Vocal and Jazz Ecstasy

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Superb collection of 15 tracks compiled from Stardust Records releases. Features, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, to name a few. Retro artwork in a digipak. 2001 release.

Tracks:

Main Title
End Titles
Yakisoba
Punk Rock Hero
Through The Night
Surfing Samba
Fanfare/Theme
France
Sweden
Arsenal Dance Mix
Main Title
Wheelchair Racers
Pueblo
Lituus
Fireworks
End Titles
Deseo
Shanghai
Trembling Before G-d
Filming
Shabbos Noir
Chippy Charm
Vocal Phase
Shaolin Spirit
Main Title
Sekhel (Vocal Version)
Protocols Of Zion
Indonesia

Customer Reviews:

A good overview of Zorn's soundtrack compositions........2005-10-24

Over the past twenty years or so, John Zorn has built up an enormous library of composition for film, released on sixteen CDs (cleverly titled "Filmworks I", "Filmworks II", and so on...) on his Tzadik record label. For a neophyte, this can be a bit much to tackle, as such, this album, "Filmworks Anthology: 20 Years of Soundtrack Music" has been released to provide an overview of Zorn's soundtrack composition.

As an overview of Zorn's work, this succeeds well. It also appears that another goal was to represent every volume, as at least one piece is drawn from each (volumes VI and VIII get two cuts, I and XII get three, and III and VII get four). Just about everything in Zorn's diverse catalog of film soundtracks is covered-- movies, documentaries, pornography, cartoons and commercials (certainly none I've seen!) are all represented with a suitably diverse array of pieces, from gamelan to string trios to surf rock, Zorn pretty much covers a wide array of sounds and moods-- if nothing else, the diversity of these 28 tracks is a testament to his vast skills to compose in virtually any environment. I could make a few arguments about what cuts I would have picked, but by-and-large, the compilation is a rather good and thorough overview, and the cast of performers is immense, with virtually all key players in the downtown scene involved to some extent or another.

Another notable point about this release is the artwork-- packed in a digipack with a pair of photos of Zorn (one from '86, one from '05) and stills from the various pieces littered throughout the liner notes, it certainly looks great. And speaking of the liner notes, Zorn offers a superb essay on film soundtrack composition and appreciations by musicians Marc Ribot, Anthony Coleman, Jamie Saft and Cyro Baptista (all of whom appear to some extent or another on the music) are included.

I've got currently about half of the filmworks series and I found value in this overview. Several of the individual pieces hold together far better than this recording does, but it certainly does a great job providing an impression of Zorn's diverse film scoring career.

Curious about Zorn?.......2005-10-23

Considering myself a casual fan of John Zorn I have been at times either annoyingly put off or enthusiastically engaged with the diversity of his music. Admittedly, It can be daunting for a Zorn novice to find a suitable entry point in which to begin navigating through the extremities of his musical output. This new collection, which pulls material from the sixteen releases (thus far) of his FILMWORKS series, is everything the curious could want in a well-rounded introduction.

The selections chosen for this disc make for an exhilarating listening experience from start to finish as the focus jumps from one musical genre to the next, from cartoon scores to punk rock to jazz and surf music. Most selections early on clock in at under 4 minutes, with many others zipping by under just one. All these various styles meld together so effortlessly that it's impressive it all comes from a single creative mind.

The packaging is also deserving of mention, as the CD is housed in a fold-out digipack case with two booklets attached inside. In one of these booklets Zorn describes his methods and self-imposed rules in creating music for film (as well as for dealing with snoopy film directors). The other booklet features short essays by a few of Zorn's collaborators on what the creative sessions were like. There are also many photos from the films the music accompanies. (So far the only films I've seen with Zorn's scores are "Trembling Before G-D" and "Protocols of Zion".)

Favorite tracks: "Surfing Samba", "Arsenal Dance Mix", "Shanghai", "Main Title (Invitation to a Suicide)"
Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Leopold Stokowski Conducts MusicFrom Russia Vol. 3

Average customer rating:

Leopold Stokowski Conducts MusicFrom Russia Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000024OY9
Release Date: 1995-06-28

Tracks:

A Night On The Bald Mountain
Kamariskaya
Prld in E flat
Pastorale
1812 Ov, Op.49
Sym No.4, 'Poem Of Ecstasy', Op.54
Eight Russian Folk Songs, Op.58: No.3 Lament
Eight Russian Folk Songs, Op.58: No.4 Humorous Song
Eight Russian Folk Songs, Op.58: No.6 Lullaby
Eight Russian Folk Songs, Op.58: No.8 Dance
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

Average customer rating:

Mellow early morning jazz

Vocal and Jazz Ecstasy
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Cleopatra
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Jump Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Piano | Blues | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000058DXJ
Release Date: 2001-02-06

Tracks:

My Lips Remember Your Kisses - Nat King Cole
Do It Again - Marilyn Monroe
All The Things You Are - Dizzy Gillespie
Baby Won't You Please Come Home - Ray Charles
Brazil - The Blue Dahlia
Out Of Nowhere - Miles Davis
Starlit Hour - Ella Fitzgerald
Ain't Misbehavin' - Count Basie
Don't Explain - Billie Holiday
Pennies From Heaven - Bing Crosby
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face - The Count Basie Orchestra
Stormy Monday Blues - The Count Basie Orchestra
Driftin' Blues - Charles Brown
All Or Nothing Blues - Dinah Washington
Stardust - Coleman Hawkins

Album Description

Superb collection of 15 tracks compiled from Stardust Records releases. Features, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett, to name a few. Retro artwork in a digipak. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

Mellow early morning jazz.......2006-12-16

VOCAL AND JAZZ ECSTASY reads like a Who's Who of single name superstars: Dizzy, Basie, Ray, Miles, Marilyn, Bing, Cole, Dinah, Parker, Ella, Billie, Bennett. This is a fine collection from some of the mid-20th Century's most talented artists. Sound quality is generally excellent.

The set's reinforced paper cover folds open to reveal on the right a CD disguised as a miniature phonograph record. The opposite side playlist is nicely illustrated by tiny photos of the albums each song was taken from.

Points off for track #5-- The Blue Dahlia's version of "Brazil" is too loud, and era-wise out of place with the other songs presented.

A personal favorite here is Ray Charles doing an excellent Nat Cole Trio vocal impression on "Baby Won't You Please Come Home." And there is so much more to enjoy in Starlight Records first anniversary collection of VOCAL AND JAZZ ECSTASY.

Average customer rating:

Vocal & Jazz Ecstasy
Various
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000BRABBU
Release Date: 2001-02-15

Music:

Music

Music