Music Review: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., The Fabulous Ratpack disc 2

 Disc 2 has 20 songs, eight by Frank Sinatra, eights by Dean Martin and four by Sammy Davis Jr.  Many of the songs are taken from popular musicals like "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Some Enchanted Evening" and "People Will Say We're in Love."  Some are covers of popular pop songs, "Baby Its Cold Outside," "I Only Have eyes for You," "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," "Candy Kisses," "What I've Got in Mind," "You Won't Be Satisfied Until you Break my Heart" and many others.  These three are very good crooners and the each put their own personal touch on songs.  So together the C.D. is very nice.  In addition to musicals and pop there is jazz and big band songs.  

Music Review: Chicago: Night and Day: Big Band (1996)

 Chicago: Night and Day: Big Band, Chicago Records, 1996.

This is Chicago in a different light.  They participated in a TV special for Duke Ellington, and the idea for a big band album was thus hatched.  They in fact sing three Ellington songs on the CD.  Other composers include Glen Miller, Cole Porter, Joe Garland and Fabian André.  I enjoyed all the songs except for the last "Take the 'A' Train."  This song descended into chaos.  However "Dream a Little Dream," "In the Mood," :Sing, Sing Sing," and "Night and Day" are all very nice.  Chicago having many parts easily covers the big band feel.  Regular Chicago members Robert Lamm, Jacob Scheff and Bill Champlin provide the vocals.  This album has many instrumental sections like most of their music.

Music Review: Tony Bennett: Duets II

This C.D. presents Tony Bennet in duet with many seventeen different popular artists.  It is mostly jazz compositions, and many of the artists lose their individuality singing this style with Bennet.  However Aretha Franklin comes through as an individual, singing "How do you Keep the Music Playing" with Bennett.  Sheryl Crow shines with "The Girl I love" and Faith Hill and Bennett do a beautiful job of "The Way You Look Tonight."  Josh Groban's powerful voice also shines through as he sings "This is All I ask" with Bennett.  Mariah Carey and Bennet sing the last song with lots of energy, "When Do the Bells Ring for Me."

Music Review: Lyle Lovett: Songs from the Movies: Smile

As the title suggests, the song "Smile" is the head liner in this group.  This song was written by Charlie Chaplin for the movie "Modern Times."  The lyrics were added later by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.  It is a really poignant song, and has lots of feeling behind it.
However, my favorite song on this C.D. is from "Toy Story," "You've Got a Friend in Me."  I love that song, and it really added to the movie.  He sings this with Randy Newman.
This music has a jazzy feel.  I really like the way jazz sounds, but find it very difficult to sing or play.  Leavett does an excellent job.

Christmas Music Review: Lee Ann Womack: The Season for Romance (2002)

Womack gives us a Jazzy Christmas.  The songs I like most are the traditional songs.  "Her version of "The Christmas Song" is very nice.  However, she delves into some new songs, and they just don't resonate with me.  However "The Man with the Bag" is more a big band jazz feel and is contrary to that general theme.  This is a new song that gets the heart beating and the blood moving.  It includes a very nice saxophone part.

Music Review: Natalie Cole - The Unforgettable Concert (1992)

This is a wonderful collection of Natalie Cole.  In this concert she covers some of her father's music.  This makes for excellent jazz.  Her father, Nat King Cole was so successful and such an artist; and nothing is lost in these covers.  There are places where Nat King Cole is invited to the stage through media.  He plays the piano, or sings and nothing is lost.  I would suggest that a person seek out these songs for listening, "Nature Boy" which ends with the important statement "The greatest thing you'll ever do is to love and be loved in return;" "Mona Lisa with her crazy smile;" "Almost Like Being in Love" from Brigadoon;" "Route 66;" "The song is ended" put the melody goes on; "L-O-V-E;" "Autumn Leaves" (included in the medley) and then of course "Unforgettable."  Unforgettable is a song that is timeless, and beautiful.  In this case Natalie Cole sings a duet with her father, while pictures of her father are displayed as a tribute to him. This set really is exciting, and moving.  It even includes some jazz scat.
January 1992, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA, USA
Songs:
The Very Thought of You
This Can't Be Love
Paper Moon
Nature Boy
Mona Lisa
Lush Life
Non Dimenticar
Almost Like Being In Love
Route 66
Straighten Up and Fly Right
This Will Make You Laugh
Frim Fram Sauce
For All We Know
The Song Is ended
Smile
That Sunday That Summer
L-O-V-E
Orange Colored Sky
Thou Swell
Medley: For Sentimental Reasons, Tenderly, Autumn Leaves
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Dance Ballerina Dance
Unforgettable
Unforgettable (reprise)
Avalon

Sade - The Best Of Sade | Full Album

If you like vocal jazz, then this is a good choice.  Caleb introduced this genre to me, as did Mark to a lesser degree.  Famous songs in this set are, "Smooth Operator" and "Sweetest Taboo."  Sade (pronounced Shah-day) has such a low alto voice you often think it must be a guy singing.  Her voice is very strong, and the instrumentalist add to the sound.

Music Review: The Complete Porgy and Bess, 1956

The Complete Porgy and Bess, 1956

This version features Mel Torme as Porgy and Frances Fay as Bess.  It also has Duke Ellington playing some featured trumpet work.  This is not a version with the original score, but is a jazz version of the opera.  Where is was studio produced, it does not have acting, so adds narration to give a sense of the drama of the story.  "Summertime" and "Plenty of Nuthin'" are a couple of my favorite songs.  This music lends itself to jazz, but by the end of the cd I was jazzed out. 

Music Review: A Charlie Brown Christmas: Vince Guaraldi Trio

This is the original sound track recording of the CBS television special.  Vince Guaraldi arranged or wrote most of the music.  It is performed by piano, bass and drum.  The music throughout has a Jazz feel, and is all instrumental except for "Christmas Time is Here" and  "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" sung by the Peanuts children.  I really enjoy the music, and it has a very catchy rhythm.   "Linus and Lucy" is a classic.  This song sets your blood moving.  This is the music most associated with this presentation.  Even Miranda likes to play it.  the movement in the bass hand of the piano is just cool.  Another song that moves is "Skating".  I must admit, the middle of the music gets a bit lengthy; of course this is because just listening to the music, you don't have the animated action to watch.