"blues, blues and more blues - speaks for itself"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 02/03/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Concord Jazz has come up with the "essential blues" album for all jazz lovers to soak up - Milt Jackson, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Memphis Slim, Billy Strayhorn, Charlie Parker, Walter Brown, Jay McShan, Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne, Victor Young, Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Jimmy Rushing and the Great Count Basie, each composer has contributed their variations of "the blues".Gene Harris and the group get right down to business - setting the stage for Stanley Turrentine (sax) and Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet) to etch a subdued landscape, while Kenny Burrell (guitar), George Mraz (bass) and Lewis Nash (drums) provide a hypnotic back-beat from the alpha to omega (the beginning and ending), the audience of true jazz veterans listen feeling no pain, completely spellbound.Of course there are stand outs - "I WISH I KNEW" a great tune that Count Basie made his own with his big band sound, but listen and see how Harris & Company reinvent, make this classic, even "more classic"..."COLLAGE IN BLUE", is low-down-blues in the purest form, and Ernie Andrews (vocal), tells the story of human conditions, their joys and sorrows, always yearning for freedom as music spreads the word of love, despair with a touch of sly humor.Total Time: 60:14 on 7 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD 4808...(1998)"
A Standard Of Excellence.
Alan Alfred | England | 02/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have nothing but the very highest praise for this CD, not only for the brilliant music and musicianship, but also for the quality of the reproduction."