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Another Great Blue Note Compilation!

Steve Stalzle | Colorado | 10/06/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a decent compilation from Blue Note records that offers up some great Film and TV theme songs done with Jazz arrangements.

There are a few rather funky numbers here, too, like Wilton Felder's take on the theme from 'Bullitt', Latin Jazz Great Willie Bobo's version of the theme from 'Kojak', and Hammond B-3 Organ master Richard 'Groove' Holmes and his take on the theme from 'Love Story'.

Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson gets to shine on two tracks: 'Blow Up', and The theme from 'M*A*S*H'.

Trumpeter Lee Morgan is featured on 'Midnight Cowboy' with a guest appearance from Toots Theilemans on Harmonica, which he also played on the original theme song for the film.



The Three Sounds, headed by piano great Gene Harris and backed by a big band do a WILD version of the original TV theme to 'Star Trek', and the arrangement is so different, it's actually almost hard to tell that it's the 'Star Trek' theme!



Sax great Lou Donaldson does a very nice version of 'The Shadow Of Your Smile', and Big John Patton, another Hammond B-3 organ master does a nice version of 'Alfie's Theme'.



Vocalist Dianne Reeves is featured on a modern remix of an old Grant Green Guitar session of 'Down Here On The Ground'--In the early 90's, they added Dianne's vocals and other instruments to Green's original track.



Overall, this CD is good, but has a few 'so-so' numbers on it,

like many compilations from Blue Note.



That's why it doesn't get 5 stars from me.



It's definitely worth checking out, though. It's a nice idea for yet another compilation from Blue Note, who is very good at marketing their 'back catalog' material and repackaging it in oh-so many different ways to squeeze another few $$ from the recordings.....



"