Poet in New York

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Although he's touched on pop in his long career, Georgie Fame's heart belongs to the music that first inspired him in the 1950s, classic bop vocalese, words set to instrumental solos à la Jon Hendricks and King Pleasure. This is a varied program that touches on some classics of the genre, such as Hendricks's version of Horace Silver's "Doodlin'" and Pleasure's lyrics to Lester Young's solo on "Symphony Sid." If there's any emphasis here, it's on composer Tadd Dameron, with three tunes included, and trumpeter Chet Baker, four of his solos gaining lyrics from Fame or Mike O'Neill, including the superb "But Not for Me." Fame sings with wit, intimacy, and ease, swinging through originals and some seldom-heard songs with a warm baritone that can slide to rumbling bass, usually for musical quotations. He's as good at harmonically demanding ballads, such as Dameron's boppish "On a Misty Night" or Billy Strayhorn's classic "Lush Life," as he is on medium tempos, and his mastery of the idiom shows in the way his own songs, such as "Declaration of My Love," fit so comfortably with the vintage material.

The accompanists work hand-in-glove with Fame, including tenor saxophonist Bob Malach, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and legendary drummer Louis Hayes. Producer Ben Sidran joins in for vocal duets on "Doodlin'" and "Girl Talk," contributing alternative lyrics to the latter as well. Recorded direct to CD, the sound complements the collective command of the bop idiom, conveying the ambience of a '50s jazz bar. --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

Zampa Overture
Mignon Overture
Raymond Overture
Poet And Peasant Overture
William Tell Overture

Customer Reviews:

Five stars for five winning performances........2003-09-19

I owned the LP of this back in the early 1960s (the cover showed a bright red apple with a target painted on it) and played these pieces over and over. The music is wonderful, the performances among Bernstein's best, and the sonics spectacular. I wish I still had my vinyl copy, however, because I would love to compare it to this CD-for sonics, I suspect the LP would win.

Not that the CD is bad, but Columbia LPs in those days were produced with a very recognizable equalization that is not apparent here. And as I remember, there was somewhat more detail on the LP, especially in the strings and in the many bells that decorate these quickly recognizable, entertaining pieces. (Each of the five compositions held a firm place as background music for Warner Brothers cartoons.)

However, the CD is entirely listenable (and certainly contains no pops or scratches). I will be interested to hear the SACD version if Columbia ever produces one. From what I have heard, Columbia's few SACD reissues sound more like the LPs. In any case, the product labeling is poor. The front cover says, "Digitally mastered analog recording," while the back cover informs us that the disc is AAD. (The disc itself says AAD, but it wouldn't be the first mislabeled CD.) No date of production whatsoever appears, though we learn that the cover was designed in 1981. (Give me the apple with the target on it.) The interesting liner notes are what appeared on the back of the LP, no more, no less.

It's not an expensive disc, and some of the pieces, oddly, are not easy to find. Get it!

Great Performances Indeed!.......2001-08-04

This disc which is aptly named "Favorite Overtures" captures Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic at the peak of their creative powers during the 1960's. Each of the five overtures are gems, but of particular delight are the Mignon and Raymond Overtures by Ambroise Thomas. The Raymond Overture with it's galloping opening motive is a hidden treasure which has not been recorded very often. Thankfully, Bernstein gives us a rendition of Raymond that could only be described as definitive. The other overtures on this disc are Zampa, Poet and Peasant, and William Tell. Not only are they expertly played, but their sound is in the demonstration class which is amazing considering that they were made nearly forty years ago. The fact that this disc has remained in circulation for so long speaks for itself. My highest recommendation.

Average customer rating:

The Most Beautiful Recorded Tenor Voice?
Very, very truncated.
incomplete pleasure
Finally available on CD!

Babes in Toyland / The Red Mill
Victor Herbert , Kenny Baker , and Eileen Farrell
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Victor Herbert: Babes in Toyland; The Red Mill

ASIN: B00006AWG2
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

Opening - From Babes in Toyland (Herbert & MacDonough) with Kenny Baker and Karen Kemple
Toyland
Floretta
Never Mind Bo-Peep, We Will Find Your Sheep
March of the Toys
I Can't Do the Sum
Go To Sleep, Slumber Deep
Song of the Poet
The Military Ball
Hail to Christmas
Finale: He Won't Be Happy Till He Gets It and March of the Toys
When You're Pretty and the World Is Fair - From The Red Mill (Blossom & Herbert) with Wilbur Evans, Eileen Farrell, and Felix Knight
Moonbeams
In the Isle of Our Dreams
Because You're You
Every Day is Ladies' Day With me
The Streets of New York