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First Rodeo
(more) »rank: 3073by: Honey Honey
:Album Description:It's been a while since this town turned out a fresh folk outfit. Enter HoneyHoney, a duo from Venice that infuses indie rock, country, jazz and the blues into it's folk bedrock. On the band's debut LOOSE BOOTS, the unconventional mash up works beautifully. There are sweet, homespun folk songs, rabble-rousing diddyups and even a profanity laced ditty about a guy who's not moving fast enough toward the boudoir for his lady friend - Los Angeles Times
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A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 4
(more) »rank: 2105by: Steve Erquiaga, Oystein Sevag, Paul McCandless, Michael Manring, Nightnoise, Will Ackerman, Barbra Higbie, Mike Marshall, Modern Mandolin Quartet, Various Windham Hill Artists
: :In 1993, Windham Hill Records released its fourth album of seasonal music recorded by the label's artists and unavailable in any other collection. Only a few of the tracks on A Winter's Solstice IV lend credence to the label's unfair stereotype as the home for new age background music. Many of the musicians come from such respected jazz bands as Oregon and the Freddie Hubbard Quartet, and from such respected folk bands as the David Grisman Quartet. Several tackle such classical pieces as Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze' (the Modern Mandolin Quartet), Purcell's 'Trumpet Tune' (solo guitarist Alex de Grassi) and Vivaldi's 'Four ...
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The Telluride Sessions
(more) »rank: 5126by: Strength in Numbers
: essential recording:This acoustic supergroup joined forces in the summer of 1988, and the result was a true landmark in 'new acoustic' music. As if bluegrass (and even 'newgrass') was too constricting, the quintet--Sam Bush (mandolin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Bela Fleck (banjo), Mark O'Connor (violin), and Edgar Meyer (bass)--incorporates classical-style themes and arrangements within the context of bluegrass instrumentation. Their unbelievable technique and musical ability was never in question; however, what makes the album special is the uncanny blend of precision and freedom, of improvisation and structure. Each of the 10 compositions were written by a different twosome (do the math permutations). Playful ...
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Forest
(more) »rank: 2472by: George Winston
: :Don't let the incessant tinkle-pounding of the opener 'Tamarack Pines' detour you from Forest. It's a lovely CD that meanders like a Montanan stream through the poetry of Winston's signature cinematic style. 'Forbidden Forest' gently muses with an introspective, solitary air, while 'Cloudy This Morning' emulates the varying shades of gray melancholy that come with an overcast sky. These are some of Winston's best moments, when his inspiration sings through his fingers and pierces the listener's soul, forcing an aching response void of language or any conscious behavior. Winston's choice of covers reflects this transcendent, poetic tension well. Unlike the more rural Plains, ...
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Pulse: a Stomp Odyssey
(more) »rank: 8117starring: Keith "Wildchild" Middelton
directed by: Steve McNicholas
: :Pulse: a Stomp Oyssey is a celebration of the global beat, an exploration of the sights and sounds of continents and cultures, guided by the internationally acclaimed performers of the sensational stage show STOMP. The globe-trotting IMAX journey is billed as 'a tribute to a world of rhythm that has inspired us'. Pulse showcases the cast of STOMP as well as 10 extremely diverse musical groups from around the world.
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Notes from the Village
(more) »rank: 3156by: Anat Cohen
: :Rising jazz star Anat Cohen leads her New York all-star quartet through fresh originals, tunes by Fats Waller, John Coltrane, Sam Cooke and Ernesto Lecuona. This captivating, soulful album builds on Cohen's acclaimed 2007 releases 'Noir' and 'Poetica' capturing the thrilling energy of her live shows, and proving her to be an artistically adventurous writer and performer.
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December
(more) »rank: 4350by: George Winston
: essential recording:December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk. In spite of being relentlessly overplayed during the holidays, the solo piano recording has aged quite well. Winston shapes holiday war-horses and original compositions into a captivating contemporary statement. His spare, understated style captures the feel of the dark season, employing ample resonance to evoke a reflective spaciousness. The album's straightforward simplicity conveys both the celebration and quietude that characterize the best of the Yuletide spirit. --Richard Price
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Summer
(more) »rank: 3081by: George Winston
: :George Winston has the unique ability to play bright, uplifting, yet stingingly melancholy piano, and Summer is one of the best examples of his fine work around. Somewhere between the ambient-style tone poems of Winter into Spring and the melodious charm of Autumn, Summer dances brightly, evoking images of relaxing under a tree or children playing in a field. Highlights are many and include Winston's 'Lullaby,' full of melody and lyrical tension; 'Hummingbird,' with its whirling repetitive structure, reflecting the vibrant dimension of nature during the summer season; and the fun, rambling 'Corrina, Corrina.' In short, this is another album of what Winston ...
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Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years
(more) »rank: 2866by: Frank Sinatra
: :A 20-track collection from the Reprise years that tries to cover too much ground. Very Good Years sweeps from the early 1960s to 1979's 'New York New York,' focusing on the most obvious Sinatra standards. The watchword here isn't art but populism. That's not a problem, really--but it means that serious fans (or those aspiring to be) will be better served elsewhere. It would be a fine introduction for the casual music lover, but so would any decent collection. For a compact Reprise-era sampler, try either this one or something from the Greatest Hits series. --Gavin McNett
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Latin Jazz Christmas
(more) »rank: 4915by: Caribbean Jazz Project, Poncho Sanchez, Sheila E., Ed Calle, Arturo Sandoval, Pete Escovedo, Jim Gasior, Dan Warner, Justo Almario, Ray Obiedo
: :A 20-track collection from the Reprise years that tries to cover too much ground. Very Good Years sweeps from the early 1960s to 1979's 'New York New York,' focusing on the most obvious Sinatra standards. The watchword here isn't art but populism. That's not a problem, really--but it means that serious fans (or those aspiring to be) will be better served elsewhere. It would be a fine introduction for the casual music lover, but so would any decent collection. For a compact Reprise-era sampler, try either this one or something from the Greatest Hits series. --Gavin McNett
