Search - Eddie Daniels :: Blackwood

Smooth Jazz Essential!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael A. Sloan | PASADENA, CA | 05/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eddie Daniels blends modern jazz with smooth jazz in this album. It is a definite add to anyones jazz collection."

The clarinet reborn

James A. Vedda | Alexandria, VA USA | 06/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've never heard Eddie Daniels before, the music on this album will change the way you think about the clarinet. It did for me when I picked up this CD upon its release in 1989 - and I've been playing clarinet since high school! For those who believe jazz clarinet is limited to dixieland and Benny Goodman-style swing, Daniels has some pleasant surprises in store for you.

The tracks are a contemporary mix of lively and mellow originals (four of the nine written by Daniels), featuring Eddie's unique style and virtuosity. His playing is smooth, but it's also authentic jazz, not elevator music. Just to highlight one of his great qualities: His upper-register sound is sweet, almost flute-like, not harsh or shrill as the clarinet often can be. It's not as easy as he makes it sound.

I chose this CD years ago because Eddie Daniels was familiar to me from his work as a sax and clarinet sideman on many recordings throughout the 1970s and 80s. This was the first solo album of his that I discovered. I now have 17 of them, which should tell you how much I value the work of this fine artist."