Jimmy94
06-28-2008, 01:00 PM
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1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
2. Two's Blues
3. Answer Is Yes
4. Conceirto de Aranjuez
5. Rock Skippin'
6. Unfinished Business
7. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To [Alternate Take]
8. Answer Is Yes [Alternate Take]
9. Rock Skippin' [Alternate Take]
Jim Hall is an often overlooked Jazz guitarist, one that deserves far more recognition than he receives. More than many other guitarists Hall can spin melodic lines that owe more to the fluid saxophone than the guitar. His tone is very bassy and warm and his lines dance around the melody with hypnotizing grace, never settling in too heavily but at the same time never straying too far from the song.
The lineup for Concierto is a collection of legends: Paul Desmond on saxophone (he's the writer of Take Five, the hit Dave Brubeck song), Chet Baker on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, Roland Hanna on keys and Stevie Gadd on drums. This all star sextet makes slips and slides their way through several popular standards and Miles Davis's masterpiece from Sketches of Spain - Concierto de Aranjuez. Every song has a very cool, mellow feel which suits all of the members playing styles very nicely. Throw this album on and I guarantee you'll be transported to a deserted beach in Mexico.
The first track, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To is a standout for me. It starts out slowly and builds up steam quickly until at the end it is swinging so hard you may fall out of your chair. Hall's be-bop soloing is outstanding in particular. The monster of the album is Concierto de Aranjuez. At 18 minutes in length it's a study in the cool and relaxing aspects of great true jazz. Chet Baker is especially excellent on the track paying tribute to Miles while still playing the trumpet in his own wonderfully melodic style. Jim Hall also does a superb job adding guitar to a track you might not expect to be well suited for it. Ron Carter's bass lines are other worldly, he makes it sound like you're slipping and sliding down a hill, eventually regaining your footing. It's perfect for the song and influences the other performer's playing.
The other tracks are also excellent, many of you may enjoy Two's Blues, as it is a very well done mix of jazz and blues. I'll refrain on commenting on the other tracks though to leave some surprises for you and also so that I don't end up writing a book. I recommend picking up the SACD release which has superb sound quality. It's like being in a jazz club at 2:00 am.
This album is a modern jazz masterpiece, it belongs in everyone's album collection. It's a crime that this album doesn't get the recognition it clearly deserves, let's help change that and spread the word!
1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
2. Two's Blues
3. Answer Is Yes
4. Conceirto de Aranjuez
5. Rock Skippin'
6. Unfinished Business
7. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To [Alternate Take]
8. Answer Is Yes [Alternate Take]
9. Rock Skippin' [Alternate Take]
Jim Hall is an often overlooked Jazz guitarist, one that deserves far more recognition than he receives. More than many other guitarists Hall can spin melodic lines that owe more to the fluid saxophone than the guitar. His tone is very bassy and warm and his lines dance around the melody with hypnotizing grace, never settling in too heavily but at the same time never straying too far from the song.
The lineup for Concierto is a collection of legends: Paul Desmond on saxophone (he's the writer of Take Five, the hit Dave Brubeck song), Chet Baker on trumpet, Ron Carter on bass, Roland Hanna on keys and Stevie Gadd on drums. This all star sextet makes slips and slides their way through several popular standards and Miles Davis's masterpiece from Sketches of Spain - Concierto de Aranjuez. Every song has a very cool, mellow feel which suits all of the members playing styles very nicely. Throw this album on and I guarantee you'll be transported to a deserted beach in Mexico.
The first track, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To is a standout for me. It starts out slowly and builds up steam quickly until at the end it is swinging so hard you may fall out of your chair. Hall's be-bop soloing is outstanding in particular. The monster of the album is Concierto de Aranjuez. At 18 minutes in length it's a study in the cool and relaxing aspects of great true jazz. Chet Baker is especially excellent on the track paying tribute to Miles while still playing the trumpet in his own wonderfully melodic style. Jim Hall also does a superb job adding guitar to a track you might not expect to be well suited for it. Ron Carter's bass lines are other worldly, he makes it sound like you're slipping and sliding down a hill, eventually regaining your footing. It's perfect for the song and influences the other performer's playing.
The other tracks are also excellent, many of you may enjoy Two's Blues, as it is a very well done mix of jazz and blues. I'll refrain on commenting on the other tracks though to leave some surprises for you and also so that I don't end up writing a book. I recommend picking up the SACD release which has superb sound quality. It's like being in a jazz club at 2:00 am.
This album is a modern jazz masterpiece, it belongs in everyone's album collection. It's a crime that this album doesn't get the recognition it clearly deserves, let's help change that and spread the word!