|
A MUST HAVE CD...
By: Virgo457
Jazz has been called the world classical music, and for good reason. At the outset, jazz was dance music, performed by
swinging big bands. Soon, the dance elements faded into the background and transformation became the key element of the music.
As the genre evolved, the music split into a number of different styles.
In this corner I will update FCRS-JAZZ GROUP web site visitors with the best liked CD's of the month and "A must
have CD" in there collections.
A Must Have CD & This Month Recommendation
Featured Artist: Michael Buble'
Style: Jazz Vocals
 Pop's rush to raid the cradle continues with this promising debut by 25-year-old Canadian singer Michael Bublé. And while
the young vocal star's good looks are smart enough for a boy band, his muse seems to have sprung from a more sassy and compelling
musical era. Mentored by Paul Anka (whose '50s hit "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" is covered in dreamy, cabaret
fashion here), Bublé sings in the orbits of Darin and Sinatra, covering swing epoch gems ("Come Fly with Me," "The
Way You Look Tonight," "That's All") and rock era standards (Van Morrison's "Moondance," "How
Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Brothers Gibb, Queen's "Crazy Little Ting Called Love") with equal aplomb.
David Foster's production is typically slick and played to the back row of the bleachers, but it's informed by smart contexts
provided by such arrangers as Johnny Mandel, Randy Waldman, and Mike Melvoin. If the choices of material are sometimes staid
and predictable, they also give the singer a crucial framework for building toward something
more challenging; his is a bright future. --Jerry McCulley
Album Description
Producer David Foster (Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston) has a new discovery in the wake of a very successful
young find Josh Groban. Michael Buble (pronounced boo-blay) is a 25-year-old singing sensation whose smooth voice & heartthrob
style harks back to the swingin' greats of earlier decades, to the likes of Frank & Dean, but also speaks to a new generation's
sensibility. 2003 self-titled debut from Reprise/143.
JAZZ REVIEW
By: jed_y
Artist: LISA ADDEO
CD : Hotel California
Lisa Addeo has created a superb work with her Hotel California CD. Listen and experience passion and sensual delights.
This contribution has a cutting edge while always maintaining a soothing hypnotic quality. This new offering exposes a rare
combination of talent as an arranger, musician and vocalist. This is worth buying!
JAZZ (just) A Joke...
Jazz Meets Classical
A conductor is getting an orchestra together for a performance but is having trouble getting a trumpet player. Finally,
he calls a contractor, who tells him, "Well, the only guy I've got available at the moment is this jazz trumpeter."
The conductor replies, "I can't stand working with jazz musicians. They dress lousy, they're always late, and they all
have an attitude problem." "Well," replies the
contractor, "that's all I've got." "All right," says the conductor, "I'm getting pretty desperate,
so I guess I'll have to take him."
The first rehearsal is a week later. The conductor arrives early and notices the new trumpeter, wearing a suit and tie,
with a pencil on his stand, sitting on stage practicing his part. During the rehearsal, the trumpeter plays his part quite
well and is responsive to all the conductor's requests.
At the second rehearsal, a week later, the same thing happens. This time, the trumpeter turns in a nearly perfect performance.
One week later, at the final dress rehearsal, the day before the concert, this occurs again, with the trumpeter now playing
his part flawlessly.
At the end of the rehearsal, the conductor says to the orchestra, "I've got an apology to make. I was really dreading
having to work with a jazz musician, but I must say that our trumpet player has certainly proved me wrong. He is always neatly
dressed, he was always here early for the rehearsals, worked on the part, and he has really learned the music."
Then, to the trumpet player, "I just wanted to tell you that I really appreciate your effort and dedication."
To which the trumpeter replies, "Hey man, I really appreciate that. I mean, it's the least I can do, considering
I can't make the gig."
|
 |
|
 KNOW YOUR JAZZ
By: Louie
While compiling and organizing all this information and opinion, I strive to serve both the jazz beginner and neophyte
as well as the jazz aficionado.
There's more to jazz than Kenny G, Tadao Hayashi or our very own Eddie K and Jake Concepcion.
That's why I created this guideline category. With this you can dwell on the artist, instrument, theme and styles.
If you're new to Jazz -- or new to an artist or style -- treat this category guideline as a primer of sorts. It will provide
you with enough information to step confidently into the music store and find something tasty. Or if you're a serious jazz
devotee, you might just find that a few of these recommendations might fill some gaping holes on your collections.
Building your Jazz Collection throws its doors wide open to all different kinds of Jazz fans and interests. Certain sounds
may mesh with your particular tastes and this series aims to bring you and the music together in perfect harmony. So dig in,
and enjoy!
Kind and Category:
By Instrument(s)
Jazz Guitar
Modern Guitar
Piano Trio
Jazz Trumpet
Drum & Bass
Vocals
By Style
Smooth
Post-Bop
Blues
Bossa Nova
Classic Bebop
Classic Funk
Free Improv
Funk Jazz
By Theme
Holiday Jazz
Jazz For Kids
Live Jazz
Live Rock
Masterpieces
Mellow Moods
Road Songs
Romance
My Kind Of Jazz...
By: BC45-Bong
ACID/UNDERGROUND JAZZ
New Orleans to Chicago, and then onto New York, "Jazz" music has revolutionized since the late 1940's.More than
half a century later, our youth with its technology nowadays has pushed "Jazz" into an even more climactic melody.
My personal favorite-ACID/UNDERGROUND JAZZ. A combination of traditional jazz, funk, fusion, soul, blues, world music,
Latin, and the occasional indefinable with an excessive accompaniment of thundering bass, percussions, electrical, acoustic
instruments, and rap.
In this column I will update FCRS-JAZZ GROUP web site visitors with the best liked CD's on my collections and some good
suggestions of the month.
Here is...
My Toast My Choice
Jazz Music
By: Humanclay
Jazz - an American art form and an international phenomenon! Jazz is not the result of choosing a tune, but an ideal that
is created first in the mind, inspired by ones passion and willed next in playing music! Jazz music is not found in websites
or books or even written down in sheet music; it is in the act of creating the form itself that we truly find Jazz music.
Art in general hosts an invitation for the viewer or listener to invest a personal attentiveness. Unlike other mediums,
the nature of Music is tipped toward the emotional rather the intellectual. It is this personal connection with music and
all art that enables the patron to actually experience what is being communicated, rather than merely understanding the information.
While all forms of music share this quality, Jazz, with it's unique characteristic of collective improvisation, exemplifies
it. Other forms of music involve the listener into the realm of the completed work as it was scored. Jazz draws the onlooker
to a deeper league, that of a partnership, so to speak, of being along when each new phrase is created, when each inspired
motive is often the interactive result of audience involvement. Jazz music's dynamic is its "newness" which can
be attributed to the defining component - improvisation.
While Classical music strives to conform the musical tones to orchestral sonorities, Jazz music thrives on instrumental
diversities; the player's individual "sound" becoming the desired proficiency. This is where the passion is, a
kind found no where else. Respective of the innovative pioneers who nurtured this exciting music, new players join the ranks
in astonishing numbers. More musicians worldwide play Jazz music today than ever. With education programs focusing on a plethora
of Jazz compositions, young players are emerging on the scene with sophistication.
|
|
|
|
JAZZ Buzzzz....
By:Canon_in_D
 I unfortunately never saw Josh Groban's performance of "You're Still You" on Ally McBeal but I did catch his wonderful
duet on "There For Me" with Sarah Brightman, which I thought was eve better than the studio version with tenor Jose
Cura. At first I didn't know who he was but when Sarah B. announced his name after their performance together I recognized
it. That's when I began to gain a deeper interest in this young yet incredibly handsome talent. It took me awhile to actually
obtain a copy but now that I have it I love it to pieces! And though I fear that I shall never get his operatic baritone out
of my head it's completely fine with me for it's hard to grow tiresome of such heavenly vocals as his. And although I enjoy
every single song here (from the easy listening to the pop to the classical) my favorite songs include the opening crossover
tune "Alla Luce Del Sole", the beautiful yet sullen-sounding "Alejate", Cirques du Soleil's "Let
Me Fall", and his cover of Don MacLean's "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)". I also enjoy "Canto Alla Vita"
with one of my favorite groups, the Corrs singing backup. My absolute favorite song, however, would have to be the gorgeous
"Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" with Lili Haydn on violin. And while I do enjoy "The Prayer" with the lovely
Charlotte Church I'm thinking that maybe it's the weakest song on the album. It seems to fit her Enchantment album better.
I also couldn't help but notice that ex-Delerium member Rhys Fulber produced some of the tracks here, which sort of surprised
me. David Foster produces most of this masterpiece, though, with the same chemistry that Sarah Brightman has with ex-Enigma
member Frank Peterson, so with any luck Josh Groban will bring out another album soon. Until then, however, I recommend this
album to the fullest.
 Evolution Of Jazz
By: Humanclay/Arthur
The origins of Jazz history are attributed to turn of the 20th century New Orleans, although this unique, artistic medium
occurred almost simultaneously in Other North American areas like Kansas City, Saint Louis and Chicago. Traits Carried from
West African black folk music developed in the Americas, joined with European popular and light classical music of the late
18th and 19th centuries, became the syncopated rhythms of Ragtime and minor voicings characteristic of the Blues.
Jazz styles significantly evolved with an inner necessity characteristic of any true art form. Most early Jazz was played
in small marching bands or by solo pianists. The dynamic of improvisation arose quickly but as an ornament of melody and was
not to come into its own solo stylings until circa 1925. During the years from the First to the Second World War (1914-1940)
Europe, i.e.Paris, embraced Jazz music as its own. American musicians spread the globe as ambassadors of Jazz often in self-imposed
exile from racial and social tensions at home, others in search of cultural and creative freedoms thought to exist abroad.
Jazz music transformed from primarily an African-American genre to an international phenomenon. Post-war depression and
the break-up of the 'Big Bands' brought a focus on the smaller ensemble and the emancipation of Jazz styles. Perhaps the most
innovative, forward discoveries in style took place at this time. Jazz music suffered an almost fatal trend upheaval first
from the record industry's frenzy over Rock & Roll in the mid 1960s and followed by the Disco dance fad in the early '70s.
Many Jazz artists crossed over to more popular venues or joined the new Fusion school of Jazz. During the 1980's Jazz music
continued on a somewhat lateral Direction with a multitude of influences, the most significant of which was the retro surfacing
of it's own roots and styles.
With an emergence of innovative young players revitalizing the creative spirits and a consistent increase of Jazz "purists"
from the USA, Europe and abroad, the necessary energy and passion for creativity has continued to grow. Hard-Bop, now interpreted
with a modern preciseness and proficiency, ushered in the school of Classicism, circa 1990. This 'retro-renaissance' has captured
the passions of listeners and followers of every age group, of every culture and has brought a new awareness to the early
sounds of legendary players. Except for Smooth Jazz and the revival of Popular Swing dance music, significant change of Jazz
styles has not occurred since.
|
|
|
|
|
|
