Search - Various Artists :: Blonde

The album is a sensual and smooth mix of jazz ........

rex davis | Los Angeles | 05/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first CD for Playboy Jazz, a soundtrack to the CBS network television mini-series Blonde. It seems fitting that Playboy Jazz first release would honor Marilyn Monroe as they did in 1953 when Marilyn was featured in the very first issue of Playboy magazine. The album is a sensual and smooth mix of jazz that captures the emotion and hysteria that was Marilyn Monroe. What makes this CD even more collectable is the liner notes are written by Hugh Hefner and a reproduction of the original Marilyn Monroe centerfold from 1953 is included with the CD packaging. This is a must have for any jazz lover."

Kudos to Patrick B. Williams......A Must! .....Especially If

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 12/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"you dig mid-tempo swing played by some of the best musicians in the business!



I didn't see the production on TV but I heard one of the cuts on the air....and was going out of my gourd trying to place the identity of the band which seemed maddeningly familiar.



After acquiring the album, it was more understandable because of the excellent manner in which the music segued from one "band" sound to another, often in an original piece of music which evoked association with some melodies out of the distant past.Even the soloists, by intent or not, made me think of other musicians and the way they sounded back in the early to mid 50's before Bill Haley and the Comets sounded the death knell of the swing era with "Rock Around The Clock".



Good solid music introduced on the theme by trumpeter Roy Hargrove in a sultry ballad setting backed by unobtrusive strings.



Some highlights and impressions: the medium tempo swinger "Party Time" in a style somewhat similar to Benny Goodman with well known tenor saxist Scott Hamilton sounding a lot like an obscure but very excellent Boomie Richman who played with both T.Dorsey and Goodman......the opening notes by the reeds on "The Blues for Norma Jean" and the subsequent alto solo by Dan Higgins is a very, very Ellington sounding (Jeep's Blues) capped by the incomparable muted trumpet by Snooky Young, the ensemble segueing into a Basie sound on the closing portion.....the big altosound by Dan Higgins on "The Road To My Heart"....a very suave and polished Plas Johnson sauntering in on "Cool Pads" with Warren Leuning sounding like a young Ruby Braff (check solo work on "B.G In Hi-Fi" about 1954)......great combo sound on "Heat" provided by bassist Chuck Berghofer, Kenny Burrell's guitar and pianist Mike Lang....a killer arrangement of "Chelsea Bridge" spotlighting Terry Harrington's tenor sax....echoes of "Swing, Swing, Swing" on the early portion of "The Big Time Bounce", Snooky on the mute with Warren Leuning on the open horn bringing back some memories of Harry James.....Bill Watrous, an excellent trombonist in his own right, conjures up the smooth stylings of another earlier excellent trombonist, Murray McEachern, on "One Sunny Day" followed once more by an uncharacteristically smooth and laid back Plas Johnson....talk about smooth!...Larry Bunker on vibes with a very warm "Firelight"...Plas Johnson should do a mood album based on this one....it's that good!....a solid 40-50's arrangement of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" featuring Warren Luening...a sleepy intimate mood created by Plas Johnson on"You're My Dream"....some opening chorus sounds by the reed section reminiscent of Charley Barnet's "Pompton Turnpike" switching to the Goodman sounding style of clarinetist Terry Harrington on "Easy Street"...once again Leuning emulates the early style of Ruby Braff....."Me And My Baby" could have been an arrangement of Neal Hefti for Basie with James Moody, not sounding like the James Moody I've known, but doing some great tenor sax "noodling" typical of the 50's era..."Three Little Words" is Goodman from the get-go as you listen to that sax section...and the brass....followed by Harrington's clarinet from the opening note...and another superb Watrous solo....whew!



The uniqueness of the music in this cd is the genius in transcending the time to another era, building a bridge to that period, hinting at, but not copying that music, while providing something very fresh and original.



If you enjoy swing at a medium tempo with great soloists, you can't go wrong with this one....I can't believe the low prices on this. If you are familiar with any of the "Playboy" jazz festivals, this is on their label and includes in the liner notes a small version of the legendary 1953 centerfold."