At Home With Friends is inspired by Joshua Bell's fondness for hosting informal musicales in his Manhattan home. Join the Grammy Award-winning violinist as he celebrates the many musical friendships he has made over the y... more »ears - a diverse group of artists sharing their love of music in an intimate setting. Features vocal and instrumental duets with Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Regina Spektor and many others.« less
At Home With Friends is inspired by Joshua Bell's fondness for hosting informal musicales in his Manhattan home. Join the Grammy Award-winning violinist as he celebrates the many musical friendships he has made over the years - a diverse group of artists sharing their love of music in an intimate setting. Features vocal and instrumental duets with Chris Botti, Sting, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Regina Spektor and many others.
"After listening to At Home With Friends by Joshua Bell, I found myself envious of Bell for having such great friends. The album features renowned violinist Bell performing duets with various musical friends of his: Josh Groban, Marvin Hamlisch, even Sting. There is a great variety of musical styles presented, but the overall feel of the album is relaxing.
My favorite is probably "My Funny Valentine" with Kristin Chenoweth. "Left Hand Song" with Regina Spektor struck me as very odd/"out there" the first few times, but it's growing on me the more I listen. It's a neat side of Sting to hear him perform the classical "Come Again."
All in all, quite a musical treat!"
Beautiful Compliation
K. Borchert | Utah, USA | 09/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I grew up listening to my Dad playing the violin and my Mom playing the piano. I loved their duets. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for violins since then.
This album does not disappoint. I love the soulful tunes of Joshua Bell and his many talented friends. Two songs played with the bandoneon, Oblivion and Il Postino, really have captured my heart. I have never been to Paris or Italy, but I imagine this is the music of those beautiful places.
Kristin Chenoweth teams up with Joshua singing My Funny Valentine, one of my all time favorite songs. And Josh Groban singing Cinema Paradiso just takes my breath away.
My favorite piece though is Eleanor Rigby with Frankie Moreno. I had never heard of Frankie Moreno before this, but this fantastic arrangement of piano, vocals and violin had me as soon as it started.
This album is a great mix of classical, modern and international. You will not be disappointed in this album at all. I love it so much that I am going to buy a copy of it for my Dad for Christmas, and I am also going to buy more of Joshua Bell's work. Fantastic."
Bell has an eclectic group of friends - sometimes too eclect
Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 11/09/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Bell is a a near genius when playing his violin and has enough power with the recording companies to make any project he wants. On this CD he tries to show the breadth of his musical interests from classical to jazz (smooth and mainstream); pop standards (Gershwin) and movie scores to world music. It may show off his talents but for most listeners it may be too broad a spectrum. While the tracks with Josh Grobman, Marvin Hamlisch and Kristin Chenoweth make nice background music, the NINE-minute duet with sitar player Anoushka Shankar, goes on way too long. (And this is the ABRIDGED version of the piece.).
While many of the artists who accompany Bell on the selections just might be his friends, Sergei Rachmaninoff obviously could not be one of them. Bell plays along with a re-performance of the legendary composer and pianist from a 1928 recording using the fascinating new Zenph computer system which transfers the performer's recording to a real piano. (Sony/BMG has two other CDs utilizing this process.). It works well here too.
This is obviously a "crossover" album similar to Yo-Yo Ma's CD of last year (which I found superior and play often. But if, by using these better known "friends" - like Sting and Grobman- Bell gets more folks interested in classical music, this certainly isn't a bad thing.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
"
For Great Listening "At Home"
Nicole S | Jackson, MO | 09/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just in time for cold, crisp fall days, comes Joshua Bell's latest, "At Home With Friends." This CD of collaborations with some big names will be a welcome addition to your CD player...and it goes perfectly with a glass of wine and good conversation with your own friends!
I was very excited to hear one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Regina Spektor, perform with Josh on TWO tracks on this album, "Left Hand song" and "Left Hand." Definitely a little different than the normal fare! Other names on this CD include the amazing Kristin Chenoweth, of WICKED fame, and even Sting!
For fans of great, easy, mood-setting music, "At Home With Friends" is the perfect pick!"
At home
ASIA | 10/20/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow!I was not familiar with Joshua Bell.Only heard the name.I was so curious to get is and listen.Wow!I listened the CD probably 30th times!What a talent!What a musician!I love also the other artist on this CD-Sting, Josh Groban and Regina Spektor.In particular Josh Groban is an excellent companion for this instrument and of course Tiempo Libre who bring such verve to this albumn with unexpected Latin flare."Come Again" with Sting seems to have a Celtic feel . The misic is so soothing and relaxing and help ease the stresses of day-to-day life.When I am leastening the misic I feel At home with the friends ".This cd felt to me like Joshua Bell and friends were inviting us just to take a seat,relax and enjoy the beauty of the misic.I was very lucky to received this album as a promotion from the One2One Network. I highly recommend Joshua Bell: At Home with Friends. Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):
I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
Come Again featuring Sting, vocals
Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals
Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various
My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings
Grieg: Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano
Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin