Search - B.J. Cole :: Heart of Moment

History Is A Matter Of Opinion

Stan McGee | Bryant, AL USA | 06/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems ridiculous to offer a second review when neither of us have heard this CD. But, I have one of his earlier CD's called "Transparent Music". It's one of my favorites, as I find that compositions by Debussy, Ravel and Satie played on pedal steel guitar to offer the very ethereal, transcendent rendering the composers were reaching for. It's a surprising joy."

"Moments" has its moments

05/22/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This improves on Transparent Music by steering clear of the Debussy interpretations, which seemed cheesy. Like one of the other reviewers, I found the synthesizer accompaniment distracting. I also thought some of the 70ish jazz fusion moments marred the otherwise dreamy mood. But the cello and steel were wonderful together, and the best moments on this disc are sublime and well worth the price."

As with the first...

Daniel Morris | Westlake, OH USA | 03/01/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As with TRANSPARENT MUSIC, this CD is a rather uneven mix. There is no question that BJ Cole is a superb and creative pedal steel guitarist, but I have to wonder just what he would do without collaborators like Guy Jackson; Jackson's use of synths does little (on either CD) to actually enhance or expand the music, and on the first CD really adds a trite and sappy ambience. Cole's original compositions are generally enjoyable, though not always to my personal taste, but his searching (perhaps because of Jackson) takes on a somewhat aimless thrust. As with some other artists, BJ Cole may prove a more effective and creative sideman than leader, but without hearing him really stretch on his own, I would suspect it's his choice of people like Jackson that prove a stumbling block. That all said, it is always worth hearing Cole's work. I would still recommend HEART OF THE MOMENT and TRANSPARENT MUSIC for their risk-taking and some really fine moments."