Search - Various Artists :: Playboy Jazz After Dark

Smoooooooth Jazz, with extra oooooo.

klingsithvamp | Windsor, Colorado United States | 02/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set deserves 7 out of 5 stars. I really couldn't praise this two disk collection enough. It has been described as a sampler, and that's accurate enough. If you like (lounge) jazz enough to start a collection, but don't know WHO you like, this is an excellent place to start. As a musical genre, jazz is as diverse, if not more, than any other type. It contains Blues, Swing, Dixieland, Lounge, Ragtime, and a throng of others. These disks are primarily what I would call Lounge Jazz - the type you'd hear played on an ebony baby grand piano, from across a dark room, sewn with swirls of grey-blue smoke and perfume, as the redhead in the sparkling rhinestone gown, sitting next to you at the bar, orders a dry martini, and winks at you playfully. Got the picture? The first CD is all instrumental. Deep base, sultry horns / reeds, and a tickling of the ivories. I was almost afraid to put the second CD in, for fear that I'd be disappointed. Number two blew me away. I couldn't believe I liked it better than the first. My favorite track was 13. Solitude - Billie Holiday. I would recommend this set to anyone who wants to start a jazz collection, but doesn't know where to begin."

"creating an after hours mood ~ Jazz After Dark"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 06/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is something about compilations, especially the ones that grab you from the very beginning. Playboy/Concord Jazz has just done the impossible ~ put every classic track on a 2-CD-Set that is sure to please every "Jazz Junkie" out there. Some of the best in the business today and yesterday covering all bases. The result is a smooth operation on the table of Jazz, serving each selection in a blue-ribbon fashion. Musicians and soloist play out this smoky after dark reunion of what they love doing ~ we the listeners reap the winnings every time.Favorites come to mind ~ "EVERYTHING HAPPENS TO ME", featuring Gene Harris with his funky blues style that is delightfully unmistakable ~ "YOU MUST BELIEVE IN SPRING", sung beautifully by Mr. Tony Bennett and accompanied by the legendary Bill Evans, what a great combination ~ "MORE THAN YOU KNOW", can't recall this being performed any better than this, Mel Torme singing the verse which isn't always included and Pete Jolly on piano with a great arrangement by conductor Marty Paich.Entire album is a five or more star performance sharing the legacy of America's original music called "Jazz" ~ each track is stunning with head turning solos as sidemen take up the slack. Concord has outdone themselves sharing these little gems with old and new fans alike. Total: 2-CD-Set ~ Playboy/Concord 2-7507-2 ~ (4/08/2003)"

This is an exellent jazz sampler... for late night romance

J. Lovins | 11/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Weather you want to relax after a long day at work, and get into your cumfy chair and read, or you want to romance that special someone with great jazz and a roaring fire, and a bottle of pink champaigne, this is the 2 cd set to do it with(sure there are cd's like "John Coltrane+Johnny Hartman" and "Charlie Parker With Strings", but this gives you a variety). This cd is not like msot hophodged cd jazz compilations(which I normally despise), this is not a sampler for your average bozo who doesn't know the difference between Kenny G & Eric Dolphy, this cd gives a difinitive overview of good jazz singers and solosits, and the songs flow and create a beautiful and at times exotic mood. Such great yet obscure singer like Ernestine Anderson and Miss Mary Stallings are featured here as well as great intrumentalists like Joe Pass and Gene Harris, and the newer but great Ken Keplowski. This 2 cd set will introduce you to not only yhe popular singers and soloitst but the greater obscure ones too. A great set of jazz, for any occasion waether in be a sophistocated cocktail party or a romantic date for two, or just you, a great cd, buy one for yourself and get one for a friend... A truly wonderful buy."