On the Waters

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
European pressing of the band's 2nd album originally released in 1970 and long out of print in the US. Bread broke big with this second album, thanks to David Gates' sentimental soft pop classic, 'Make It With You', the song that set the standard for sensitive mellow pop ballads for the '70s and for years to come. This is a first-class Californian pop record, one that is as blissful as a sunset when it lays back, and as incandescent as a day at the beach when the tempo is sprightly. Features 12 tracks. Warner. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

On the Waters, Music, Bread, Pop, Popular Music, Rock, Soft Rock, United States of America

On a Good Day
Average customer rating:

Yet another original fighting to get through.....

Leaves you wanting more

a real jewel

On a Good Day
Jude Johnstone
Manufacturer: Bojak Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007LLPW4
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

On A Good Day
20 Years
Hard Lessons
Hold On
In This House
Old And Gray
Evelyn
Pen And Paper
Deep Water
Long Way Back
The Hereafter

Amazon.com

If an artist can be judged by the company she keeps, the vocal harmonies of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Rodney Crowell, and Julie Miller on Jude Johnstone's second release attest to the esteem she enjoys from fellow singer-songwriters. Though Johnstone's songs have been recorded by singers from Bette Midler to Johnny Cash, the confessional conviction she invests in the title track, "Hard Lessons," and "Pen and Paper" makes her material seem as personal as a diary. As a narrative of marital breakup, "20 Years" has a melodic bounce at odds with its lyrical despair, yet most of the settings for these older-but-wiser reflections are as somber as Johnstone's writing is poetic. Some listeners might find the results a little precious, self-consciously so--as if musical maturity mainly involves the morose acceptance of painful truths--but fans of artists from Jackson Browne to Nanci Griffith should recognize a kindred spirit here. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Yet another original fighting to get through............2005-06-19

I remember back in the late 70's when a new singer/songwriter
performer named Karla Bonoff was a "hot" songwriter and established artists took notice and covered her song catalogue
until she to finally got her own recognition. I see the same thing happening to Jude. She writes some wonderful stuff and the
likes of Bette Midler to Bonnie Raitt have covered her emotional
turf. This collection has some outstanding songwriting and
open hearted Joni Mitchell like realism injected into the mix,
very moving material.
Well worth owning. Jude is one of our NEW & BEST songwriters.

Leaves you wanting more.......2005-03-13

I have only one complaint about this CD: It's too short!

By the time the last track begins, I'm already wishing it was a double album or, better yet, a box-set with 100 tracks of new and old material, demos, covers, Christmas songs, commercial jingles, and Jude singing phone book listings. I just don't want the music to end.

I first heard Jude perform when she opened for Shawn Colvin last year at a show in California, and I truly can't remember the last time I've had such a strong initial reaction to a performer. I remember specifically being floored by her performance of "Doesn't Anybody Know But Me" from her first CD, Coming of Age, and "Old and Gray" from this CD. Although I was there to see Shawn Colvin, I must admit that Jude stole the show that evening with her performance and gained a life-long fan in me.

It seems that every review written about Jude's CDs makes note of the fact that Jude has written hits for many top artists like Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood, and Stevie Nicks. While that does bear repeating here as further testimony to Jude's talent and reputation as a top-notch songwriter, it shouldn't overshadow Jude's talent as the exceptional performer she has proven herself to be on stage and on both her albums.

Jude's second CD, like her first, is filled with highly emotional and intelligent music which will appeal to music lovers who demand substance in their music-listening experience. Jude's music requires "active listening" and is not, as Jude terms it, "music to cook by." Although the instrumentation on this CD is beautiful in and of itself, it is not by any means merely pleasant background music. To fully appreciate the CD (and Jude's complete body of work for that matter) one must really listen to the lyrics as well. All the tracks on this CD tell interesting stories of life's everyday occurrences--of "busted heart[s]" and watching "friends go one by one"--all told through Jude's use of vivid imagery and storytelling.

Her most obvious "story" song is "Evelyn." The lyrics tell of Jude's arty (for lack of a better word) great-aunt who was expected to become the next "Clara Bowe or...Harlow" until a fire left her disfigured and relegated to "playing piano for the silent shows." Jude's impeccable word choice makes the young girl's heartache palpable to the listener while completely avoiding the maudlin tone a less-talented writer would likely have set in telling such a story.

Jude uses some wry humor in "20 Years," to recount the story of the decay of a marriage. Jude tells of a wife who, when dealing with her husband, cannot "connect the dots on his page" and the husband who sardonically states, "Go ahead and take the kids/ I'll see them twice a year." The potentially depressing topic of divorce becomes almost deceptively lighthearted in the adept hands of the songwriter.

A personal favorite is the last track, "The Hereafter." Written about the death of a family member, the song manages to be inspirational without being preachy or precious. This track contains two of the most poignant and affective uses of imagery on the album: "...the sky up above us/ Is filled with red wings/ As they welcome you/ In the hereafter" and the CD's last line, "Now the wind's at your back/ And whatever you lack/ You will find it/ Out in the hereafter." Pure lyrical perfection like this, coupled with a beautiful and memorable melody, makes this track a standout while also representing ALL the tracks on this CD.

In the title track Jude sings of being left "wanting more." After listening to this CD you will feel the same way.

a real jewel.......2005-02-27

Jude's first cd was a hard act to follow--given it was filled with great songs which had already become famous from the cover performances of other singers. It was great for many reasons--especially to hear her take on songs we thought we knew. But, this new collection is magnificent. Just one great song after another. It would be a surprise and an injustice if several aren't taken up by others in additional cover performances.

First, her instrumentalists. Jude accompanies herself with piano on virtually every song--recalling the noble tradition of the singer/songwriter performing from the piano. She knows just how to accompany herself and does it beautifully. Mary Ramsay's violin and viola are superb. Didn't she do the same for Patty Loveless? Co-producer Charles Duncan acquits himself finely on guitar, organ, slide guitar, bass and poignantly on pennywhistle. He also does some backing vocals, along with an amazingly talented group of others--most especially Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Rodney Crowell and Julie Miller. Jude certainly knows how to use these voices to particular advantage in each song.

What can I say about the songs? They are all good, many are great...from the fine title tune which opens the cd to the amazing simple chorus of "Hold On," the sad and lovely "In This House," the poetic and image-filled "Old and Gray" (sung with Julie Miller), "Evelyn"--a wonderful, autobiographical song, the plaintive yet somehow hopeful "Pen and Paper," the sharp imagery and moving chorus of "Deep Water," the painful dilemma expressed so well in "Long Way Back," and the final song--a stellar, lovely tribute to a lost comrade--"The Hereafter" (with an amazing pennywhistle being played). It's a grand, impressive collection. What's amazing, as well, is how Jude--with a dusty, low, narrow-range of a voice--can sing so well and so rightly the emotions expressed in these songs. She's terrific.

In spite of the darkness and sadness in many of these songs, Jude finds reason for light and hope in many of them. I hope the talented Lori McKenna is listening and can find similar light and hope in future songs. She didn't in those on BITTERTOWN.

Average customer rating:

ANOTHER BREAD WINNER
too much Griffin, not enough Gates
Patchy and too rocky
Rock, with just a touch of soft rock
Supurb - the best Bread album.

On the Waters
Bread
Manufacturer: Wea/Elektra
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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First

ASIN: B000024KMT
Release Date: 1996-10-01

Tracks:

Why Do You Keep Me Waiting
Make It with You
Blue Satin Pillow
Look What You've Done
I Am That I Am
Been Too Long on the Road
I Want You with Me
Coming Apart
Easy Love
In the Afterglow
Call on Me
Other Side of Love

Album Description

European pressing of the band's 2nd album originally released in 1970 and long out of print in the US. Bread broke big with this second album, thanks to David Gates' sentimental soft pop classic, 'Make It With You', the song that set the standard for sensitive mellow pop ballads for the '70s and for years to come. This is a first-class Californian pop record, one that is as blissful as a sunset when it lays back, and as incandescent as a day at the beach when the tempo is sprightly. Features 12 tracks. Warner.

Customer Reviews:

ANOTHER BREAD WINNER.......2006-03-16

I must defend James Griffin from the vicious & (in my opinion) undeserved attack by the reviewer known as Dave 'Missing Person'.
James brought a heck of a lot to the group - guts, raunchiness, flair, an occasional tender touch &, most of all, a great, soulful, hugely underrated VOICE (just listen to 'Today's the first day', 'Fancy dancer' or 'The last time').
I cannot agree with his criticisms of Griffin/Royer's contribution to this album, either. In fact, I think, for the only time on a Bread album, their efforts match David Gates'.
I love their two uptempo numbers, 'Why do you keep me waiting' & 'Easy love', while 'I am that I am' has some great effects & a wonderful, dominant bass line.
I would have to concede that David Gates wrote the three best tracks on the album - 'Make it with you', 'Been too long on the road' & 'The other side of life', but this is balanced by the fact that he also wrote the three worst - 'Blue satin pillow', 'In the afterglow' & the utterly tuneless 'I want you with me', possibly the worst Bread track ever (O.K., James Griffin co-wrote it, but he'd already fulfilled his half-dozen quota).
To sum up, then, another excellent offering from a group who maintained high standards throughout their career, & then disbanded before mediocrity set in, to their eternal credit.

too much Griffin, not enough Gates.......2005-09-19

Originally released in July of 1970, "On The Waters" is Bread's second album. At the time of its release, the David Gates-penned single "Make It With You", which was released 2+ months prior, had already become a big time breakthrough hit for Bread and was well on its way to becoming a gold single.

"On The Waters" is one uneven album--it basically feels like you're listening to songs from a really good band/ artist, with songs from a really mediocre band/ artist mixed in. It's been said repeatedly that "Make It With You" gives a rather false impression of the album as a whole, and this is certainly true. The main reason for this is due to the songwriting contributions of James Griffin and his writing partner Robb Royer. At this point, Griffin didn't appear to have even close to the level of talent of Gates. Despite this, of the album's 12 tracks, 6 of the songs are credited to the Griffin/ Royer pairing; one track is actually a Griffin/ Gates composition, while the remaining 5 songs are Gates solo compositions. The liner notes featured in the 1995 CD release of "On The Waters" on Rhino are very interesting indeed and sort of underline, in unintentional fashion, how much less talented Griffin and Royer were. Griffin & Royer's unflatterting remarks toward Gates seem to be largely due to jealously of both his talent and commercial success.

The sumptuous "Make It With You" is an obvious highlight here--it's superbly melodic, with deceptively tender lyrics, and terrific bass and electric guitar parts played by Gates that kind of intertwine with both each other as well as the string arrangement. David's explanation in the Rhino CD's liner notes of how this song came to be is fascinating and shows just how in control he was, whereas Royer displays his appalling ignorance saying that he thought the song was merely a "change of pace" from the more hard-rocking sound he thought the group was going for, seemingly oblivious to Gates' astonishing craftsmanship.

Of all the Gates' tunes here, there isn't a weak one anywhere. "Blue Satin Pillow" is a really catchy rocker with effective use of clever meter-shifting rhythms. The elaborately-arranged epic "Been Too Long On The Road" does resort to melodrama just a tad, but it's extremely impressive, with powerful vocal hooks, and packed with great guitar licks (Griffin does do a great job on lead guitar on this song). "In The Afterglow" has splashes of really cheesy synth, but it's a solidly melodic ballad. The album closes with Gates' lovely, soothing, lyrically incisive acoustic ballad "The Other Side Of Life". His co-write with Griffin, "I Want You With Me", mixes a swaying country feel with some mild jazzy flourishes--it's really good, and has some great harmonies.

Unfortunately, for "balance", we get the Griffin/ Royer tunes which wallow in mediocrity--they strain to come up with the kind of catchy hooks that Gates does. It really adds insult to injury that Griffin's vocals leave a hell of a lot to be desired, and he's on lead vocals for all of these Griffin/ Royer songs. "Why Do You Keep My Waiting" is, according to Royer, an attempt at "finding our own rock direction"--I guess the key word is "finding", because the song is generic, annoyingly self-righteous, and has annoyingly "macho" Griffin vocals. "Coming Apart" is an overdone, melodramatic sappy ballad. As far as the practically tuneless "I Am That I Am" is concerned, Griffin says Royer sang the title line from a Gideon Bible and that "it fit the melody perfectly", which begs the question, "What melody?"--it's an incredibly boring "message" song, with toothless Griffin vocals, and verses that are so melodically weak it's beyond all belief. The ballad "Look What You've Done" suffers from the strained, sickly-sweet Griffin vocals--thankfully Gates manages to salvage things a bit by helping Griffin out on the vocals and contributing some great high harmonies. The somewhat "Day Tripper"-ish "Easy Love" does have a decent riff, but again, it's sorely lacking melodically. The bluesy "Call On Me" starts off promisingly as if it might be a solid groove tune, but it ends up being aggravatingly slight.

Obviously, "On The Waters" is very much a mixed bag in terms of quality, but it's a must for serious David Gates fans, so keep your eyes peeled for a cheap copy. Admittedly, the 1995 Rhino CD is preferrable thanks to the extensive liner notes, and the reproduction of the amusing liner notes from the original vinyl LP, plus the valiant remastering effort.

Patchy and too rocky.......2005-05-03

I love ballads and songs with good melodies. Hence I rate this one the weakest of all Bread's releases. It takes on more of a rocky edge to it. It would be tempting to think of this album as AOR, after the beautiful hit 'make it with you', that comes from here. But that track is not really an accurate reflection on the album's content.
Yes, there are other ballads. 'Coming apart' has the best Griffin vocal ever, what power and effort went into that vocal delivery, and he is brilliant. 'The other side of life' is also a lovely soft ballad, with some nice vocal harmonies. 'Afterglow' is also a light song that builds in the chorus.
Much of the rest is heavier stuff. 'Blue satin pillow' is weak in my eyes, and has little melody. 'Easy love' is just repetitive' and 'Call on me' could be 'I want you' by the beatles, part 2- in terms of the repetitious vocal line. I do not really care for any of these songs.
Fortunately, Bread improved on their next album/

Rock, with just a touch of soft rock.......2003-05-08

Bread's sophomore album came with a lot of hope for the group after an initial disappointing leap out the starting gate with their debut self-titled album, which still perplexes me today. "On The Waters," for the most part, is more rock-orientated in tone, which might surprise some people who are only familiar with Bread from their pop hits.

Of course, this is the album that put Bread "on the map," with David Gates' ballad- "Make It With You," which is one of my all-time favorite songs. As many times as I have heard it, some 33 years later, I have never gotten tired of it for many reasons. This is the song that brought me back to listening to radio again. The music playing over the air waves the beginning of 1970 was just too hard rock for me. I actually stopped listening to my favorite AM radio station for about five weeks. I happened to hear "Make It With You" one afternoon in March while riding home on the school bus. It brought me back to listening to radio again. A couple of months later came the Carpenters, then Carly Simon, and then James Taylor... I guess you can figure out the rest of the story. Thank you David Gates and "Make It With You" for bringing music back into my life after my self-imposed exile.

As much as this song means to me, the one song on the album that always affects me the most when listening to it is the last song on the album, Gates' "The Other Side Of Life." David Gates has an incredible innate ability of weaving life lessons into so many of his songs that we are all the better for. Listen to the melody and words to this song. It has a subtle religious overtone and will move you, soothe you, comfort you, and reassure you!

Some of my other favorite lesser known (rock) Bread songs on this album are "Easy Love," "Call On Me," "Blue Satin Pillow," and Gates' better-known "Been Too Long On The Road." All in all, this is a very creative group of songs! Bread's early rock style may surprise you, but it will definitely satisfy you.

Supurb - the best Bread album........1998-09-12

This is not a 'soft' album. This Jeckyl and Hyde band shows a lot of fire here - 'Blue Satin Pillow' and 'Easy Love' will torch any rocker. Tracks 4 thru 7 are also excellent.

Victory At Sea: Music From The Award Winning Television Series (1952 TV Series)

Average customer rating:

Victory at Sea, Volume I, More Victory at Sea
Amazon lists wrong conductor
A few good pieces missing
disappointment
Remembering the Victory at Sea TV Series

Victory At Sea: Music From The Award Winning Television Series (1952 TV Series)

Manufacturer: Q. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004TSC1
Release Date: 2000-08-15

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Victory At Sea
Song Of The High Seas
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Customer Reviews:

Victory at Sea, Volume I, More Victory at Sea.......2006-03-05

I have purchased two copies of each CD from different sources and find the recordings are apparently faulty on the last two tracks of each. I thought my first incident was my fault, however, the second had the same flaw.

Amazon lists wrong conductor.......2004-03-21

Amazon lists Richard Rodgers as both the composer and conductor. Of course, Robert Russell Bennett is the conductor. Amazon's correction form doesn't allow for an accurate correction suggestion. I haven't played my old records for a while, but the CD sounds as I remember them. Too bad it doesn't contain the full contents of the three records.

A few good pieces missing.......2003-10-15

I have a 2-audiotape set with 3 additional pieces that are sadly missing here. Magnetic North so well portrays the cold and harsh war in the Aleutian Islands as it was presented in the TV series. It always raises goose bumps at its haunting conclusion with strings emulating the artic winds. Mediterranean Mosaic and Mare Nostrum are 2 others that I would have preferred over the Symphonic Suite, which I have never heard on 2 different audio tape versions or a 33 1/3 vinyl set.

disappointment.......2003-05-15

After reading the reviews and discovering that the CD is not the same as the original records that I still own, I do not plan on purchasing the CD until RCA releases what was/is a magnificent piece of work. Perhaps it is political corectness that is keeping them from releasing the "original" work "uncensored". Until such time as they give the present generation a look into one of the greatest recordings made, I will stay with my 33 1/3 rpm recordings, and transfer them to my computer myself...

Remembering the Victory at Sea TV Series.......2003-01-09

The most memorable portion of the Victory at Sea music is the descriptive and haunting "Song of the High Seas" introduction. Rodgers was absolutely brillant in matching the music to the film footage of the series. His marches and many of the other themes can be easily hummed. I find myself doing it all the time. I believe the original music became available in 331/3 LPs. Three were issued. The first one was played by "Members of the NBC Symphony" conducted by Bennett. It was later reissued with the orchestra as the RCA Victor Symphony(assembled for special performances). There is a slight difference in the sound and tempo of "Song of the High Seas" between the two orchestras. Two more LPs followed, both performed by the RCA Symphony with sound effects(airplanes, artillery) added in the third LP. All of the music from the 3 LPs were then put together into the two CDS now available("blue" and "red" ones). The "green" one contains selections from both. I do not know if the entire score was ever performed in concert. I believe the "Symphonic Suite"(selection of the major themes) was arranged by Bennett and was done, so it could be performed at concerts. It is also included on the CDs. There was at one time a recording done by the Cincinnati Pops of Victory at Sea selections, but I have not listened to it. This is really fine music, Richard Rodgers, at his best and admirably performed by the RCA Victor Symphony.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Hits of Pink Floyd

Average customer rating:

Down right Awesome
It could have been so much more...
don't bother too spent 0 on any think
Could have been much better
Hardly symphonic.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Hits of Pink Floyd

Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

Down right Awesome.......2007-07-16

I don't know about the previous review, but this is just great. A nice treat when looking for a new way to appreciate the music of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd

It could have been so much more..........2006-07-25

Like their earlier 1989 Pink Floyd recording, this recording of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing Pink Floyd could have been so much better than it was. Essentially, it is a recording of a Pink Floyd tribute band backed by an orchestra. The use of electric guitar, electric bass, full trap set, vocalists and synthesizers detracts from the performance and leaves the listener longing for an actual symphonic version of these works. It would have been entirely different if it had been members of Pink Floyd contributing, however it was not. Therefore, it left something to be desired.

For a fully symphonic Pink Floyd experience, try "Us and Them" by the London Philharmonic.

don't bother too spent 0 on any think.......2006-03-03

we'll there isn't any comment on this''accept i hoped i rather not be heard...save your though..buy american most wanted.

Could have been much better.......2005-04-10

The record begins with what looks like a very promising rendering of "Shine on..." until the vocals enter in the sixth minute, making you scramble for the "off" button - not to let your neigbours know you're listening to this unbelievably corny crap. And this is only the beginning.

"Money", "Time" and especially "In the Flesh" are pathetic, "Us and them" and "WYWH" sound like an interminable folk music evening on German TV, and "Another Brick..." is just plain bad.

On the other hand, "Hey you" would have been quite good minus the vocals. As for "The great gig in the sky", it is the only track I would call listenable throughout, the usual horrible vocals being replaced by a woman who can actually sing.

The problem with this album is not the inevitable alteration of the spirit of Pink floyd, but the absolutely APPALLING vocal performance and some painfully kitchy instrumentation at times. Well, most of the time, actually.

If you're a diehard PF fan - like myself - and think you can take anything with its name on it, well, think again. If you don't even like Pink floyd, you'll never be able to listen to this.

Hardly symphonic........2005-03-29

This CD suffers from the number one ailment of most symphonic tribute albums; it is only symphonic in the loosest, most liberal sense of the definition. I think a lot of listeners would agree that symphonic tribute albums should not be performed by "orchestras" which include electric guitars, bass guitars, synthesizers, or drum kits. Listening to a symphony's re-creation of a rock song should enhance the experience and expand the breadth of its reaches, not merely change some of the instruments.

Earl Wild's Legendary Rachmaninoff Song Transcriptions

Average customer rating:

This is gold mine

Earl Wild's Legendary Rachmaninoff Song Transcriptions

Manufacturer: Ivory Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2004-05-11

Customer Reviews:

This is gold mine.......2005-11-15

This is a gold mine of wonderful melodies, beautifully transcribed and played by Earl Wild. Some of the transcriptions available from Wild was just too hard to play. Regrettably, CD's of these beautiful songs themselves can not be found on Amazon in the original vocal/piano form.

Average customer rating:

Pure Beauty!!!!
GREAT!!

The Waters and the Wild
Al Petteway
Manufacturer: Maggie's Music
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003JLY
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Accokeek Shore
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Album Description

The Water's and the Wild CD is Celtic, Cajun and blues-inspired original finger style guitar compositions in a musical tribute to the creeks and waterways and wild marshes and natural water refuges inspired by beauty of the the mid-Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay areas in the USA. Performed on solo acoustic guitar and with pennywhistle, octave mandolin, piano, cello and bodhran. Includes: The lyrical swing of Accokeek Shore, a soulful Shadyside Blues, the haunting Shadows on the Marsh, Seven Swans, Chesapeake, Broken Mist and The Cattail Waltz.

Customer Reviews:

Pure Beauty!!!!.......2003-01-21

This cd was featured by the National Geographic Society. Silver Branch, is just one of the many AWESOME tunes in this group of pure listening pleasure. There aren't enough adjectives to express how truly creative and wonderful Al's music is.

GREAT!!.......2003-01-07

This CD is a pure pleasure to listen to!! If you like guitar, you will love this CD- no matter what your musical preference is! Go on... take a chance, you'll love it too!!

Average customer rating:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have
Almost , Nearly, perfect
Much more than Kitten On the Keys
Zany yet poetic!
Brilliant!

Confrey: Piano Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jay Walk
Sparkling Waters
Wise Cracker Suite: I. Yokel Opus
Wise Cracker Suite: II. Mighty Lackawanna
Wise Cracker Suite: III. The Sheriff's Lament
Amazonia
Blue Tornado
Three Little Oddities: I. Impromptu
Three Little Oddities: II. Romanza
Three Little Oddities: III. Novelette
Coaxing The Piano
Stumbling (Paraphrase)
Moods Of A New Yorker: I. At Dusk
Moods Of A New Yorker: II. Movie Ballet
Moods Of A New Yorker: III. Relaxation
Moods Of A New Yorker: IV. After Theatre (Tango)
Rhythm Venture
Fourth Dimension

Amazon.com

Zez Confrey (1895-1971) may not be a household name, but his 1921 masterpiece "Kitten on the Keys" certainly is. The Illinois-born composer studied the classics growing up, but somehow the temptation of Vaudeville sneaked its way into his compositions and he found success writing catchy ragtime miniatures with goofy names ("Wise Cracker Suite," "Dizzy Fingers," "Blue Tornado"). Republic of Georgia pianist Eteri Andjaparidze performs 24 of Confrey's works with technical perfection and plenty of spirit--two requirements for these compositions--but sounds a tad robotic on some numbers. Between "Kitten" and 1959's "Fourth Dimension," Confrey explored blues, rags, Latin rhythms, and--of course--jazz, but the real highlight here is a slow number, the four-movement Moods of a New Yorker. In sum, this a great tribute featuring great music, perfect for fans of George Gershwin, Ferde Grofé, Jelly Roll Morton, and Joseph Lamb. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Oh, Kitten...it's a Must Have.......2004-12-29

Hats off to Naxos for releasing this absolutely perfect tribute to Zez Confrey - it was high time, someone had to do it, and Naxos has done Confrey real justice. One would expect caricature of his work, rather than the respectful, honest, accurate renditions of his work featured on this album.

I discovered my love for Confrey thanks to the Aeolian Hall Birth of Rhapsody in Blue album (another of my reviews covers that great one), which featured a small selection of his compositions. The distinct, unique sound of his work snagged me immediately, and so I was thrilled to come upon this little Naxos treat.

Every piece on the album is sheer delight, but several do stand out from the rest. "Kitten on the Keys" (Confrey's most famous composition, here done full justice), "Meandering" (which just glides and lilts along like feathers on a breeze), "Kinda Careless" (a sensuous, seductive little number), "Yokel Opus" (a snappy little foxtrot), "Coaxing the Piano" (which seems almost an homage to 'Twelfth Street Rag', in a skewed way), "Movie Ballet" (which sounds exactly like its title would suggest), and "Rhythm Venture" (so gracefully syncopated, it's practically a marvel).

Any and all Confrey and jazz fans should consider this album as required listening, and well worth owning. The price alone is reason enough - you cannot go wrong with Naxos' rates. But even if it were four times the price, it would still be a bargain.

Almost , Nearly, perfect.......2003-10-25

Wonderful selection of pieces, most of these are lesser-known Confrey and tend to represent his more "Serious" music. Perhaps because of that the pianist (a superb performer) tends to emphasize their concert qualities over their popular music aspects. This is only a tiny complaint. There's a lot of excellect music here, and at Naxos' low price it's a bargan.

Much more than Kitten On the Keys.......2002-05-16

If you thought an album of Zez Confrey music would be track after track like Dizzy Fingers or Kitten On the Keys, you are in a for a pleasant surprise with this superb CD.

The performances of the said party pieces are fast, furious and fun, but there are also some great blues renditions, and some lyrical, reflective pieces.

I would have preferred if the CD had included a few more of the well-known pieces like My Pet, Poor Buttermilk and You Tell 'Em, Ivories, but the many pieces I had never heard of are interesting, and are played beautifully.

Zany yet poetic!.......2000-09-04

Once again, in its "American Classics" series, Naxos has pulled a pleasant surprise rabbit out of the hat. Zez Confrey must be a new name for virtually everyone, unless they are well past my own age, and I don't go back quite that far. The name was certainly new for me, but a few of the pieces on this disc brought memories flooding back, most likely because my parents once had them coupled on an ancient 78 shellac.

Confrey (1895 - 1971) had been relegated pretty much to the dustbin of history before this release. But he did have his days in the sun between the two world wars. Undoubtedly his brightest moment was when he shared billing with George Gershwin and Paul Whiteman on the occasion of the premiere for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, where Confrey had the stage in the first half of the concert and Gershwin in the second. For the most part, after that February, 1924 "An Experiment in Modern Music" concert of Whiteman's, the paths of Gershwin and Confrey began to diverge; Gershwin was, to put it simply, an overnight success.

All of the music on this album is fun, and virtually all of it demands virtuosic pianistic ability, which Confrey must certainly have possessed. Listening to it is like taking a trip down memory lane, back to the popular music in the first third of the previous century. There are pieces which have clear roots in ragtime, embellished upon and brought forward by a few decades, and at least a selection or two which sound very much like Gershwin preludes in their "bluesy" feel. It's also clear that Confrey was not unaware of the classical music of the period, because a few of the pieces capture the idioms of the piano music of Rachmaninoff and Ravel of that period (although they soon veer off into "Confrey territory"). If you listen carefully, you'll even hear a passing reference or two to Chopin. But, like the Rachmaninoff and Ravel musical allusions, these too are in fact just "passing references."

But most of the album is pure Confrey-style pianistic wizardry: Fleet fingers, crossing hands, syncopations and rhythmic "irregularities" with the colorfully descriptive titles of "Meandering", "Coaxing the Piano" and "Stumbling." And his two most famous pieces (which, probably, many of us have never heard), "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers." (In fact, it was "Dizzy Fingers" and "Stumbling" which must have been the coupling on that ancient 78, because they were immediately recognizable.)

Eteri Andjaparidze is an excellent technician in this work, which can be very demanding of technique if it is to be pulled off properly. By and large, she does very well by it. In particular, she succeeds in capturing the passing allusions to the classical piano music of the time. If I had my druthers, I might ask for a little more panache, or insouciance, if you like, in the Confrey specialities noted in the previous paragraph. But who can quibble, especially at the Naxos price, without appearing to be a piker?

Neat stuff for a refreshing change of pace, with an opportunity to hear an hour's worth of music by someone who had been ignored for too long. That's a "get it" recommendation!

Bob Zeidler

Brilliant!.......2000-03-22

I have no idea what Jason Verlinde meant by saying that Eteri Andjaparidze sounds "a tad robotic" on certain pieces on her new Zez Confrey album; indeed, the Republic of Georgia pianist sounds absolutely marvelously free in her interpretations. I cannot hear anything "robotic" at all in her playing. She approaches the intricate syncopations of Confrey's music with dazzling style. She is technically proficient enough to take Confrey's tempi at a furious pace, when necessary, in pieces such as "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers," and to create a sustained, beautiful flow to the music in such "impressionistic" pieces as "Sparkling Waters" and "Mighty Lackawana." The selections which will remind the listener of Art Deco New York in the 1920's and 1930's, are taken at exactly the right tempo, and Ms. Andjaparidze syncopates the rhythms in a sparkling manner. I was utterly amazed at how a pianist, trained in the Republic of Georgia, could evoke the rhythms and style of American music of this type. But she does! In addition, the piano has been recorded beautifully, with sparkling tone at the treble end, and a rich, full bass. I purchased this CD a few hours after reading Frank Behrens' review. It is a wonderful addition to my collection of American music. I urge you to hear this excellent release. Naxos is to be commended for making it available.

Average customer rating:

The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio

Manufacturer: Milan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less

ASIN: B000BF0DHY
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

I'm Sitting on Top of the World - k.d. Lang
Bye Bye Blues - Les Paul & Mary Ford
The Affadasies
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Anatomy of a Contest
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams - Dee Carstensen
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Shopping Spree
I'm Sitting on Top of the World - Woody Harrelson

Album Description

Evelyn Ryan (Julianne Moore) is a devoted housewife and mother of ten in the 1950s. Her husband (Woody Harrelson) can't seem to make ends meet, but that doesn't stop the car from breaking down, the mortgage coming due and the bills from piling up. It falls to Evelyn to defy the conventions of the day and find a way to keep her family together with the odds stacked against them. Applying her remarkable resourcefulness and an uncommon wit, Evelyn finds her own way in the profitable jingle contests popular in the 1950s and'60s.

Composer John Frizzell adds his own sophisticated sound to the compositions and brings on two great musicians - Sara and Sean Watkins - to play fiddle and guitar. The Soundtrack includes recordings by The Ames Brothers, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Dee Carstensen, Kay Starr and new recordings by k.d. lang "I'm Sitting on top of the World" and the film's Woody Harrelson.

Tracks:

I Prelude
II Merlin The Wizard
III The Sword Excalibur
IV Lady Of The Lake
V Guinevere
VI The Passing Of Arthur
I Almond Blossom
II A Temple In Kyoto
III The Cherry Dance
April's Fool
Harp Of The Winds - Aeolian Harp
Marigold - A Syncopated Impression
Railroad Rhythm - An Impression
Shallow Waters - An Interlude
From A Spanish Lattice - A Southern Tone-Picture
Song Of The Fir Tree - A Swedish Impression
Nimble-Fingered Gentleman - A Syncopation
Evening Primrose
I Ace Of Clubs
II Ace Of Diamonds
III Ace Of Hearts
IV Ace Of Spades
The Joker - A Further Contribution To four Aces

Tracks:

Mistletoe
Autumn Crocus
Hollyhock
White Heather
l English Dance
ll Cricket Dance
lll Harmonica Dance
Bats In The Belfry
Green Tulips
Sweet William
Parade Of The Sandwich-Board Men
Hop-O-My-Thumb
Jill All Alone
l Willow Moss
ll Moorish Idol
lll Fantail
IV Whirlgig

Tracks:

Filigree
l Cobweb
ll Muffin Man
lll Clockwork
Siberian Lament
l Meadowsweet
ll Japonica
Alpine Bluebell
Beguine Impromptu
l The Ring Master
ll Clowning
lll Entrance Of The Trick Cyclists
lV Dancing Horses
V Trapeze
Honky-Tonk
l Misty Lawn
ll Amber Leaves
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The Last Rose of Summer: Best-Loved Songs of Ireland

Average customer rating:

The Last Rose of Summer: Best-Loved Songs of Ireland

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009K9P8E
Release Date: 2005-07-12

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