Just recently fully appreciating the blues and jazz, its derivative.
588592
I loved it! It was as if Sidney were speaking directly to me. Provided "touch and feel' texture to the period. Highly recommended!
604005
I just love the Blues, I first hear this music on WPFW. I like the beat and its funny. Its all about life, its ups and downs
625474
Jazz just makes me feel better. I appreciate the talent needed to improvise. Although I do not understand the complecomplexities of jazz I know what I like and I really like Take Five!
496407
I was new to Bill Frisell and after reading some reviews and listening to the sound clips on Amazon, I purchased this CD. I have absolutely NO regrets.

Although I am not a huge fan of country or bluegrass music, Blues Dream is a delightfully progressive fusion of those, along with a healthy portion of folk, rock and blues added.  The resultant sounds paint relaxing (and sometimes hypnotic) sketches of a musical Neo Americana.

Blues Dream is a progressive 'jazz-like' fusion of a few musical styles, but one which never fails to lose the sound, or the mood, of it's traditional American roots.
4195048
I think he does a very good job, and as someone relatively new to Blues rock, brings an interesting perspective to it.
405860
Ashley Beedle's compilation has nothing to do with a c i d  jazz whatsoever.  Freddie Hubbard's track is the only P U R E jazz track on this compact disc.  Gil Scott Heron's track, and The Lafayette Afro Band's tracks represent a funk/fusion that's all at once catchy, and innovative.
Everything else is falls to R&B, club disco/dance, and is highly engaging.
A rather sophisticated, and cultured, and uniquely open taste in artistry, I wholeheartedly endorse the man's vision in choosing these tremendously gifted and talented people, many of whom are very sadly no longer with us.
Discs like these make the investment in high-end audio equipment all the more pleasurable!

Get this while it's still available, and thank you Amazon.
1776466
I bought a copy of this album when it first came out and it was my first Albert King purchase. At the time I had just started to listen to the blues and was in High School. Some of my friends liked and some tolerated blues music. Back in those days most of the teenagers were listening to strictly rock n roll in my neighborhood. But soon even my sister who was a Loggins and Messina, Cat Stevens and James Taylor fan grew to appreciate this album. Even my ole High School buddy who is not a blues fan at all was recalling and remembering this album as he posted on facebook from somewhere overseas recently. I want to get funky has a wider appeal, yet holds way firm to the Blues that we love Albert for. Searing guitar, grainy vocals and a sense of mastery over his guitar ( and on this album ) the entire large band.

I want to get funky is undoubtedly Albert's most polished album. The efforts in producing, the background singers, the awesome horn section, and of course, without compromise, the wailing, searing sting of Alberts playing. Now if you have heard his earlier version of Crosscut Saw, then your in for a treat, because he takes it even further or I should say that the band helps him take it further. I am a fan of blues, and love All of Alberts' contemporaries, BB&Freddy King, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy. But this album in particularly is appropriately labeled not just for its title track but for the reality of its content. The Latin percussion influence in Cross Cut saw will make even a non-blues fan grin. Albert's leading the story in Flat tire with (do you feel some outside air) and the back ground singers respond with (sho feels good), and Albert's response of "No do hear some out side air?" I dunno, but the whole relaxed feeling of the song and the album is outstanding. Another song, " I cant hear nothing but the blues,"

In or about in the same year of this albums release I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him Live with the full ensemble. The horn section, wow, it was an awesome experience. I was able to see Albert perform live three more times in the years gone by including his last performance at a small club in Orange County California in the early 90's.

If you are a blues fan who like many of us, found blues via rock and roll and may be considering not buying this album because of the horns, background singers ect, ect. Do not let that divert you from buying this.
1177546
It's called "Too Blue," and I must say, it is awesome. I was literally blown away. Such a range of different styles: city blues, country blues, jazz, pop, rock, skat...it's all there. The whole record has a groove thang goin' on that's impossible to resist.
The songs range from funny to sad, from the gravelly voiced "Gumbo," "Sweet Love," and the playful blues crooning of "Big Gorilla Blues," to the wistful lyrical and acoustic jazz guitar brilliance of "Come What May," "Your Lies," and "Bend in the River." Even the sad songs have the sense of humor of someone who has truly lived the blues, but will never take himself that seriously.
The writing and composition on the 16 gems inside "Two Blue" reflect a mature creativity--a quality seemingly in short supply these days. But Smith's guitar work needs a few words here also. It is masterful, throughout the spectrum of styles on this CD. It will raise the little hairs on the back of your neck, and make your arms shiver with goose pimples. This cat can play.
Comparisons are odious, but his songs bring to mind a modern day Cole Porter, or Randy Newman's more talented brother. I can imagine Billie Holliday covering many of these tracks. It is truly one of the most original, imaginative recordings I have heard in a long, long time. I plan to buy more to send to my special friends. It's an absolute Ace.
I am so lucky to have stumbled across this jewel of original American music.
2120120
It's completely unique, original, and above all something I like to listen to again, and again, and again.
3208023
I'll try and be brief.

If you love the blues, Eric Clapton and/or the sound of old-school electric guitar, there's no way you won't enjoy this album -- it's actually a valuable barometer of where you stand on these three topics. This is essentially Clapton's valentine to a variety of random blues tracks he's enjoyed over the years, and if you can find the video "Nothing But The Blues" and watch him perform the music contained on this disc, you'll see nothing but pure joy. These are all covers and songs you likely never heard before he amassed this collection (with the exception of Hoochie Coochie Man and It Hurts Me Too, the latter of which appeared on the Crossroads 4-disc box/collection).

In essence, this is a surprisingly loud, energetic reboot of the blues that sounds fresh because it's genuine to the tracks except played through (relatively) modern equipment -- amps, guitars, mics, etc.

If you eschew the more pop-based material in Clapton's catalog -- and there's plenty of pop to be had -- this might not be your thing. However, if you find yourself willing to be immersed in the actual blues that forged Clapton's musical soul, a lot of these songs -- and his re-telling of them here -- comprise that soul.

In short, anyone who gives this a listen will either love it or hate it -- based on the three criteria listed above -- and odds are very good that if you've made it this far into this discussion you'll be one of those that will love it.

About the only thing I can say that's remotely negative about this collection of songs is that they're loud and energetic as opposed to relaxed and quiet. So play (and where applicable jam out on air guitar) accordingly ;-)
1404784
In my 40s, I actually enjoy discovering that what I thought I knew so well was really just assumptions, prejudice, or half-truths. Escaping the Delta completely shattered what I thought I knew so well about the blues--and more than being embarrassed about having my old assumptions turned on their heads, I'm simply enjoying learning so much new information about the blues. I grew up playing blues piano and feeling some sort of connection to old country blues artists, and now I sort of have to laugh at myself. So many of us are guilty for having failed to perceive that, in Elijah Wald's words, the "great blues singers were pros, not primitives [and they were] sophisticated men and women. Many were adept at 'reading' their listeners--and revivalist blues fans, whether scholarly or not, are a pretty easy audience to read." What's not so funny, however, is the extent to which the racism of white record executives delineated musical genres and segregated musicians and audiences. I'm so glad that I picked this book up. Don't let the picture of Robert Johnson on the cover mislead you; this is fundamentally a book about the blues, American music, and us, the audience.
988146
I bought this album to try something different, without much thought, based on a quick skim of the description.  It's so great!  I am honestly shocked at how much I like it.  I'm pretty fickle at times and it takes a lot for me to just keep the same album on repeat for more than a day.  This one has passed that "test" with flying colors.  It was the perfect soundtrack for me the past several days of lazy errands and baking and drinking maybe more than a little bit while off work.  I didn't pay attention to when it was released and I would have guessed sometime in the range of 1994-2002, which is a GOOD thing in my opinion because it doesn't sound like the music every other band is doing right now.  When I saw it was a new release I was stunned.  This is a band to watch, in my opinion.  My tastes tend more toward electronic music but this is raw and melodious at the same time, sort of Breeders meets The Black Keys meets old school garage bands...terrible description, I'm sure, but that's what it evokes for me.
3761203
The ways in which this group of musicians has matured un the last five years is amazing and refreshing.  They are in my mind the epitome of musician as artist as opposed to musician as entertainer.
2672701
Something about this CD made me realize from the beginning that it was a "grower". I liked it immediately, but I just mixed it in with all the other stuff on my iPod shuffle and listened to it that way. After awhile, I found myself wanting to forward to the next Crowes track, so I changed the setting of my player so I could listen to it all the way through. I really enjoy what they're doing here, a real outgrowth of the blues/rock by adding what are some of the elements of the roots of the blues themselves: a little hint of gospel in not only the lyrics but in the arrangements.
Having also listened to the Chris Robinson-produced "Vagabonds" album by Gary Louris (ex-Jayhawks) I have yet another point of reference to how he wanted his band to sound here. No shame here to also plug that record--I simply adore what he did with Mr. Louris on that record. Chris definitely has an ear.
Thumbs up, folks, both of 'em! I docked it one star only because I wish it were longer...
3465502
I haven't seen the film for which this music was written for, but I feel that it must be a very evocative piece of cinema, based on the way the music has affected me. I've been listening to this album for just about thirty years, now, and the music stills sounds as atmospheric, wistful, as infectious and dynamic as it did when I first listened to it. The personnel include Duke Jordan speaking piano; Sonny Cohn blowing the trumpet; Charlie Rouse singing the tenor sax; Eddie Khan coaxing the bass, and Art Taylor riding the drums.

I have to admit that I am very fond of this album. The music made by these versatile and inventive musicians is thoughtful and lyrical, even when "all the pots are on" and they're swingin' like, crazy, man! The whole record conjures up a nostalgic glow that illuminates your mind with images of the days when musicians actually studied and practiced on their instruments so that they could speak to us, their grateful listeners, with intimacy, urgency, and a whole lot of playful musical energy. It might make you wish you were watching and listening to the performances in a crowded, smoke-filled jazz club filled with "hep-cats", "gone girls" and "cool-cats" who really dig the sounds and listen closely to them, eyes closed, feet softly tapping out the driving, irresistable rhythms, and feeling the joyous flights of improvisation deep down in their very souls.

Instead of commenting on the actual tracks, dig the imagery of the titles of the album's selections: No Problem, Jazz Vender, Subway Inn, The Feeling of Love...People, places, emotions, situations; it's all there, cooked up by musicians who reward your attention with the sounds and rhythms of life as only jazz can communicate them.

So, cop this album and let it talk, let it whisper, and then holler the happy blues at you 'til you've got your jazz fix, and I mean good!
2993689
I really don't write much about music, with the likes of Justin Bieber and the American Idol stars achieving superstardom, there is not much to write about.  Then last week, I heard a song called "Next Door Neighbor Blues" by Gary Clark Jr. and my faith in music and musicians was revived.  Here is my review of Clark's first cd.

1.  Aint Messin' Around:  this song has the feel of a 1960's song, there is no better way I can explain it, staccato guitar, horns, a happy beat, a loud and discordant guitar solo.  I feel like some go-go girls should be dancing to this song on Top of the Pops or something. A very  audacious way to start an album.

2. When the Train Pulls in:  A more traditional blues song, musically reminiscent like B.B. King, except with heavier guitars, the guitar solos remind me of Hendrix a lot. His voice in this song reminds me of Doug Pinnick of King's X.

3.  Blak and Blu:  This song is more like the New Jack Swing style of the early 90's featuring artists like Maxwell.  If you don't remember who Maxwell is, think John Legend. A very smooth jazzy R&B song.

4.  Bright Lights:  More Blues, heavy fuzzy, Hendrix type guitar work.  Very nice phrasing on the guitar solos.

5.  Travis County:  For a change of pace, this song sounds like Bo Didley, or Chuck Berry, tells the story of a guy being arrested in a small presumably Southern County.  A fun song.

6.  The Life:  This sounds more like a pop single, with a hip hop beat, and John Legend type vocals. Hardly any guitar in this song at all, another style in a surprisingly versatile album.

7. Glitter Aint Gold (Jumping for Nothing):  A really heavy grungy start to this song.  It really reminds me of heavier songs by Lenny Kravitz.

8. Numb:  The guitar riff in this song reminds me of "Come Together"  by the Beatles, the heavy distortion in the solo, and the willingness to go out of key reminds me of Hendrix, this song especially reminds me of Red House by Hendrix.

9.  Please Come Home: Clark again jumps into the wayback machine and does his best Smokey Robinson falsetto, a style Prince has also appropriated.  Very interesting phrasing in the guitar solo.

10. Things Are Changin' Another trip to the 90's,  A nice mellow  R&B feel.

11.  Third Stone From the Sun: Clark finally pays tribute to Hendrix with Third Stone From the Sun, not as good as the original, but what is? Clark changes the song in ways I don't like, for example changing the tempo in the beginning of the song, unlike Hendrix who goes off on an extended solo, Clark changes the whole mood of the song and adds hip hop record scratching to it.

12.  If You Love Me Like You Say:  A slow R&B jam, with plenty of guitars, interesting chord progression, reminds me of When Doves Cry by Prince, especially when he slips into his falsetto voice.

13:  Next Door Neighbor Blues:  Going back to early blues guitarists like Robert Johnson, or John Lee Hooker, a really evocative song the way only a blues song can be, about love and loss.

On the whole I love this album, it's not derivative to me, but I can tell where Clark's influences come from and they're pretty much all over the map, and that's a good thing. Grungy Rock, R&B, blues, pop, it's all here.  It doesn't hurt that I like all of his influences.  It's also obvious that Gary Clark Jr. has a lot of talent and is musically unafraid to take on any style.  I like that most of all. Songs that stand out are, Next Door Neighbor Blues, If You Love Me Like You Say, Glitter Aint Gold, and When The Train Pulls in, but there's something here for everyone.  Real guitar played by human hands, what a joyful noise it is.

For more book, movie and music reviews, check out my blog, reviewswithatude@wordpress.com
1552032
When I play this CD, it reminds me of why I fell in love with jazz. This is understated genius at its best.