Two Unlikely Collaborators Make Heavenly Music
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Lucky Peterson plays blues.  Mavis Staples sings gospel.  One might wonder if this Saturday night/Sunday morning combo could create a lasting tribute to gospel great Mahalia Jackson.  But it works, mainly because the two stick to a formula Jackson favored:  Vocals accompanied only by an organ or piano.

Staples was deeply influenced by Jackson's music and friendship.  And it was her idea to record a tribute using the accompaniment Jackson prefered.  But she had trouble finding an organ player with the reputation that would interest a record company.  Peterson had this reputation.  In the mid-1990s, he was a red-hot blues player for Verve Records, getting lots of radio play, and gigs at major festivals.  He was famous for his guitar playing, but equally proficient on the Hammond B-3 organ.  Verve promised to release the Jackson tribute if Staples agreed to work with Peterson.  The results are stunning, especially considering the two never worked together before.

Staples' voice is characterized by a deep rasp that adds an emotional edge to Jackson favorites like "Wade in the Water" and "Were You There?"  Peterson, for his part, has the chops befitting a bandleader.  But on this album, he gladly, almost worshipfully, steps into the supporting role.  On every track, Peterson punctuates Staples' singing, and fills her pauses with appropriate chords.  Never once does he upstage her, or play ahead of her.

The best example of this collaboration is "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."  Here, Staples' voice soars to the heavens - praising God, Jackson, praising music itself - before descending to a gravelly bottom, filled with soul and solemnity.  Peterson, again, follows wherever Staples goes.  Like the perfect wingman, his eye remains on his leader, hands reacting quickly and competently to stay in formation.

"Spirituals & Gospel" works because of the special magic between Staples, a leader in sacred music, and Peterson, a star of the secular world.  Who knew that great gospel needed a sinner to help it succeed?  The Lord works in mysterious ways....
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The idea of Brian Eno and John Cale working together not only sounds like a terrific idea but the resultant release&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Wrong-Way-Up/dp/B000002LNB/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Wrong Way Up</a>&nbsp;was an absolute delight, melding electronica with elements of progressive rock and art rock.  The tracks are amongst the most accessible either artist had produced without compromising their artistic integrity.  Both Eno and Cale's voices work well with each other and although the two apparently were a bit at odds while recording you'd never guess it from the results.  "One Word" was released as a single in the U.S.; unsurprisingly it failed to chart although "Been There Done That" did.  Amazon doesn't list the tracks, but here they are:

1. One Word (Edit) - 3:38
2. Empty Frame (Album Version) - 4:26
3. You Don't Miss Your Water - 3:45
4. One Word (The Woodbridge Mix) - 5:16
5. Grandfather's House - 3:06

This is a must for Eno and Cale fans as there's two non-album tracks and a remix of "One Word."  "You Don't Miss Your Water" appears on the "Married to the Mob" Soundtrack and "Grandfather's House" is a non-album track, hinting that the two may have had other tracks they started or possibly completed, but which haven't seen the light of day.  The Woodbridge Mix of "One Word" is particularly good and almost worth the cost of the CD alone!  It's a  pity the two didn't get along well as I would DEFINITELY be interested in hearing more from them working together.
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Following their legendary success in Siouxsie and the Banshees, Siouxsie and Budgie have recorded material as The Creatures, using a stripped-down sound featuring her amazing voice and his equally amazing percussion work.
This recording has some of the most infectious music of their collaboration.  If you aren't hooked on the first track, "2nd Floor," you certainly will be by the second, "Disconnected."  This is followed by another knockout, "Turn it On," irresistible with Budgie's hyperkinetic drumming.  I also love "Prettiest Thing" and "Exterminating Angel," but the entire disc is full of marvelous - and catchy - material.
A much more exciting recording than its "Goth" influences might suggest, and highly recommended.
2746461
The artistry of Karman Hooshmand and Javier Palacios offer a blending of ethnic vocals and intense personal musical stylings to delight all world music enthusiasts. The sounds of old world (and not so old) lyrical compositions are made manifest in a refreshingly unexpected and titilating fusion, clearly separating these musicians' genre from that of many of today's popular fusion groups. Their collaboration in "Ojala" (God Willing) brings to mind the imagery of modern day troubadours (not French or Italian, instead Persian and Spanish) who relate love stories, romance and longing in their own soulful and sultry interpretations, self-accompanied by instruments definitive of their individual ethnic backgrounds and complimenatary to each other's musical prowess.
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The coming together of ace arranger and conductor Vince Mendoza with rising alto saxman Stephano di Battista here produces a kind of small miracle.  It's very difficult to make this kind of session work.  The challenge is to retain the rigor of jazz while adding the lush gorgeousness of sumptuous strings.  Sloppy, maudlin sentimentality too often results.

Not here.

Mendoza brilliantly solves the aural puzzle, and the result is an altogether ravishingly beautiful sonic excursion that displays sufficient jazz sensibilities and rigor to satisfy the most nit-picky critic while at the same time exhibiting sheer aural ravishment.

Quite an accomplishment, and one hardly ever achieved in the jazz-with-strings arena.

If there is any analog, it strikes me that Fellini Jazz by Enrico Pieranunzi might be it.  Both discs share an aural extravagance seldom encountered in the world of jazz.  And both manage to retain enough jazz firmness to avoid the Scylla of sentimentality while also skirting the Charybdis of empty charism.

The beauty of Italian jazz fully on display.  Absolutely worth hearing.
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Don't let the outfits and hairdos of these guys fool you:  they can play some serious steel string guitar.  There is lovely harmonizing and just enough virtuosity.
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This is a really fine album. Multiply talented David Vito Gregoli brings together the best elements of Eastern and Western music for this outstanding collaboration with Grammy winner Ricky Kej (2015 Best New Age Album with Wouter Kellerman for Winds of Samsara), percussionist Christo Pellani, and singer Kimberly Haynes.

It begins and ends with OM. Surrounding the OM are lovely and tasteful bits of instrumentation, percussion, and voices. Vitos ever-so-slightly edgy guitar (classical on the first track, steel on the second track, dobro on the third) adds little stings of interesting commentary to Rickys beautiful strings and synth pads. Christos percussion beats right along with ones heart, and Kimberlys voices add a gently ecstatic exclamation point.

While each track has similar source material, each is subtly different, building gradually over their 22 or so minutes, unfolding in colors and layers like a sunrise, worth hearing over and over again, discovering something new each time.

Its on my favorites playlist, and should be on yours!

Rebekkah Hilgraves
Host, At Waters Edge
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I love this song, them together make the ultimate Duet.
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All too often two geniuses share space and come up with an effort that is less than either would have produced alone.  This is not that album. This pairing is sublime...I don't know why anyone, after hearing this, would bother to record a version of Stars Fell on Alabama.  The rendition of Cheek to Cheek highlights both Armostrong's sassy chops and Ella's big band swing, and marries the two in an incredible way.  Oscar Peterson takes the an unusually subdued and minimalistic piano to excellent effect. There's not a weak or insipid cut on the entire album.
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These are two of my favorite keyboard players and they certainly didn't let me down. Great stuff here. The singing is solid and the band swings and Harris and McDuff , well just listen and enjoy !!!
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This two album CD from Tompall, Chuck and Jim Glaser is an hour well spent for anyone who loves good songs, good arrangements and fantastic harmonies. When these guys were on there was no one better, and they were definitely head on with these two albums. A great marriage of Country and Folk styles gave the Glasers a unique sound that never grows old. Superior to pretty much everything that masquerades as music today.
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I heard SHaded Red at the Christian rock efestival Creation '98, and  started crying at their unbelievably beautiful "Found Someone".  I promptly bought the CD adn it is one of my two favorite ablums(the other  one being The Scarlet Pimpernel: Broadway Cast Recording,do I detect a red  theme going through my musical preferences?) and these guys are just  AWESOME.  Their music is ebeautiful, fun, kind of like Jars of Clay and PFR  mixed together.  And as to the lyrics, WONDERFUL.  Uplifting, inspirin g  and challenging.  This album gives you the sense of people who are truly  offering their unbelievable talents to God to be used for His glory.
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A unique sound, impossible to pigeon-hole this music as a particular genre.  It combines influences from difference sources into a one-of-a-kind musical experience.  The enthusiasm of these exceptionally talented performers was abundantly clear when I saw them perform live, and this recording brings backs the excitement of that evening for me everty time I listen to it.  Just amazing.
1310340
Impressive, beautiful harmonies and music. A friend turned me onto this track and it does not disappoint. Much prettier than their other duets.
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This is an amazing cd by two wonderfully talented people.  This is for young and old, the music is fantastic!
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Beautiful, timeless music from around the world, played by two artists!
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These guys are doing something special!
In an age of synthetic, computerized music you find here a group of musicians who are not only virtuosos, but have also embraced music technology, incorporate influences from our growing multicultural society and have a great sense of humour!
They also appear to work in a collective way - each member contributing an equal amount composed material.
Some of the tracks were more to my taste then others, but as a whole, the variation in writing style added to the internal contrast and dynamics from track to great.
Anyone who enjoys Weather Report or John McCloughlin will love this band.