Search - Conte Candoli, Lou Levy, Chris Connor :: West Coast Wailers / Sings Ballads of the Sad Cafe

A great Chris Connor album

05/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's too bad "Ballads of the Sad Cafe" wasn't paired with its followup "Witchcraft"--would have made a great C.D. and certainly a more coherent one. The big band on "Sad Cafe" is the complete Count Basie Orchestra. Well, now, that puts a different spin on it, doesn't it? This is Chris' favorite among her amazing albums for Atlantic and justly so--a perfectly realized theme album with brilliantly chosen songs, searing vocals and horn-propelled arrangements, thick and heavy with sorrow. There's lots of room for Chris to stretch out in too. Brilliant. Now two complaints: There were two versions of "These Foolish Things," one issued on the mono album, one on the stereo, totally different. Some day both should be included. And a song is missing, "I'm Afraid the Masqueraade Is Over," which wouldn't fit on the L.P. but is a terrific recording. That should be included too. Hell, why aren't I producing these reissues?"

Two classic (yet different) west coast jazz LPs in one!

William Faust | Columbus, Ohio | 11/22/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of those "two-fers" put out by the Collectables label which features two vintage LPs on one disc. While the two Lps couldn't be more different, it's worth the price to get either depending upon your preference. The first is a session called "West Coast Wailers" by the Conte Candoli Quintet which includes Candoli on trumpet and Bill Holman on tenor. It's essentially the same group and format as Candoli's Bethlehem release "Powerhouse Trumpet" but in my opinion, not quite as good. It features 8 west coast bop charts mostly arranged by Holman. Great classic stuff. The second is an LP featuring singer Chris Conner backed by a big studio orchestra and strings. Not my favorite format but Conner's voice and phrasing makes it very digestable. How can you go wrong?"