Merry Blues [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]

Product Description
The Opening Track from his Hit LP "Proxima Estación: Esperanza". Includes Two Remixes and the Enhanced Video!

Tracks:

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
The First Nowell - Eric Johnson
Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck
Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Silent Night/Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
Joy To The World - Steve Morse
Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai
Blue Christmas - Joe Perry
The Little Drummer Boy - Alex Lifeson
Cantique De Noel (O' Holy Night) - Richie Sambora
Happy X-mas (War Is Over) - Hotei

Amazon.com

A tour de force of guitar players Steve Vai has known rock around the Christmas tree in this must-have Yuletide album. Vai, who began his career as a member of Frank Zappa's band and in more recent years has been David Lee Roth's partner in crime, transcends both roles by playing matchmaker between a few of our more inventive (albeit overlooked) guitar slingers and some of the best-loved Christmas carols. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's proboscis has never glowed quite so brightly as when Kenny Wayne Shepherd cranks up his guitar and takes us down an edgy blues journey. Eric Johnson's clear-as-a-Christmas-bell tones are a joy to listen to in his rendition of "The First Nowell." The standout, however, is Jeff Beck's haunting and emotional "Amazing Grace." --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Stone cold masterpiece.......2006-12-12

Let's face it; a lot of Christmas music is overfamiliar, if not outright boring. Whenever Jose Feliciano's "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas" vomits out of the radio, I "wanna" run screaming from the room. "Merry Axemas" comes to the rescue, shredding the cobwebs with hurricane force. Familiar music is completely deconstructed and reimagined in a thrilling way, as world-class rock guitarists reinterpret songs we've all heard a million times. The passion and virtuosity takes my breath away; it's like hearing the melodies for the first time. I believe the apex of the disc is Joe Satriani's "Silent Night/Holy Night Jam." I rate this disc in the same category as the Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack, Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift For You," and "Rockin' Little Christmas." This is timeless music; no "1001 strings" or Fairlight synthesizers to date it. Highly, highly recommended.

Rocking Stocking Stuffer.......2006-02-25

This (along with vol. 2) has become my favorite Christmas music. Some of it is just fun, some of it serious, all of it great! My favorites are "Joy To The World" and "Happy Xmas War Is Over). Combining Christmas with great guitar work is Heaven on earth.

Perfect for anyone who loves guitarists.......2004-11-11

What an absolutely fantastic album. It's so good that I have had to buy it three times, as the other two CDs mysteriously "vanished". Oh well, if I had low morals, I'd steal this, too. The mood of this album vascillates, as it starts off full swing in the holiday spirit, with a pretty literal version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But my favourite track is Eric Johnson's "First Nowell". I'm a wee bit biased, as I think he is the greatest modern guitarist. But it truly is an extraordinary composition. It is in fact quite intricate, and he manages to incorporate his own flavour into the melody without destroying the structure of the piece. Which cannot be said for Joe Satriani's "Silent Night", which goes on a tangent of accousitcally illegible meanderings. Joe Perry does a fantastic job with "Blue Christmas". It is almost two songs, the first an homage to the classic version, with almost an Hawaiian tiki feel, and then he rips off the leis and the hawaiian shirt, and shows that underneath he has black leather pants and a ripped t-shirt and absolutely shreds it. I knew my 90 year old grandmother would like the first part of the song, and then the second part came on, and she said "Oh, my". Hilarious. Alot of the songs take you by surprise that these heavy metal guitarists can be so expressive. Kind of gives you a new insight. Who knew that Ritchie Sambora could be so eloquent? It ends perfectly, with Hotei's version of "So This Is Christmas". Like alot of the other reviewers, I listen to this year round, and this album is my absolute favourite "holiday" compilation. Buy it, if you don't like it, sell it to me, as someone will invariably steal my third CD of this album.

Guitar Heroes Do Christmas.......2003-09-14

Eleven guitar heroes join together to cover Christmas tunes in their own personal way. This gives a rockin' twist to the standards. From the first few notes from Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" you'll now that you're in for melodic delight. Everyone is here from Steve Vai, Satch, Beck, EJ and the BSO.

Highlights include "The First Nowell" from Eric Johnson. He starts us off with an acoustic rendition before stepping over to his electric guitar and wowing us with his fancy finger work, but nothing so flashy as to take away from the original work. As always, EJ's tone is right on and after a couple of his patented licks and runs he turns the tune into his own. The Brian Setzer Orchestra rocks Christmas with a swinging version of "Jingle Bells". The horns blare, and Brian gives us that Rockabilly fell on his Gretch. After checking out this upbeat tune you'll never know how it could have been any other way. Hotei comes in with a good rendition of Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". Jeff Beck gives a haunting performance on "Amazing Grace" pulling out his trademark bends, dives and swells. His take is very beautiful and fitting to more than just Christmas.

For anyone looking for a little less traditional take on Christmas music, or if you're a guitar junky, don't miss celebrating Christmas without this axe-ful album. You may even have to spin this disc in July.

Well-rounded Guitar Rock Christmas Collection.......2003-08-15

You can listen to this CD is August... you just might feel a little silly at a stop light with the windows down and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" cranked up to 11. Just take a look at the line-up of guitarists on this CD. You won't find anything like that anywhere else.

There is a lot of great stuff, but Steve Morse has the real stand-out track on this collection. "Joy to the World" indeed!
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Brian Setzer tracks are fun to listen to, and you can even sing along if you're into that kind of thing. Eric Johnson and Steve Vai each slow it down and do some great work on their songs.

A couple of interesting excursions away from Christmas come from Jeff Beck and Joe Satriani. Beck does an inspiring rendition of "Amazing Grace", but as far as I remember, that's not a Christmas song. And Satriani's "Silent Night/Holy Night Jam" begins and ends with the "Silent Night" melody, but there is a whole other trademark Satch jam in the middle that doesn't sound much like Christmas.

Tracks:

Medley: Good Christian Men - Rejoice - Silent Night - Patapan - O Come - All Ye Faithful
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Shepherd's Carol
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Medley: O Sanctissima - Joy To The World - Away In A Manger - Fum, Fum, Fum - March Of The Kings
I Wonder As I Wander
We Three Kings
My Dancing Day
Medley: What Child Is This? - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Bring A Torch - Jeanette - Isabella - Angels We Have Heard On High
Coventry Carol
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Carol Of The Bells
Medley: Break Forth - O Beauteous Heavenly Light - The First Nowell - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - I Saw Three Ships - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Christmas Music .......2007-01-24

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."

The quintessential Christmas recording.......2005-12-09

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

A Top List Christmas CD.......2004-12-28

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best.......2004-01-02

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

How do you describe perfection?.......2003-12-14

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

Tracks:

George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Swanee
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Nobody But You
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Do It Again
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Fascinating Rhythm
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Oh, Lady Be Good
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Somebody Loves Me
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Sweet And Low Down
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): That Certain Feeling
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): The Man I Love
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Clap Yo' Hands
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Do Do Do
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): My One And Only
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): 'S Wonderful
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Strike Up The Band
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Liza
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): I Got Rhythm
George Gershwin's Song Book (1932): Who Cares?
Other Piano Pieces: Rialto Ripples
Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes-Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes - Andante con moto e poco rubato
Other Piano Pieces: Three Preludes - Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Other Piano Pieces: Impromptu In Two Keys
Other Piano Pieces: Three-Quarter Blues
Other Piano Pieces: Merry Andrew
Other Piano Pieces: Piano Playin' Jazzbo Brown (Jasbo Brown Blues)
Other Piano Pieces: Promenade
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: How Long Has This Been Going On?
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: By Strauss
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Someone to Watch over Me
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Nice Work If You Can Get It
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: The Man I Love
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Just Another Rhumba
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Isn't It A Pity?
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: They All Laughed
Songs By George And Ira Gershwin: Love Is Here To Stay

Amazon.com

William Bolcom is my kind of musician. He writes music that is sometimes adventurous but always based in a recognizable American idiom. And he's a terrific ragtime pianist, the best Joplin player I've heard. With these credentials, of course he's a wonderful Gershwin player. These are the best piano performances of Gershwin I know. After you hear those, Bolcom joins his wife Joan Morris for very flavorful versions of 10 George and Ira Gershwin songs. The whole disc is a delight, and the original analog recordings still sound fine. Highly recommended to all Gershwin lovers. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Peculiar.......2005-01-26

I can see how someone might enjoy this album. William Bolcom is a top-flight pianist and the idea of playing the tunes as George Gershwin played them at parties is intriguing.

Because my ear is used to it, I guess, I would like to have heard longer performances of fewer songs. Each one sounded to me like a snippet -- over too soon. Because of that, plus the fact that I'm not a fan of Joan Morris' showy voice, I give the album one thumb up.

Gershwin Never Sounded Better!.......2002-06-25

This is a fantastic CD! Back in the 70's, pianist William Bolcom and his singer wife Joan Morris made a delightful series of albums on the Nonesuch label of old songs from the first half of the twentieth century - just glorious voice backed by brilliant piano. As Ira Gershwin might say - who could ask for anything more? The music is not only beautifully performed, you can hear the joy of the performance in every note. And Bolcom and Morris were never better than when doing Gershwin.

A combination of two albums, the first part of this CD is all piano. The Gershwin Songbook consists of brief (some under a minute) versions of some of his more popular songs in the way that Gershwin himself famously played them at parties. They demonstrate that Gershwin was as gifted a pianist as he was a composer. The other instrumental tracks are some of Gershwin's solo piano pieces, including the wonderful Rialto Ripples, a rag written when he was just seventeen. For me, the pinnacle of both Gershwin's and William Bolcom's artistry is reached on the second of the three preludes - a classic study of a bluesy mood.

Just when you think things can't get any better, Joan Morris arrives. She effortlessly sings and swings her way through ten of Gershwin's best songs from the cheeky comedy of By Strauss to the smoky moodiness of Someone To Watch Over Me. Maybe I'm just an incurable old romantic, but the ballads are the best of all.

Tracks:

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
How Unto Bethlehem?
The Boar's Head Carol
O Tannenbaum
Masters In This Hall
My Dancing Day
Away In A Manger
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
The Holly And The Ivy
Good King Wenceslas
Wassail Song
Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
Fum, Fum, Fum
Mary Had A Baby
Hacia Belen Va Un Borrico
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
March Of The Kings
Coventry Carol
Deck The Halls
The Cherry Tree Carol
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Toruo-Louro-Louro!
So Blest A Sight
I Saw Three Ships
What Child Is This?
Susanni
In The Bleak Midwinter

Customer Reviews:

Much Anticipated.......2007-01-26

I have been looking for this CD for years!! Our family had a Shaw Chorale LP which contained almost all the songs on this CD. We had a number of excellent holiday albums and played all of them often, but we wore the Shaw Chorale album out! Not only are the musical renditions excellent and very similar to earlier Shaw recordings, the nostalgia evoked for this listener is incomparable!

A Taste of Heaven.......2007-01-18

I received this recording on cassette from a choral teacher, and played it so often that I wore it out! I especially appreciate the purity of sound and the arrangements in this recording. Lovers of choral music will feel as though "Songs of Angels" brings them a taste of heaven!

The Energizer Bunny.......2007-01-18

Alas that Robert Shaw is no longer with us. Throughout his long and varied career he gave us choral music with exactness,good pacing,and proper execution though not all musicologists would chose his renditions.
In "Songs of Angels" recorded in 1994 he shows us that even in later years he just kept going and going. Giving us stellar performances of masterpieces such as "Elijah","The Creation" and other large choral works. Yet in this album he shows the same attention to detail and
enraptures us with that special beauty of tone and ensemble which was
was to be Shaw's watermark on his life's offering.

Great Seasonal Album.......2006-01-16

This is one of the most impressive period albums I own. Wonderful for the holiday season. Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard.......2003-02-04

A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!! Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics. For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English. Emmanuel is written this way. Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain.

Several of the songs were not traditional Holiday songs (at least for my generation), yet they were intriguing to learn and now I feel I know them just like the traditional ones. This CD offers a healthy mix of traditional and non-traditional songs on this CD.

If you can picture the most beautiful sounds you have ever heard you can come close to the joy this CD will bring you. It is February and I can't stop listening to it. You will not regret purchasing it&the only regret you may have is not buying all of Robert Shaw's holiday CDs.

Tracks:

Christmas Song - Steve Lukather
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Neal Schon
Do You Hear What I Hear - Steve Stevens
Sleigh Ride - Stuart Hamm
O Come All Ye Faithful - Trevor Rabin
White Christmas - Zakk Wylde
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Sykes
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Robin Trower
Carol of the Bells - Al di Meola
Deck the Halls - Ted Nugent

Customer Reviews:

Meyy Axemas Vol 2.......2006-02-16

Has some great tracks and others not so great. The good tracks emmulate Christmas, while others use it for another jam fest. Not nearly as good as Merry Axemas Vol 1.

Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas

Average customer rating:

Ted Nugent Rocks on "Deck the Halls"!
Creative Liscence for musicians took them a little too far
This Is The One
Weaker
metal drone, no blues players, still no singing

Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Merry Axemas
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ASIN: B00000DFS6
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

The Christmas Song - Steve Lukather
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Neal Schon
Do You Hear What I Hear - Steve Stevens
Sleigh Ride - Stu Hamm
O Come All Ye Faithful - Trevor Rabin
White Christmas - Zakk Wylde
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Sykes
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Robin Trower
Carol Of The Bells - Al Di Meola
Deck The Halls - Ted Nugent

Amazon.com

Steve Vai takes the concept of pairing guitar shredders and Christmas classics one step further, putting another string of pickers on the tree with a little less spectacular results than on his first outing. Which isn't to say that this album is a lump of coal. There are some riveting moments, especially when Steve Stevens dry-gulches "Do You Hear What I Hear," first lulling the listener into reverential submission with an almost medieval rendering of this time-honored classic, then shifting gears and jetting into Christmas future with some unconventional note-bending. Ted Nugent's "Deck the Halls" reminds one why the Amboy Dukes and Damn Yankees were appealing, before the Nuge filled himself full of hot air. An added plus is Robin Trower's rather restrained "O Little Town of Bethlehem." One complaint: the players tend to lose the melody line in their efforts to tart up Christmas classics into something experimental. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Ted Nugent Rocks on "Deck the Halls"!.......2002-11-22

This is a great companion to Merry Axemas. Although I agree, that at times, some musicians lose sight of the melody in this CD, Ted Nugent does an absolute tour-de-force on "Deck the Halls" without losing the melody at all. WOW--I would have gotten the CD for just this song alone from the Motor City Madman, though all the renditions have their merit.

Creative Liscence for musicians took them a little too far.......2001-12-05

The first CD was great. Almost everyone did a wonderful job in not losing the melody. Melody is the key part in christmas songs. I'm a believer in the fact that if you're going to do a song (where the melody is important)- you should be creative in ways to keep the melody going without playing the same thing over and over again. On the second CD, Al Dimeola, Mr. Wylde, and Stu Hamm all play examples of what I'm talking about. None of them lost the melody of the song. The rest of the tracks on the Vol. 2 CD also have tremendous musical ideas in them, and they sound great until whoever's playing goes off into his own world, and the melody get's trashed. The solos may show that they're gifted musicians, but it's almost like they forget what they're playing. I found the first CD more enjoyable because it had a lot less of the "losing the melody". Regardless, the CD is worth getting for Stu Hamm's track and Zach Wylde's White Chritmas.

This Is The One.......2000-11-11

It seems that I may be among the minority that found this one to be better than the first. This one does rock harder and does have a tendency to take wild rides that may clash at times with the main melody, but isn't that what rock is all about? It never gets boring. I would recommend this one to anybody for the first track alone. Steve Lukather proves himself as a master of the fretboard with his rendition of The Christmas Song. I am a fan of the production on this one as well. Another success for Vai. Pour some eggnog, turn your stereo up to 11 and enjoy the ride!

Weaker.......1999-12-25

The first Vol. is better. This new one is heavier and more industrialized. If you enjoy hard rock, you will easily get stuck into it, but if you are looking for something more predictable, you wont find it here.Its a nice Cd for a Christmas party full of beer!

metal drone, no blues players, still no singing.......1999-12-09

Predominant metal drone, head-bashing. Where are the blues, jazz players? Love Lukather, Stevens jiggy thangs. Hamm -- yes, more bass players! Too much guitar -- still disappointed Prodcuer Vai won't let the guys sing, use guitar for punctuation. Prefer volume 1.

Tracks:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
First Nowell - Eric Johnson
Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck
Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Silent Night/Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
Joy to the World - Steve Morse
Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai
Blue Christmas - Joe Perry
Drummer Boy - Alex Lifeson
Cantique de Noel (O' Holy Night) - Richie Sambora
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

About a Hundred Years: A History of Sound Recording

Average customer rating:

About a Hundred Years: A History of Sound Recording

Manufacturer: Symposium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001XXB
Release Date: 1997-12-16

Tracks:

Mary Had a Little Lamb - Thomas Alva Edison
I Am Dr. Brahms - Johannes Brahms
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - Emile Berliner
Drinking - George Graham
Vigan Vannak (They Are Merry) - Pege,
Die Kleine Witwe (The Little Widow) - Carl Michael Ziehrer
Aida: Celeste Aida - Enrico Caruso
Stars and Stripes Forever - Sousa's Band
Otello: Esultate - Francesco Tamagno
Phe de Racine - Sarah Bernhardt
Partita No. 1 in B Minor BWV 1002: Bourr- Joseph Joachim
Komm, Lieber Mai: K.596 - Joseph Joachim
Chant Venitien - Dame Nellie Melba
Faust: Jewel Song - Adelina Patti
Put Me Among the Girls - John Wakefield
Danse Hongroise No.5 - Orchestre Cologne
Thoughts from the Book "For Every Day" - Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy
To Anthea - Sir Charles Santley
Magnetic Rag - Scott Joplin
Actual Recording of the Gas Shell Bombardment - Royal Garrison Artillery
"What Is Soviet Power?" - Vladimir Ilich Lenin
"Abide With Me"/Kipling's "Recessional" - Grenadier Guards
St. Louis Blues - Original Dixieland Jazz Band
National Anthem
Waterboy (Convict Song) - Paul Robeson
Mefistofele: Son Io Spirtro Di Nega - Fyodor Shaliapin
Oh, For the Wings of a Dove - Choir of the Temple Church
Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
Phonovision Record
Etude Op. 10 No. 12 "Revolutionary" - Ignace Jan Paderewski
His Spiritual Message - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Flight of the Bumblebee - Jascha Heifetz
Ansprache F BDer Wehrmacht - President vonHindenburg
Turkish March from the Ruins of Athens - Josef Hofmann
Prime Minister, The RT. Hon. Neville Chamberlain - Neville Chamberlain
Der Freischverture - Sir Henry Joseph Wood
Tonight, As the Nazis Look Out: Passo a Sei - Winston Churchill
William Tell: Passo a Sei - The NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscannini

Average customer rating:

This is one of my absolute favorite Gershwin CD's
An Exceptional CD of Gershwin's Music
Great and subtle pianist
FANTASTIC INTERPRETATION
I heard this CD highlighted on the radio today

Gershwin / Fazil Say, New York PO
Fazil Say , and Kurt Masur
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00003ZACB
Release Date: 2000-04-25

Tracks:

I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'
Summertime (I)
Summertime (II)
It Ain't Necessarily So
Rhapsody In Blue
Rialto Ripples, Rag
Impromptu In Two Keys
Merry Andrew
Three-Quarter Blues
Promenade
'I Got Rhythm' Variations
Sleepless Night
Novelette In Fourths
Rubato
Prelude I
Blue Lullaby
Spanish Prelude

Amazon.com

Nobody can accuse Fazil Say of having a bad time while recording this disc of Gershwin classics. He brings a jazzy improvisation and plenty of spunk to these well-worn tunes, creating one of the most enthralling Gershwin piano discs around. Some pianists make Gershwin sound grandiose (Helen Grimaud, for instance), but Say makes this music fun. His alternating takes on "Summertime"--one slow and pensive, the other dizzying and swinging--are unforgettable, while his "It Ain't Necessarily So" is spiky and mischievous. A small rhythm and horn section keeps up with the pianist on a few of the shorter works, while Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic get in on the action for Rhapsody in Blue and the lesser-heard "'I Got Rhythm' Variations." Featuring some of Gershwin's most technical, modernist writing, "Variations" is a real discovery, as are Say's inventive interpretations of the shorter solo miniatures. Throughout, he's clearly in his element, having a blast and showing off. Gershwin seldom sounds this good. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

This is one of my absolute favorite Gershwin CD's.......2001-12-26

There's some rather rare pieces on this CD--including the wonderful cakewalk Novelette in Fourths. Gershwin wrote some wonderful jazz-style preludes for piano, but usually only three are recorded. There are a number of other short piano works that are delightful and practically impossible to find on CD. Fortunately, they are here, along with some favorites from Porgy and Bess and other piano arrangements of Gershwin songs such as the virtuoso "I Got Rhythm" variations.

What's really great is that Fazil Say plays these with humor and lightness. No heavy, pseudo-scholarly seriousness here. He makes the most of his pianistic skill and yet retains the spirit of Gershwin's playfulness and fun. This is definitely a must-have if you love Gershwin.

An Exceptional CD of Gershwin's Music.......2001-11-11

Fazil Say demonstrates his familiarity with Gershwin's music in this excellent Teldec CD. Unlike other classically trained pianists who have opted to play Gerswhin as though it was traditional classical music, Say instead performs these scores as the lively, danceable jazz tunes that they are. He does a fine job emphasizing the connections between Gershwin's music and earlier forms of jazz such as ragtime. Indeed Say demonstrates not only his familiarity with Gershwin's scores, but shows he's having much fun playing them. So do the classical musicians who accompany him on several arrangements. Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic accompany Say on "Rhapsody in Blue" and the variations on "I Got Rhythm" with excellent performances of their own. Without question, this is one of the finest CDs I've heard of Gershwin's music performed by classically trained musicians.

Great and subtle pianist.......2000-12-28

Although everything on this disc is also heavily recorded by others, Fazil Say has indeed found new arrangements to the songs and pieces, which made George Gershwin famous. Maybe The Rapsody in Blue is the one that has been recorded most, by any standard. But nevertheless the comparison between versions is always interesting, mostly due to the work itself. Fazil Say has a more jazzy approach than let's say, Michael Tilson Thomas or even Alicia Zizzo (the latter is better than that of Tilson Thomas). With Fazil Say you hear that Gershwins music is firmly rooted in ragtime and music hall, the piano being the one they use in a bar, in most other interpretations there is the tendency to use a grand piano, typically concertlike. Although Gershwin craved to be a concertcomposer (he even went to Paris to ask Ravel to teach him), his strength laid in jazzy, vaudeville-like sharpness, and above all, syncopated music. It was music to dance to. His songs mostly transcend the lightness of musical (music hall) songs, which he wrote together with his brother Ira. In addition, especially Porgy and Bess, which is an opera true to the word, is simultaneously impressing and touching, though halfheartedly unemancipating in its use of so called Negro language. However, Fazil Say has nothing to do with that, and his interpretations are wonderful, in the songs his piano really sings, you do not miss the voice of the singer. In addition, I will not forget to mention the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, who gives an outstanding performance, surprising and full of the necessary rhythm and drive.

The sound quality is excellent, especially brass and percussion. The quintet that accompanies Say in the first four numbers is up to its job and more. The sound of the piano is very well captured.

FANTASTIC INTERPRETATION.......2000-06-27

This is a MUST HAVE CD for all Gershwin fans. You feel the sadness, joy, happiness, all in this CD. Fazil Say is once again showing his virtuousity as well as his understanding of Gershwin through all the pieces he played, both on solo, quintet and orchestral performances. One feels fully satisfied with the pleasure of Gershwin's fantastic interpretation. Very highly recommended..

I heard this CD highlighted on the radio today.......2000-06-22

My local public radio station was playing cuts from this CD all morning as a way to get people interested in pledging money. I already made my donation, so I thought I would give Amazon.com some attention for a change. I was very impressed with what I heard. The arrangements are a mixture of Fazil being backed by a small quintet and the New York Philharmonic. He can play piano! Enjoy!

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