well, believe it or not, she's an Aussie, born and bred. Her richly textured music is resolutely rootsy with numerous country, bluegrass and even afew rock flourishes. From the opening countryesque tune, "Cry Like a Baby", with its catchy mid-tempo chorus to the rocking "Don't Talk Back" and the quaint semi-autobiographical musings of "Southern Kind of Life", the twenty-four year old singer/songwriter displays a lyrical wisdom that belies her tender years. This coupled with a haunting voice that is alternately sultry and sweet and the impeccable musicianship of a backing band that includes her dad, Bill, on guitar, makes for a very engaging listen and stunning debut.
A seminal recording from the 1950's, this album launched the vocalese craze and, in the process, gave birth to the most creative vocal team jazz has ever known. The art of vocalese takes a recorded jazz performance and adapts it for the human voice by fitting lyrics to it. Their concept was to apply this technique to classic Count Basie big-band arrangements. Originally Dave Lambert and Jon Hendricks asked Annie Ross to coach some studio singers who could sight read the sheet music, something Ross herself could not do. The idea was to create a choir to emulate the big-band sound. The result was a disaster. As Annie Ross said, " ...They couldn't swing if you hung them.". Eventually they came up with the idea of multi-tracking, rarely used in those days. After more trial and error they finally got it right. But not before getting into a deep financial hole so that they were literally going hungry while recording. One local restaurant gave them one meal per day on a tab until the album was released and they ate lunch there and hoped to be invited to someone's house for dinner. Talk about singing for your supper. The result is superb and will certainly be enjoyed by Count Basie and big-band fans.
Taraf de Haïducs
Taraf de Haïducs / Warner Music
Par Anna
Dans le village d’origine du Taraf de Haïducs (Bande des Brigands) caché dans les replis de la campagne roumaine, la musique traditionnelle a toujours accompagné les moments cruciaux de la vie : naissances, baptêmes, mariages, récoltes et enterrements. Un répertoire spécifique souligne chaque occasion et les mélodies reflètent l’atmosphère de la scène. Au cœur du vacarme du monde moderne, ces traditions survivent obstinément grâce aux « lautari », une lignée de musiciens gitans qui les transmettent d’une génération à l’autre. On constate une opposition entre les vieux disciples, rongés par l’âge, mais toujours aussi vigoureux et les jeunes, qui rêvent de jouer dans les restaurants des grandes villes : les uns conservent l’ancien style tandis que les autres y ajoutent des touches plus modernes, inspirées par leur entourage. Nous retrouvons donc sur cet album plusieurs variations d’un même genre musical, chacune ayant son propre attrait et originalité. Cependant, toutes les chansons ont un point commun : elles racontent avec une profonde émotion l’existence et l’histoire d’un peuple, ses malheurs et ses joies. Comment la musique traditionnelle gitane se développera-t-elle après la mort des vieux « lautari »? Nous assistons à un moment magique où cette beauté inouïe et fragile risque de s’évanouir à tout moment et rester uniquement sur les enregistrements tels que Taraf de Haïducs.
Cydonia
Orb / Universal Island Records
Par Anna
Depuis 1989, Alex Paterson et The Orb n’ont cessé de redéfinir le genre de la musique électronique, concoctant maints bouillons avec toutes sortes de styles. Ainsi, ils ont déjà mijoté cinq albums et sont prêts à nous enchanter une fois de plus avec Cydonia (titre qui se réfère à la région sur Mars où le mystérieux « visage » apparaît sur les photos satellites). Pour comprendre leur style, il faut savoir que Paterson a été un des pères du mouvement « Chill Out ». Il s’agit de mélodies électroniques planantes et calmes, le plus souvent écoutées par des « ravers » exténués dans les heures suivant une nuit blanche passée à s’éclater. Désormais, ce style s’est répandu au-delà de ce milieu et nombreux sont ceux qui l’ont adopté uniquement pour se reposer après une longue journée de travail. Fermez les yeux en écoutant Cydonia et vous serez transporté dans les sphères supérieures de l’Univers, dans une sorte d’extase et de paix embrassant toute votre âme. La voix hypnotique (rappelant d’ailleurs celle de la chanteuse Björk) sur les morceaux tels que « Once More », « Centuries » et « Plum Island » complète parfaitement cette représentation du vingt et unième siècle par excellence.
Reprazent : In The Mode
Roni Size / Mercury Records
Par Anna
En 1997, Roni Size et son groupe Reprazent éblouissaient la jeunesse britannique avec leur première oeuvre très prometteuse intitulée New Forms. Comme le titre l’indique, il s’agit d’un survol des nouveaux styles et « beats » qui faisaient surface à l’époque. Relatant les débuts du courant « drum’n’bass », cet album a su se hisser haut, décrochant le prestigieux Mercury Music Prize. Quatre ans plus tard, Reprazent revient en vogue avec sa seconde initiative intitulée très à propos In The Mode. Embrassant une atmosphère beaucoup plus détendue et expérimentale, leur nouveau disque s’inspire encore une fois des courants musicaux de l’heure. L’accent est mis principalement sur les paroles qui retiennent l’attention et accrochent l’auditeur grâce à leur intensité. Désormais, Size a quasiment aboli le sombre « drum’n’bass » pour se jeter au « centre de la tempête » du « freestyle » (jeu de mots reprenant le titre de la collaboration entre Reprazent et Zack De La Rocha du groupe Rage Against The Machine intitulée « Centre Of The Storm »). Le produit final représente une évolution solide du groupe et un excellent matériel pour les DJs des clubs bien au-delà des frontières britanniques.
All About Chemistry
Semisonic / MCA Records
By Avie
This Minneapolis trio is probably best known for their hit single Closing Time. This time around, singer, songwriter and guitarist Dan Wilson’s goal, along with bassist John Munson and drummer Jacob Slichter, was to write…“an album that had the vibe of a big party”. The result is a somewhat more lighthearted album than 1998’s offering Feeling Strangely Fine. The first single Chemistry is the album’s catchiest tune, chronicling the romantic exploits of a college student. Lyrically, the song has its witty moments, using chemistry-related puns. Act Naturally is an emotion-laden ballad detailing a troubled relationship, and is probably the best song on the album. The legendary Carole King gets a co-writing credit on One True Love, which is essentially a plaintive search for a soul mate. Get a Grip is one of the more amusing efforts, laced with not-so-subtle double-entendres: “Get a grip on yourself, you know you should, I got a grip on myself and it feels good”. Semisonic’sAll About Chemistry is a self-produced effort that uses the latest in digital technology somewhat unconventionally. Check out these original and eclectic mix of songs at your local record store.
Jazz; Live From New York
Various Artists / Telarc
By Sheldon
Jazz “Live from New York” is a special treat for novices and experienced jazz listeners alike. This treasure,is a two CD set which captures some of the greatest Jazz legends performing live in New York jazz clubs such as The Blue Note, The Village Vanguard, Michael’s Pub and The Iridium. Featured on this disc are jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, James Moody, Dave Brubeck, Jim Hall, The Jazz Messengers, Stephane Grappellijust to name but a few. I’ve been listening to this CD as if it were an old 8 track style tape, asI have my player on repeat. It’s really amazing how many different styles of horn playing there are. Each performer had there own unique style and a sample of their finest songs are featured on this CD.I also become aware of the fact that members ofthe group Phish must be fans ofJim Hall’s music sincethe second track on the disc sounds astonishingly like Phish’s own material. Enjoy this monumental tribute to Jazz.
SuperHarps II is early, pre-war, traditional harmonica playing by four of Mississippi and Louisana’s granddaddies of blues harp, Carey Bell, Raful Neal, Lazy Lester and Snooky Pryor.These guys inspired today’s greats, Paul Butterfield, John Mayall and Dutchy Mason whom I jammed with along withJim Zeller, who taught me a few licks on many a boozy nights behind Lennoxville’s Georgian Pub.The harp, as with many wind-instruments really wails its way into your soul.And it can make you want to dance fast or slow.The album is crisp, slow with a bit of up tempo jiving music graced by a touch of country blues by Lazy, including a bit of Raful Neal’s honky tonk and down-home Mississippi blues featuring Carey Bell.Snookey Pryor frequently stretches the high notes, a difficult task at the best of times in his rendition of Shake My Hand. Ya wanna make some loving, then put this romantic stuff in your back pocket and play it when you have the chance.
Coltrane for lovers
John Coltrane / Verve
By Sheldon
This aptly named CD has one central target audience in mind, however anyone into the mellow side of Jazz will also appreciate this album. When with that special someone, serve up some chilled wine, dim the lights and put on “Coltrane For Lovers.” Anyone with a passion for the sweet notes of John Coltrane playing the Tenor Saxophone will want to add this new CD to their collection. Joining “Trane” on his mission of seduction is Duke Ellington and Johnny Hartman on vocals. As most of us are well aware, Coltrane's music reached a wide audience and influenced many musicians. Conversely, fewer people realize that Coltraneonlygot recognized late in hislife, at twenty-nine and sadly died too young atthe age of forty. This CD is exceptionally mellow, exuding a continuous flow ofnatural background / ambient timbre that oozes with passion and promises to hypnotize. So while you’re enraptured with your special companion oralone and need some quiet soothing time; turn on your stereo and treat yourself to this wonderful CD.
3000 Miles To Graceland
Bande sonore originale / Universal Music
Par Anna
« La musique fait le film » , disent certains. Je suis tout à fait d’accord avec eux. En effet, comment pourrait-on mettre en scène une bonne séquence de combat ou d’action avec des mélodies lentes et ennuyeuses? La bande sonore doit toujours relater l’esprit du long métrage. Celle de 3000 Miles To Graceland remplit parfaitement son rôle : même si je n’ai pas vu le film, grâce aux quatorze chansons, je peux quand même ressentir qu’il est question d’un suspense plus qu’intense. Avec la participation de groupes tels que Filter, Bender et Crystal Method, le succès est assuré! Le résultat n’est qu’énergie et rythmes époustouflants. Au terme de treize morceaux ultra-modernes, nous retrouvons du… Elvis Presley! Pourquoi une telle incongruité? Voyez 3000 Miles To Graceland et vous comprendrez. En ce qui me concerne, je me prépare à le voir dès cette semaine, en espérant qu’il sera aussi efficace que la bande sonore.
Night And Day II
Joe Jackson / Sony Music
By Sheldon
After hearing Joe Jackson’s liveCD, Summer in the City a few months agoI was delighted to determine that Joe was still in true musical form. I was very pleased to discover that he had an upcoming new CD called Night and Day II. This recording is a sequel to one of his best artistic masterpieces,Night and Day. Of course the themes of both CDs are still similar although the musical feel is quite dissimilar to the original.I remember enjoying Jackson’s percussiveand jazz-like overtones from Night and Day and I must admit I missed the previous musical flavor of the previous album. However, thisfine CD shines on its own and should not be compared to its predecessor. This CD would be a good buy for any die hard Joe Jackson fan or anyone else ready to discover something a little eclectic yet very entertaining. Jackson is joined by Marianne Faithfulon "Stranger Than You" and "Love Got Lost"I enjoyed “Why”, “Happyland” and “Stay.”I think you will also discover several fun tracks on this album, enjoy.
Frampton Comes Alive! (Deluxe Edition)
Frampton /A&M Records
Par Anna
Quelque vingt-six années après leur enregistrement original en 1975, les balades inoubliables de Peter Frampton renaissent pour se faire connaître de la jeunesse d’aujourd’hui. Le disque double relate la tournée du chanteur et guitariste aux quatre coins des États-Unis, mais tous les morceaux ont leur point commun : ils enivrent grâce aux excellents solos et un son dynamique qu’on n’est pas près d’oublier. Les paroles originales et intelligentes représentent la cerise sur le gâteau, l’ensemble chanté avec une voix qui nous rappelle parfois celle de Roger Waters des Pink Floyd. Je dis bien « parfois », car Frampton est loin d’être un imitateur ou un copieur; son chant se reconnaît de loin. Pour soutenir mes propos, je vous encourage à goûter la délicieuse « Wind Of Change » où il figure seulement avec une guitare acoustique. Sur cette édition de luxe, ses admirateurs auront le plaisir de retrouver son répertoire classique, mais aussi plusieurs chansons inédites. Si vous n’êtes toujours pas convaincu de la qualité de l’ensemble, écoutez les applaudissements acharnés à la fin de chaque séquence; ils témoignent du talent de Frampton bien mieux que mille mots écrits à propos de son œuvre.
Jazz Giant
Bud Powell / Verve
By Sheldon
Don’t expect to hear the usual refrains associated with contemporary jazz when listening to the brilliant masterpieces composed by Bud Powell.Of all the instruments common to jazz the piano has treated us with a vast amount of sparkling masterminds. Powell was born in Harlem in 1924 and was already a child prodigy on the ivory keys by the time he was seven. Neighborhood musicians brought the young neophyte with them so others could admire his performances. On Jazz Giants Powell is accompanied by Ray Brown and Curly Russell on bass and Max Roach on drums.Interestingly, Roach joined Chick Corea, Joshua Redman and others for atribute to Bud Powell a few yearsago for a performance at Place Des Arts.Thirteen tracks flow from one to the next on this album.Quite a few of the selections have become standards such as Sweet Georgia Brown, April In Paris andBody And Soul just to mention a few.Along with Charlie “Bird” Parker, Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie, Powell helped create the sound we have become to know as bebop. After his death, Jazz critic Owen McNally wrote, “... Powell, in a triumph of spirit, mind and heart, somehow created one of the greatest legacies of piano music of the 20thcentury....” This CD is a part of that legacyand is without question a must for anyone’s Jazz collection.
Just Push Play
Aerosmith / Columbia
Par Geneviève
Quelques jours avant l'intronisation d'Aerosmith au "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame" le 19 mars prochain, Colombia Records lance Just Push Play, le dernier album de ce groupe à la solide renommée. En tant que fan invétérée d'Aerosmith, j'attendais impatiemment cet album, leur premier à être enregistré en studio depuis Nine Lives, leur succès monstre plusieurs fois platine de 1997. Dès les premières mesures, la fabuleuse voix rauque de Steven Tyler et l'accompagnement impeccable de ses musiciens chevronnés m'ont conquise. Plus "pop" qu'un Pump ou qu'un Get a Grip, peut-être, cet album se distingue cependant par un son moderne et par la qualité caractéristique de ses paroles (inclues dans le livret du DC), abordant de façon énergique des thèmes branchés et mariant allègrement allusions sensuelles et métaphores sur la culture populaire. Le succès d'Aerosmith repose en grande partie sur une équipe talentueuse composée des mêmes membres depuis leur premier album en 1973, ainsi que sur la voix captivante de Tyler et que sur les paroles percutantes de leurs chansons, reflétant des sujets actuels et rejoignant un public diversifié sans cesse croissant. L'Aerosmith de 2001 est différent de l'Aerosmith des premiers albums, mais leur style unique et mordant est immédiatement reconnaissable, au grand plaisir de leurs fans.
Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer (Gladiator, The Lion King) has created another highly intense soundtrack for the film Hannibal. Remarkably, classical music and horror/thriller films seem go hand in hand quite often.Is it the timberofthe violin or the climatic ripples that follow the crash of the timpani.Whatever the elements, the outcome always seems to be the same. In previous films such as “Friday The 13th” and “A Clockwork Orange“ the soundtrack willforever be remembered as an integral element of the film, such will certainly be the case with the Hannibal soundtrack. The album really brought back some ofthescariest scenes from the film. I Should not have played this disc prior to going to sleep, but I did. Needless to say this soundtrack will not lull you into a deep snooze, instead the opening track containsa brief speech from Sir Anthony Hopkins, which sent shivers up my spine, his calm voice mesmerized me with freight. Hopkins is featured on 3 bone chilling tracks on this brilliant CD. "This is the best love theme I've everwritten," Zimmer says jokingly of his music for Hannibal. "I keep telling everyone this is a romantic comedy, but nobody believes me."
Plus de Revues Musiques / More Music Reviews (page 8)
