A must have for male vocal jazz fans like me.
581027
One for my jazz collection. Very high quality tracks. Plays well on my Yamaha CDS2100.
I know have all three, of William Henderson's CD and the tracks are super quality.
Great vocal and instrumental playback. A must have for male vocal jazz fans like me.
1585035
This music collection is excellent. The sound quality is good. This is a very balanced and nice collection of jazz ballads that are a pleasure to listen to.  Some of the recordings were live and still of excellent quality. There are 30 tracks exhibiting great jazz piano, sax, guitar, clarinet, violin, trombone, bass, trumpet and a little singing. If you like classic jazz/pop standards performed by top musicians you will not be dissapointed with the content.

The one major limitation that prevents a 5 star rating is the lack of liner notes or any supporting information about the time, place or any other details about the recordings or artists. Even the time duration of the individual tracks is not provided.  My CD set had no detailed information at all, just 3 cd's and a back listing of titles and artis names. This was unexpected and a definite negative.

JT
3938807
I admit I've been a fan of their music ever since I first saw them as Afro-Blue on the Sing-off. I love Vocal Jazz and they bring tasty jazz chords to this arrangement of Michael Jackson's song. Amazing a'capella singing.
2371952
I don't own any of the albums that make up this set and had never heard any of the cuts before. Smooth jazz can sometimes be a little too smooth and not enough jazz for me, and these guys can be guilty of this at times. I have huge respect for the talent of these four guys and wish they would show it more often.

"Max-O-Max" starts off the CD and this Harvey Mason tune is classic smooth jazz and is a solid tune. 4 stars

"101 Eastbound" is a Nathan East number and it picks up the pace a bit, a good smooth number. 4 stars

"Higher Ground" is a cover of the great Stevie Wonder song. It is a slowed down version and put through the smooth machine. Not bad but nowhere as good as the original. 3 stars

"4Play For Pleasure" is a Lee Ritenour number and it follows the pattern of the other songs. 3 stars

"Chant" is a Bob James written selection and one of the more lively tunes in the collection. 4 stars

"After The Dance" is a Marvin Gaye song with lead vocals by El DeBarge and it sounds exactly like you think it would. Some excellent piano by Bob. 3 stars

"Bali Run" was written by Rit and Bob James. Now their cooking with gas, this is the kind of song that makes me keep coming back to smooth jazz artists. 5 stars

"Play Lady Play" is another written by Rit and Bob and fits with Bali Run as two pretty solid smooth jazz classics. 4 1/2 stars.

"Between The Sheets" is a cover of the Isley Brothers and is quite well done but not my cup of tea. 3 stars

"Amoroso" was written by drummer Harvey Mason and follows the formula of the bands other material. It has a good beat and Harvey and Nathan East make for a solid rhythm section and are instrumental in the success of this band.  4 stars

"Any Time Of The Day" Nathan wrote this one and proves what an excellent bass player he is. Some good keyboard work by the smooth master Bob James on this one as well. 4 stars

"Why Can't We Wait Till Morning" which is one of my favorite Phil Collins song is done here with Phil on vocals. What can I say the smoothest of pop singers meets the smoothest of smooth jazz bands, and it works. 5 stars.

If you like these guys you already have the original CD but if you are a casual smooth jazz fan and would like some Fourplay in your collection: You could do worse. A solid best of, but I could only give it 3 stars, more like 3 1/2.
4755859
Hats off to Verve for continually culling their vast vaults and re-releasing long out-of-print classic jazz albums as limited edition CDs. Recently this effort has included a bunch of old Argo LPs, including this one by tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet. Though I'm very familiar with this legendary jazzman, it's hard to believe "Desert Winds" is the first album of his as a leader I've ever purchased. And overall it is quite enjoyable as the sextet of Illinois, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, Ray Lucas on drums, and Willie Rodriguez on bongos & conga are in top form on this 2/13/64 session.  On "Desert Winds" the band breezes through a set of mostly standards with the title track, "Lester Leaps In" and "Canadian Sunset" the highlights.  The disc's one Jacquet original, "Blues for the Early Bird," also gives us the opportunity to hear Illinois on alto sax.  Overall, an enjoyable CD but be aware this limited edition title will only be available until June 2007.
881714
If you like the standard American song book, and the ballad then Houston Person's CD, My Romance will stay in your CD player a long time.  This is a CD the late nite jazz radio stations will be playing for some  time.
Houston Person has been on the scene for a long time, ebracing both  jazz and R&B.  Houston Person plays the tenor with lots of soul,  sparing notes when needed and giving us lots of those mellow notes when  they are needed.  His back up piano, Richard Wands, is an acomplished  supportive player, filling in nicely.
My only critisism is that the CD  is about as long as an old LP.  There are nine songs, I wish there were at  least twelve.  Maybe Houston is saving up for another CD of these beautiful  ballads.
992996
There are many great songs in this set.  I know that some of his works may not be for everyone, with some songs not being as well known as other Jazz legends.  However, due to this fact is why I suggest getting this set.  There are so many songs he did that everyone has heard but didn't know they were his songs.
153947
Robert Moore is a superb craftsman of songs and a cat in the grittiest, jazziest sense of the word. This 2 CD set showcases not only his original songs, but also his marvelous vocal style, in both lyrical and scat pieces  - his burnished trumpet work and his masterful harmonica technique. He also  has some standout guests on this recording such as Johnny Vidacovich, David  Pulphous, Kofi Burbridge and Mark Kimbrell. Two cuts really stand out:  "Minor Indulgences" which has a great groove and very clever  lyrics and 'I'm in the Mood for Love/Moody's Mood for Love' with  astonishing parallel vocals by Moore and Nancy King.
The weakness in the  album may be it's broad range. While it shows off an impressive  versatility, it makes the album a little less 'user friendly.' This isn't a  'must have' for an archive of the great moments in jazz, but it is a  collection of 18 solid tracks that will provide lots of listener enjoyment.  Robert Moore always connects.
465782
If you think you might like modern jazz, you're into the more improvisational side of rock music, but... you're not too sure where to start then invest in the studio recording of "My Favourite  Things". Great melodies, with enough reference points to keep pulling  you back on track, coupled with superb improvisations that push you into  areas of more free form jazz without testing your tolerance.
Alongside  Miles Davis' "Kind Of Blue", Horace Silver's "Song For My  Father" and Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder" - "My  Favourite Things" is a marvellous "jazz primer" and a  timeless piece of controlled improvisation.
If you're not impressed then  don't waste your money on trying to find other, more suitable, jazz  tracks... they don't come any better.
2979427
I already have a number of jazz CDs, but wanted another that was performed by jazz musicians. . . artists. . . that would add to the titles I now have. All you have to do is take a look at the artists on this 2 CD set and know that you will feel like you have them performing in your own intimate club. I have three places to listen to music at home and my favorite is our small lower level reading/craft room. Here my wife can sew or we we both can sit back or read while listening to these relaxing and intricate compositions and interpretations. Doesn't anyone just *listen* to music anymore? It is so worth it.

This is the kind of music to listen to with cup of coffee or glass of wine. It doesn't require a large audio system. Just find some high quality 6 1/2" to 8" bookshelf speakers, a small receiver of 50 watts, and a nice CD player or so and you're all set. I actually play this CD through a vintage Sony STR-6065 or 7065 receiver, a set of Wharfedale XP2 3-way speakers and a vintage Kyocera DA-310cx CD player from 1987. This is the kind of system you can truly enjoy the intimate sound of this CD on.

I only mention the type of equipment because it is this very kind and size of system that works very well with this type of music. It just draws you into the musical magic that Sonny Stitt, Darnell Grant, or Kenny Burrel present on this fine 2 CD set.

And Amazon was a great place to purchase this CD. I love shopping on Amazon while listening to music like this.
2581852
I ran into this CD from Tasmania purely by accident. As a collector of jazz records for 40 years who painfully downsized collections, this cd comes along and fulfills the feelings I had when listening to all the Bluenote artists, ESP, Delmark, my days and nights with Elvin Jones, Coltrane, Miles, Mingus, Dolphy, and all the greats that came after them. I am not familiar with the musicians on this, but that every tune is written by Liam O'Leary, and not a reworked standard, I am indeed impressed and very grateful I got my ears on this cd. Do buy this. Jerry Gordon at WPRB, you oughta get a copy.
94988
If  you're into the jazz of this time period, you owe it to yourself to give this guy a listen!  ...let me know what you think!
509983
This a great recording for all you jazz lovers great sound.
3221125
Between the CD's and the liner notes, this two-disc set gives a wonderful picture of Guraldi's career.  I knew he had had a big hit with "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", but I didn't know that Guaraldi had played with so many great musicians before he became famous himself for the pieces he wrote for the Peanuts TV series.  Especially enlightening to me was the placement of "Linus and Lucy" so close on the heels of "El Matador", which was obviously its inspiration.  This is a wonderful collection for both jazz fans and for fans of the Charlie Brown TV shows.
2157292
I didn't even know this guy existed until I picked up Diana Krall's CD "Love Scenes," the second track of which is Dave Frishberg's "Peel Me a Grape."  Phenomenal song, I thought, so I bought this book.  I have not been disappointed, fellow piano players.

The songs that I play over and over are "Can't Take You Nowhere" (which isn't technically a Frishberg original), "Peel Me a Grape," and "Listen Here," but I really enjoy them all.  They're fun to improvise on, even for those who have limited improvisational skills (such as me).  Anyway, if you like this guy's songs -- this guy who has been called "the Stephen Sondheim of jazz songwriting" -- you'll love this book of sheet music.  I did, anyway.
2570600
Stanley t at his best great support and accompaniment from Kenny burrell Shirley scott and rythum section bob cranshaw Otis finch a must have for anyones jazz library
430866
Through a lovely beatnik jazz gal who eventually became my wife I had been introduced to Al Jarreau before his jazz pop masterpiece Breaking Away.  I was a novice to vocalese jazz when she played ALL FLY HOME for me and suddenly I was hostage to a new art.  On the other hand, this dedicated Beatle Maniac was a full blown fan of George Benson ever since his release of THE OTHER SIDE OF ABBEY ROAD in 1970, having collected all of his works under the CTI label and following him to Warner Brothers.  So these two pioneers of crossover jazz, who made pop music audiences become pseudo-jazz aficionados, after all these years (to 2006), finally unite and produced a very fine album.  Never mind the ubiquitous nay-sayers like the Amazon reviewer Lloyd Sachs who give it maudlin praise or backhanded compliments; GIVIN' IT UP is a treasure trove for fans of both these artists or smooth jazz fans anywhere.  Yes, this is not ALL FLY HOME, nor GLOW, not even Roof Garden or Blue Rondo; it is not WHITE RABBIT, BAD BENSON, or BREEZIN.  What it IS is:

Two signature classics by both men (Breezin' and Mornin', see what they did there? Each taking a dive on the other masters work) and then, with the help of notable luminaries from both of their worlds, they dish out a heapin helpin of goodies for the salivating jazz and pop-jazz fans.  And get ready to die happy when you hear what they did with THE Miles Davis' classic swing masterpiece Four!

If you've read this review you have no doubt read enough other reviews to know the who's who list of guests starring on this full course meal, so no need to repeat all the ground that's been covered already, however, note that this is a list of Legends and the most recent songwriter credited on the courses is none other than another Legend.  This album is smart, cool, groovy, a cavalcade of hep cats breaking down the walls of Jericho.  Real entertainment for a terrific price!