James Schwabacher: Tenor

On this CD:

1. Weep you No more sad fountains
Composed by John Dowland
Performed by James Schwabacher

2. What if I never speed?
Composed by John Dowland
Performed by James Schwabacher

3. Spoken Commentary on Haydn
Composed by James Schwabacher
Performed by James Schwabacher

4. Lo Speziale (Der Apotheker), opera, H. 28/3 Here's another piece of news
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performed by James Schwabacher

5. Così fan tutte, opera, K. 588 Un' aura amorosa
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by James Schwabacher

6. Dass sie hier gewesen ("Dass der Ostwind..."), song for voice & piano, D. 775 (Op. 59/3)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Paul Ulanowsky, James Schwabacher

7. Geheimes ("Über meines Liebchens Äugeln"), song for voice & piano, D. 719 (Op. 14/2)
Composed by Franz Schubert
Performed by Paul Ulanowsky, James Schwabacher

8. Wenn ich in deine Augen seh', song for voice & piano (Dichterliebe), Op. 48/4
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by James Schwabacher

9. Ich will meine Seele tauchen, song for voice & piano (Dichterliebe), Op. 48/5
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by James Schwabacher

10. Im Rhein, im heiligen Strome, song for voice & piano (Dichterliebe), Op. 48/6
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by James Schwabacher

11. Ich grolle nicht, song for voice & piano (Dichterliebe), Op. 48/7
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by James Schwabacher

12. Manon, opera Le Rêve
Composed by Jules Massenet
Performed by James Schwabacher

13. Nell, song for voice & piano in G flat Major, Op. 18/1
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

14. Le secret ("Je veux que le matin l'ignore le nom"), song for voice & piano in D flat Major, Op. 23/3
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

15. Dans les ruines d'une abbaye, song for voice & piano in A major, Op.2/1
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

16. Au Cimetière, song for voice & piano in E Minor, Op. 51/2
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

17. Tristesse, song for voice & piano in C minor, Op 6/2
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

18. Fleur Jetée, song for voice & piano in F minor, Op. 39/2
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by James Schwabacher

19. Le rossignol des lilas, for voice & piano
Composed by Reynaldo Hahn
Performed by James Schwabacher

20. La caravane for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op 14
Composed by Ernest Chausson
Performed by James Schwabacher

21. Air champêtre ("Belle source, je veux me rappeler..."), for voice & piano (Airs chantés), FP 46/2
Composed by Francis Poulenc
Performed by James Schwabacher

22. Bleuet ("Jeune homme de vingt ans"), song for voice & piano, FP 102
Composed by Francis Poulenc
Performed by James Schwabacher

23. 1904 ("A Strasbourg en 1904"), song for voice & piano (4 poèmes d'Apollinaire), FP 58/4
Composed by Francis Poulenc
Performed by James Schwabacher

24. Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), operetta Love in my Heart
Composed by Franz Lehar
Performed by Wallace Berry, James Schwabacher

25. Das Lied ist aus, film score Das Lied ist aus
Composed by Robert Stolz
Performed by James Schwabacher

James Schwabacher: Tenor, Music, Ernest Chausson, John Dowland, Gabriel Faure, Reynaldo Hahn, Franz Joseph Haydn, Franz Lehar, Jules Massenet, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Francis Poulenc, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, James Schwabacher, Robert Stolz, Paul Ulanowsky, Wallace Berry, James Schwabacher, 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Film, Film Music, French Romantic Opera, German/Austrian Classical Period Opera, German/Austrian Operetta, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Opera, Renaissance Polyphonic Song, Romantic Music for Voice and Keyboard, Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra, Vocal
Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Great First Buy on Ralph Vaughan Williams.
  • Vaughan Williams' wonderful music at last...
  • Previn & Vaughan Williams: An Excellent Coupling
  • Can't get any better
  • Comprehensive and Impressive Collection
 Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc.
  2. Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works
  3. Ludwig van Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies - Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony Orchestra
  4. Dvorák: The Symphonies
  5. Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

ASIN: B00011MK74
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

  1. A Song For All Seas, All Ships - Andante Maestoso - London Symphony Chorus
  2. On The Beach At Night, Alone - Largo Sostenuto - London Symphony Chorus
  3. Scherzo: The Waves - Allegro Brillante - London Symphony
  4. The Explorers - Grave E Molto Adagio - London Symphony Chorus

Tracks:

  1. Lento: Allegro Risoluto
  2. Lento
  3. Scherzo (Nocturne)
  4. Andante Con Moto; Maestoso Alla Marcia; Allegro; Lento; Epilogue
  5. Allegro Pesante - James Oliver Buswell IV
  6. Adagio - James Oliver Buswell IV
  7. Presto - James Oliver Buswell IV
  8. Overture

Tracks:

  1. Molto Moderato - Douglas Cummings
  2. Lento Moderato - Douglas Cummings
  3. Moderato Pesante - Douglas Cummings
  4. Lento - Douglas Cummings
  5. Allegro
  6. Andante Moderato
  7. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
  8. Finale Con Epilogo Fugato: Allegro Molto

Tracks:

  1. Preludio: Moderato
  2. Scherzo: Prestso
  3. Romanza: Lento
  4. Passacaglia: Moderato
  5. Explorer
  6. Poet
  7. Queen
  8. Allegro Moderato - John Fletcher
  9. Romanza: Andante Sostenuto - John Fletcher
  10. Finale: Rondo Alla Tedesca - John Fletcher

Tracks:

  1. Allegro
  2. Moderato
  3. Scherzo: Allegro Vivace
  4. Epilogue: Moderato
  5. Moderato Maestoso
  6. Andante Sostenuto
  7. Scherzo: Allegro Pesante
  8. Andante Tranquillo

Tracks:

  1. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  2. Prelude: Andante Maestoso - The Ambrosian Singers
  3. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  4. Scherzo: Moderato; Poco Animato - The Ambrosian Singers
  5. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  6. Landscape: Lento - The Ambrosian Singers
  7. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  8. Intermezzo: Andante Sostenuto - The Ambrosian Singers
  9. Spoken Introduction - The Ambrosian Singers
  10. Epilogue: Alla Marcia Moderato (Ma Non Troppo) - The Ambrosian Singers
  11. Fantasia (Variazioni Senza Tema)
  12. Scherzo Alla Marcia (Per Stromenti A Fiato)
  13. Cavatina (Per Stromenti Ad Arco)
  14. Toccata

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Great First Buy on Ralph Vaughan Williams........2007-06-05

Up until recently, I was only vaguely familiar with the music of British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. After reading the reviews and noticing the lower than usual price for this set, I thought I'd give it a listen. I'm definitely glad I did as this is some very beautiful music indeed.
All nine of Vaughan William's symphonies are included here along with four bonus pieces, the Concerto Accademico for Violin, the Bass Tuba Concerto, "Three Portraits from the England of Elizabeth" and the overture for the stage play "The Wasps".
Conductor Andre Previn definitely brings these works to life in a mighty way. The "Sea Symphony" is a real standout with its beautiful choral arrangements and orchestrations. Other standouts are the "Pastoral" third symphony and the dramatic Stravinsky-esque fourth symphony.
Indeed, all of the music here is something special and I'm very satisfied to have this set as my introduction to the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
Like other reviewers have stated here, this is definitely a must-have collection and I can't think of a better way to start a Vaughan Williams library than with this.

A small footnote: After listening to the first movement of "A Sea Symphony", it may be quite possible that John Lennon sampled a small section of it for "Revolution 9" on the Beatles' White Album. The section in question occurs roughly 12 minutes into the first movement. It's very brief but it immediately stuck out once it was heard.

5 out of 5 stars Vaughan Williams' wonderful music at last..........2007-04-21

Ralph Vaughan Williams was in my opinion one of the very greatest composers of music. Never content with what he had just written, but nevertheless staunch in his principles, over his lifetime he created a series of amazingly vital and original pieces. I could write many pages about these works, so will just say a little about my favorite of all, the incredible Symphony No 8 in D minor. Written at the extraordinary age of 86, the sheer musical inventiveness of this truly unbelievable piece is without equal and I include here all the "great" classical composers such as Beethoven, Brahms and the like. The first movement "Variations in search of a theme" is serious, thought-provoking and modern, yet unmistakably RVW. Its one of the most original first movements ever written ( owing nothing whatsoever to the classical tradition) and though asking more questions than it answers, is a movement even if you have never listened to any of RVWs music before demands attention and absolutely requires you to listen more. The second movement "Cavatina" is one of the most ghostly-beautiful slow movements ever written. The only thing I can really compare it with is RVWs own "The Lark Ascending" though for me this is a far more complex and challenging piece. I have listened to Barber's famous " Adagio for Strings", written at about the same time as this,and for me, this is an even greater and more moving piece - well Barber hadn't written the so-called "Pastoral" Symphony for practice had he ? The third movement is a typically gruff RVW scherzo. I can just see the old geezer galumphing round his garden complaining about his musicians, modern taxation, life in general... It's really funny and whenever can you say that of Mozart, Beethoven , Brahms and company...?The fourth movement is is ...how on earth do you describe this absolutely extraordinary finale. Part village band, part religious apotheosis, this is music truly not of the everyday earth which we inhabit, but something much more glorious, more astonishing... In this movement RVW uses just about every musical instrument known to man - he must have had enormous fun composing it... but the first entry of the celeste is the moment you all need to listen for.

André Previn has chosen some of the very finest of RVWs works to record on this set and for me this is his greatest testament as a conductor. His sheer (and somewhat amazing in itself as a jazz musician) love for RVWs music comes out tops here. A great recording and an absolutely tremendous bargain.

5 out of 5 stars Previn & Vaughan Williams: An Excellent Coupling.......2007-01-10

I have some of these recordings on RCA Red Seal LPs from the late 1960's. I think it is one the best of three symphony cycles in my possession. The other two are Colin Davis/Sibelius and Herbert Blomstedt/Nielsen. Some of my RVW LPs are Adrian Boult and some are Andre Previn. I prefer Previn. Previn really digs into this music. My three favorites: #2 (London), #3 (Pastoral) and #5. It gives me goose bumps being able to listen to them without rice krispies in the background. Kudos to RCA for re-releasing these gems.

5 out of 5 stars Can't get any better.......2004-07-19

If you've ever thought of getting all of the RVW symphonies but haven't, because of cost or what not, there are no more excuses. This is the best set ever. Previn and the LSO had a magical relationship 30 years ago, and no one has ever done these symphonies better. If you find some of them tough nuts to crack, don't worry; RVW isn't easy music, but it is well worth it. It's not supposed to be simple. The only caveat: analog sound. Now RCA was capable of great sound in the 1970's, and the sound is frankly better than the newer RCA series with Slatkin. But if superb digital sound is paramount, you won't go wrong with Handley's set with Liverpool. It's another top notch cycle. Still, I rate Previn tops in this music. RCA is to be commended for releasing this set, as well as the others in the series...check them out!

5 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Impressive Collection.......2004-04-07

Listen to the bold beginning of Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony, and you've captured the essence of VW at his best. This is the first of 9 symphonies by a composer who is surely England's greatest Symphonist. His essays in the form span the first half of the twentieth century, but include few of its radical elements. Vaughan Williams was a traditionalist throughout, and surely it was that conservative outlook that drew him to the symphonic form in the first place.

Listening to his second symphony, A London Symphony, one hears typical Vaughan Williams-almost entirely melodic in its conception, with lots of diatonic, modal or pentatonic writing, and a touch of chromatic harmony to flavour the melody. It's beautiful, and the music spans a wide emotional gamut from intense introspection to joyous celebration. Only in the 4th Symphony does VW really open himself to a more contrapuntal and dissonant style, and the consequence is that the composition becomes quite reminiscent of Prokofiev or Schostakovich, the two other great Symphonists of the time. Following the 5th Symphony, however, I feel that VW's artistic output suffers. The later pieces, with the exception of the 7th Symphony, Sinfonia Antarctica-based on music he'd composed for the film Scott of the Antarctic--lack the vigor and excitement of the earlier works. They're more introspective, perhaps as befits an older composer, but they don't speak to me as strongly as, say, the later symphonies of Mahler or Schostakovich. Perhaps it is that VW was resistant to change in his basic musical outlook, but by the 1950's, the diatonic/pentatonic ideas he frequented had become increasingly irrelevant. That VW was brilliant and a master craftsman is unquestionable, but he seemed to need new fuel for his compositional fires and was unwilling to consider the atonality of Schoenberg and his followers, the rhythmic vitality of Stravinsky and Bartok, or even the orchestral colours and dramatic juxtapositions of Gustav Mahler. There are still many moments of brilliance, but as a whole the later works move me less.

All of the performances by Andre Previn and the London symphony Orchestra are superb-no one plays this music better. With 9 Symphonies and four other orchestral works-the Concerto Accademico, the Tuba Concerto, the Wasps Overture, and Three Portraits from The England of Elisabeth-this collection is packed with value, and I can scarcely do it justice in the limited room I have. While the Concerto Accademico seems aptly titled and not terribly engaging, the Three Portraits are a gem of VW's work for television. Its worth the price for the first two symphonies and the Sinfonia Antarctica alone, everything else is just gravy--or perhaps I should say, baked beans on toast! All in all, a terrific deal.
Body Language
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • WONDERFULL
  • More than backdrop music
  • smooooth jaaaaaazz (and a little bit of R&B, and funk, and soul...)
  • Boney Is The Bomb
  • His Masterpiece
 Body Language
Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Seduction
  2. Sweet Thing/It's All Good
  3. Pure
  4. Shake It Up
  5. Backbone

ASIN: B00000I3ZR
Release Date: 1999-02-23

Tracks:

  1. Are You Ready?
  2. Into The Blue
  3. Body Language
  4. I'll Always Love You
  5. Boneyizm
  6. Lovefest
  7. Bedtime Story
  8. I Get Lonely
  9. All Night Long

Amazon.com

As learned from the broad-based popularity of his previous albums, people turn to saxophonist Boney James to do one thing: create sultry audio backdrops well suited for mingling, small talk, and romantic notions. James, rotating between tenor, soprano, and alto saxophones, faithfully delivers more of those goods on this, his sixth album. The mood sustained throughout all nine tracks (42-plus minutes runtime) is urbane, low-key, and cue-ball smooth. Chelle Davis provides breathy background vocals on the slow-grooving opening track, "Are You Ready?" and R&B crooners Shai take a more foreground role on the sweetly disarming "I'll Always Love You." Perhaps the album's most attractive cut is the slow urban crawl of "Boneyizm," with subdued interplay between James's tenor sax and Rick Braun's flügelhorn. Nothing shrill, outrageous, new, or significant awaits here, simply an engaging and pleasant listen. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars WONDERFULL.......2007-05-20

No disrespect but boney aint never doing better than this . This is just Magnificent from start to finish.
BUY IT.

5 out of 5 stars More than backdrop music.......2007-01-20

The Amazon reviewer stated that this CD was "sultry audio backdrops well suited for mingling, small talk, and romantic notions." While this is true to a point, "Body Language" is so much more. Try relaxing at home with it--no one else around--no distractions. Close your eyes and listen without any interference between your ears and Boney. The experience will be like draping a rich, deep blue velvet blanket all over you. Sultry? YES! Mingling and small talk? OK, but you're missing so much if that's the only time you listen to Body Language.

5 out of 5 stars smooooth jaaaaaazz (and a little bit of R&B, and funk, and soul...).......2006-11-11

I am still finding my way around the smooth jazz genre, and Boney James is definitely on a fast track to becoming one of my all time favorites. And every time I listen to another one of his albums I think, "now THIS has got to be my favorite one by him". But Body Language *is* my favorite one, hands down. He grooves, he cajoles, he flirts, he seduces, he pleads, he dances... all with his sax, and with crystal clear arrangements and songs that seem to get even better every time you listen to them. I luuuurve the man! Ten stars out of five!

5 out of 5 stars Boney Is The Bomb.......2006-08-21

This is one of his older CDs, but one of my favorites. The music is smooth and wonderful to listen to. Great CD after a long day or to play on a special night.

5 out of 5 stars His Masterpiece.......2006-08-19

This CD is a PURE delight from start to finish. Flawless sound mix and songwriting. His tone is wonderfully understated yet very passionate. Boney is the master of the "come on over baby" riff, he's smooth as silk with the sax. His best CD.
Essential Purcell
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Mad about Baroque
  • The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes
  • Brilliant
  • Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames).
  • Brilliant Purcell Disc
Essential Purcell
Henry Purcell , New College Choir Oxford , King's Consort , Robert King , Roy Goodman , Charles Daniels , John Mark Ainsley , James Bowman , Peter Buckoke , Jane Coe , Rogers Covey-Crump , Gillian Fisher , Michael George , Miles Golding , Jane Norman , Barbara Bonney , Mark Caudle , William Carter , King's Consort Choir , Helen Gough , Paul Nicholson , Angela East , Barry Guy , Tessa Bonner , Jerome Finnis , Rupert Bawden , Lucy Howard , Richard Campbell , Susan Addison , James O'Donnell , and Stephen Saunders
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
  2. Purcell: The Fairy Queen
  3. Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
  4. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx
  5. Purcell: Full Anthems & Organ Music

ASIN: B000002ZDU
Release Date: 1995-04-10

Tracks:

  1. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 5: Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn. Symphony And Opening Chorus
  2. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 3: Be Welcome Then, Great Sir
  3. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: Oh, Fair Cedaria
  4. The Choir Of The King's Consort: Hear My Prayer, O Lord
  5. Great Baroque Arias: When I Am Laid In Earth ('Dido's Lament')
  6. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.1: Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears (Part 1)
  7. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.4: The Sparrow And The Gentle Dove
  8. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: If Music Be The Food Of Love (First Setting)
  9. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.5: Rejoice In The Lord Always ('The Bell Anthem')
  10. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Hosanna To The Highest
  11. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.7: Thou Knowest, Lord, The Secrets Of Our Hearts
  12. Mr. Henry Purcell's Most Admirable Composures: Fairest Isle, All Isles Excelling
  13. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.6: Mark, How Readily Each Pliant String
  14. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: Sound The Trumpet
  15. Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.3: She Loves And She Confesses Too
  16. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: O How Blest Is The Isle
  17. Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
  18. Complete Anthems And Services Vol. 11: An Evening Hymn
  19. Complete Church Music Vol.2: Vouchsafe, O Lord, To Keep Us This Day
  20. Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.2: With Rapture Of Delight... Hail Bright Cecilia

Amazon.com essential recording

The "Essential" Purcell? Well, you could get a bunch of critics to argue about that for a few days, but in the meantime, here is a sampler of highlights from the King's Consort's three admirable Purcell series: the Complete Odes and Welcome Songs, Complete Anthems and Services, and Complete Secular Solo Songs. There are, of course, some of Purcell's most-performed pieces (which probably are "essential"): Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, "Sound the trumpet" from Come, ye sons of Art, Rejoice in the Lord alway (the "Bell Anthem," named for the string figure at the opening that sounds like pealing bells), the gently patriotic "Fairest isle, all isles excelling" (sung by a miscast James Bowman), and a selection from the funeral music for Queen Mary. There are also some delightful surprises--particularly among the little-known secular songs and church music. The plaintive "O fair Cedaria" gets a lovely performance by Barbara Bonney (a singer not usually associated with Purcell); tenor Rogers Covey-Crump (possibly the ideal high tenor for Purcell) sings the enchanting "If music be the food of love"; the church anthems "Let mine eyes run down with tears" and "Remember not, O Lord, our offences" have some startling harmonies as daring as any Monteverdi ever wrote. If you're unfamiliar with Purcell, this reasonably priced disc is a good place to start exploring without a big initial investment. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Mad about Baroque.......2007-02-12

This is a terrific CD. The music is breathtaking. Just buy IT !!!!!

5 out of 5 stars The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes.......2002-08-21

Absolutely beautiful baroque music! The arrangament, singing and instrumentation is superb. It is too bad that Henry Purcell is not as widely known as Bach, because he should be recognized equally well."The Sparrow and the Gentle dove" is alone worth the price of the album! I can not stop playing it!

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant.......2001-10-31

Like in his renditions of Handel's oratorios, Robert King manages to bring a freshness and strenght to Purcell's music that I had seldom heard before. This CD also features some of the best performers of early music in the world. My favourite tracks are Oh, Fair Cedaria, sung by the multi-talented Barbara Bonney; Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher; She Loves and she Confesses too, sung by the wonderful Susan Gritton; and Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn, sung by Rogers Covey-Crump. The only track I didn't find absolutely wonderful is Fairest Isle, sung here by James Bowman. Don't get me wrong, I generally love Mr Bowman, I think that his performance in Mr Purcell's Most Admirable Composures (also conducted by Robert King) makes it another essential Purcell recording; but I find that Fairest Isle was much better done elsewhere, particularly by Christopher Hogwood and Barbara Bonney.

These songs aren't only beautiful, they're also poignant, sweet and unpretentious. I think that it will be very clear to anyone who listens to this recording that Mr Purcell was one of the finest composers that ever lived.

5 out of 5 stars Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames)........2001-10-20

If anyone has benefitted from the reversion in the last three or so decades to period instruments and historical reconstruction, it is Henry Purcell. Before, he was merely great, the peerless word-setter in the English language, a virtuoso of boundless range, a professional composer whose offical commissions were always imbued with personality and invention. But period instrumentation has added to this a greater depth, an other-worldly texture of sound. With his intricate, multi-part vocal writing, his preference for low, rumbling instruments such as the bass viol and the strange and remarkable theorbo, as well as his often sombre and low-key subject matter and treatment, Purcell creates a round, glowing, humming sound as pregnantly full as dub reggae.

This has an extraordinary effect on the listener. Whereas Bach, with his mathematical abstractions, sounds universal and timeless, Purcell's music takes the listener back 300 years, back to different ways of thinking about, feeling about and addressing things we still think etc. about today - death, love, friendship. The emotion is timeless, but the music's beauty is alien, THEIRS, hence its preciousness.

A lot of intelligence has gone into the unity of this compilation, beginning with two Welcomes (to the dawn and to the listener, in this case a King), and ending with thoughts of evening, death and a Baroque 'Thank you for the music'. These are bright, fanfare-like works, but the predominant mood is slow, ruminative, quiet. The selection covers the wide range of Purcell's oeuvre, from opera and funeral marches to secular songs and odes, and includes his most famous vocal works - Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher, and never more evocative of pagan loss and death; the massive 'Bell Anthem', with its ingenious opening symphony and joyful antiphon; and a miraculously serene 'Evening Hymn', Dido's opposite, death indicating hope, the treble voice swirling over the heavy ground bass like the soul released from the inert body.

it might seem quixotic to choose highlights from an exemplary collection of highlights, but the entry of the strings washing over the serene repetition of 'Be Welcome then, great Sir' always makes my heart stop still, while the musical picture of 'Bold Honour', the 'noisy Nothing, stalking shade', blocking the poet's amorous intentions in 'She loves and confesses too', adds a chilling hint of life's transience to a bouyantly bawdy song.

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant Purcell Disc .......2000-11-30

With this album director and Purcell expert Robert King provides the listener with an excellent introduction to the composer's vocal works. The pieces presented here were taken from Mr. King's recordings of 'The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs', 'The Complete Anthems and Services', 'The Complete Secular Solo Songs' and diverse anthology discs. King, his wonderful soloists and musicians do the brilliance of Purcell's music fully justice. Whether he was commissioned by royalty, the church or theatre, Purcell shone in all areas. This disc certainly demonstrates the variety and originality of his craft, not to speak of his uncanny ability of setting words to music.

An outstanding Purcell offering. With a beautiful perfomance by Barbara Bonney of 'Oh, fair Cedaria'. Susan Gritton is equally captivating in 'She loves and she confesses too'. Gillian Fisher's rendition of the famous 'Dido's Lament' is haunting and poignant. Further an intelligent and brilliant 'Hosanna to the highest' by Michael George. James Bowman and Michael Chance sparkle in the countertenor duet 'Sound the trumpet' (from 'Come Ye sons of Art away'). And I should not forget to mention the joyous, luminous performance of the beautiful 'Bell Anthem'. To name but a few favourites, only James Bowman's 'Fairest Isle' was a disappointment.

Those who are familiar with Purcell's music will get an excellent disc with some of his most beloved works. If you are new to Purcell, this is, as already said a great introduction. Which might be the incentive to further explorations of Purcell.

by stardustraven
Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Bryn Terfel's beautiful voice.
  • Why do people think this guy can sing??
  • Relaxing
  • Bryn Terfel's Simple Gifts
  • A Heartfelt Offering Reminiscent of An Earlier Era
 Bryn Terfel - Simple Gifts

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites
  2. Bryn Terfel - If Ever I Would Leave You (Songs from My Fair Lady, On a Clear Day, Camelot, The Little Prince, Brigadoon)
  3. Sacred Songs
  4. Bryn Terfel - Something Wonderful (Bryn Terfel sings Rodgers & Hammerstein)
  5. Bryn Terfel - We'll Keep a Welcome

ASIN: B000B8ISN2
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

  1. Ave Verum Corpus, K.618 - Adapted by Chris Hazell
  2. Deep River - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  3. The Lord Bless You and Keep You
  4. I'll Walk Beside You - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  5. Stabat Mater
  6. Still, Still, Still Weils Kindlein Schlafen Will
  7. Simple Gifts - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  8. How Great Thou Art
  9. Panis Angelicus - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  10. Bless This House - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  11. Ave Verum Corpus
  12. Cavatina - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  13. The Rose
  14. Amazing Grace - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  15. God's Mercy
  16. Morning Has Broken - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  17. Nearer My God To Thee - Arranged by Chris Hazell
  18. Ave Maria
  19. Send In The Clowns - Arranged by Jonathan Tunick
  20. God Will Be With You

Amazon.com

Everything about Bryn Terfel is over-life-size: his physique, his personality, his breath-control, and of course his extraordinarily beautiful voice. This recording displays his stunning vocalism and versatility to full advantage, but its title belies its content. Alhough it does include some simple pieces, the execution is fussy, overdone, and calculated for maximum external effect. The program ranges from Mozart, Pergolesi and pseudo-Bach to Sondheim in arrangements that are pure Hollywood, complete with throbbing strings and rolling drums, often destroying the spirit as well as the letter of the original compositions. It begins with Mozart's heavenly "Ave verum" arranged for baritone solo and chorus, frustratingly cut off after a few phrases (another setting of the same text by Karl Jenkins, written for Terfel, is more satisfying, being complete and original). The splendid baritone Simon Keenlyside joins him here as well as in the opening number of Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater;" originally for soprano and alto, this must be the baritones' revenge on female singers who usurp songs written for men, like Schubert's and Schumann's cycles. Franck's "Panis angelicus" also inexplicably becomes a duet; unfortunately, Terfel's and tenor Aled Jones' voices do not match. Bach-Gounod's popular "Ave Maria" is all swells and exaggerations. The rest of the program consists of folksongs, hymns, show and film tunes, inflated to operatic proportions and generally ending in a fade-out or a flourish. Even the title song is anything but simple. This record is not for purists who like their music performed the way the composer wrote it, but aficionados of great singing will love it. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Bryn Terfel's beautiful voice........2007-05-13

Bryn Terfel has a beautiful voice. Listening to him is very pleasant and definitely something to look forward to. I read a review saying he would replace tenor Pavroti. However, I believe that Mr. Terfel is a Baritone and not a Tenor. That does not detract from the fact that he should be considered one of the world's top male singers. His voice is truly impressive. This CD by Bryn Terfel is one from our collection that is outstanding and a favorite.

1 out of 5 stars Why do people think this guy can sing??.......2007-04-27

Sorry, I think this guy is one of the most overrated singers out there today. He always sounds like he is singing holding his nose shut. VERY nasal sounding.

If you want to listen to an incredibly beautiful voice, buy one of Josh Groban's CD's--you won't regret it! He has the voice of the century!

5 out of 5 stars Relaxing.......2007-02-03

Excellent selection of music. It covers many different types. My wife likes being able to hear the words with out instruments drowning out the vocals. I find it relaxing and many of the songs are familiar and very well done.

5 out of 5 stars Bryn Terfel's Simple Gifts.......2006-02-25

Simply superb. I don't know what our local (Wash DC) paper was talking about when they said Deep River was the weakest link. I was enthralled from beginning to end. I have had the pleasure of hearing Bryn Terfel live in recital at the Kennedy Center. I can assure you that his voice has only improved with age. He was wonderful then and is spectacular now!

5 out of 5 stars A Heartfelt Offering Reminiscent of An Earlier Era.......2006-02-15

Bryn Terfel harkens back to earlier American operatic stars such as Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill who crossed grenres to satisfy their unquenchable need to sing any and all songs that moved them to an appreciative public. These great singers all had their origins singing sacred music from their respective religions and learned to lay their considerable talents before the altar of the simple inspirational song.

This recording is wonderful on many levels. The selections are an unusual mixture of classical sacred music, spirituals, hymns, Lieder, Austrian Christmas and Gaelic songs, musical numbers and movie theme songs harmoniously combined to touch the soul of the listener in a gentle ebb and flow of devotion, intensity and tenderness. All of these songs are beautiful in and of themselves and in his hands, we experience them anew.

Bryn Terfel sings with the commitment necessary to make the awesome challenge of simplicity look easy. To my way of thinking, he is the most communicative and articulate singer today, bar none. He is a poet who savors the sound, feeling and meaning of each and every word and marries it uniquely and faithfully to the music. He transports the listener into the life of a song and transfixes us each and every moment. His enormous talent is not overwhelming or distractive and is inextricably and wholly intertwined with the music. This is greatness and it is very, very rare today.

I like the inclusion of the choir in several of the numbers as it reflects on the nature and context of the songs. I am less fond of the selections with the guest soloists as I feel they do not match his ability to "get inside" a song. The orchestra and orchestations are sensitive and enhancing.

This recording is simply wonderful and should have a broad appeal. It will move and inspire the believer, satisfy and fulfill the otherwise spiritual, calm the troubled and renew a flagging soul.



Russell Watson · The Voice
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Unsure
  • A tenor for the masses
  • A wonderful voice
  • Opera for the Masses
  • There will be copycats but Russell Watson is an Original!
 Russell Watson · The Voice
Russell Watson , Stephen Warbeck , Giuseppe Verdi , Lucio Dalla , Zucchero , Cesar Franck , Ernesto de Curtis , Umberto Giordano , Nigel Hess , Russell Gordon Alistair / Mahoney Gary / Watson , Paul Simon , William / Ure, James Allen Christopher / Cann Warren / Currie , Luigi Denza , Freddie Mercury , Giacomo Puccini , Ennio Morricone , John Themis , Richard Harvey , and Caroline Dale
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Encore
  2. Amore Musica
  3. Sometimes I Dream
  4. Reprise
  5. The Voice: The Ultimate Collection

ASIN: B00005B7JD
Release Date: 2001-04-17

Tracks:

  1. Nella Fantasia
  2. Amor Ti Vieta
  3. Pelagia's Song (Captain Corelli's Mandolin)
  4. Caruso
  5. Miserere
  6. Panis Angelicus
  7. Non Ti Scordar Di Me
  8. La Donna E Mobile
  9. Saylon Dola
  10. Someone Like You
  11. Bridge Over Troubled Waters
  12. Vienna
  13. Funiculi
  14. Barcelona (With Shaun Ryder)
  15. Nessun Dorma!

Amazon.com

Russell Watson's story is a classic rags-to-riches fairy tale: The former welder, after years of singing in pubs and clubs, traveled from Salford, his hometown, to London. He turned up unannounced at the Decca offices and was promptly signed up by one of the most important classical labels in the world. Vocal coaching followed, as did a number of successful live appearances supporting Cliff Richard. Now, we have this recital CD, which explores a wide range of musical styles. Watson's Italian is a little ponderous in tracks such as "Amor Ti Vieta," but this is more than offset by his captivating and utterly natural-sounding tenor voice. The inevitable popular arias are here, namely "La Donna è Mobile" and "Nessun Dorma," sung with a refreshing and youthful vitality. Pop tracks, including Ultravox's classic 1980s hit "Vienna" and a witty cover version of "Barcelona" sung with former Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, sit comfortably on the disc. Watson performs them with integrity, not simply paying lip service to the music of his generation. Watson has the potential to do for classical music what Jamie Oliver has done for cookery, and there are few people who won't find this debut CD appealing. --Rebecca Agnew

Album Details

Full Length LP from the British Tenor that Shot Straight to the Top of the UK Classical Charts. Features Many Beautiful Renditions of Classical and E-z Listening Standards, plus a Version of 'nessun Dorma', which Watson Often Sings Before High-profile English Soccer Matches.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Unsure.......2006-01-07

I'm glad that musical artists besides opera singers are encouraging the art of opera. I also like some of his more upbeat selections as well. In my opinion though, I couldn't listen to his CD for very long. A couple of his arias sounded a bit splatty at times, and back in the throat at others. I don't claim to know everything about opera, I'm only in highschool, but his sound seemed quite pushed in places.
When all is said and done,however, I hope more people will come to know and love opera through his music.

5 out of 5 stars A tenor for the masses.......2005-11-07

I hesitate to add my two cents where others have commented in such number. Still, there are a couple of observations I'd like to pass along, hoping they provide further insight into the phenomenon of Russell Watson and his singing.

First of all, I bought this CD never having heard of Mr. Watson--I just liked the looks of it and thought I'd give it a try. So my perception was based solely on what the CD offered. And I liked it! Both the first time and the next several times. (If I want to get analytical, I can find flaws here and there, but somehow I always enjoy hearing it. Period.)

Why do I like it? For a starter, the performances are musical, interesting, exciting, and aesthetically appealing--and that's my first test of quality. (What good is the greatest, most refined, rendition if you find your attention wandering?) Next, I think Watson's musical instincts (and those of whoever else assisted in creating this CD) are pretty much dead-on. There isn't one track I don't like, though some are clearly my favorites.

OK, the operatic bits don't sound like Pavarotti or Domingo, whom I also love very much. So what? Who says there has to be only one way to do an aria? This music is good enough to support a variety of interpretations. (Now if I could only afford one CD, I'd have to be more demanding.)

This is music for regular people, not necessarily for the elite, and I'm enough of a musical democrat to welcome it. If Watson didn't emerge from a high-class musical background, but still found his way to this music, I say more power to him! He must have an inborn feeling for it, and enough of a voice to perform it convincingly.

We've known a few other tenors from humble musical settings who've risen to popular acclaim (e.g., Mario Lanza). They happen to hear some fine tenor singing and find they can imitate it, and not too badly. With a little encouragement they keep at it, take a few lessons, and soon they're on their way. Where they go from there depends on talent, luck, and choices. I don't know where Watson's career will go in the long run, but I like this initial CD (and the two or three following it).

One concern I felt in listening to "The Voice" was for the voice itself. It seemed to me that Watson might have been forcing it too much, in heroically belting out those high notes. From what I now read, that concern was well founded, for Mr. Watson has had to undergo throat surgery. I hope his recuperated voice will retain the excitement and charm we have grown accustomed to and will serve him (and us) for many years.

4 out of 5 stars A wonderful voice.......2005-05-28

I'd just like to say that while most of the opera purist lot criticize his "untrained voice", they are completely neglecting to say that the beauty of his voice is completely NATURAl. He is a man with a naturally beautiful voice, not one worked on for dozens of years in a conservatorium. Personally, that in itself is commendable. Yes, his pronunciation is not exactly perfect, but I think that this adds to his charm - how his gift (and yes, it is a gift) to him from welding to living out his dream.

Opera purists are a dying race. Making opera accessible to other people is not a crime. I have been brought up in a house filled with music, quite a lot of opera. And I do not think that making opera more accessible is a bad thing. Bringing a more youthful image to opera is a very positive thing. We are seeing a whole generation of artists with wonderful voices, ridding opera of its middle aged image.

Bravo, Russell! You're doing a great job.

PS: Opera purist, I can assure you Russell does not spend a sleepless night on account of your whining. So I suggest you learn to deal with the new youth of opera.

5 out of 5 stars Opera for the Masses.......2005-04-25

Talented Watson brings a youthful, casual elegance to opera which will appeal to opera lovers and novices alike.

Some critics are hard on him for pandering to the pop aspects of modern operatics, but I wouldn't call him a sell out at all, as he certainly has the vocal skills to back up his commercial appeal.

5 out of 5 stars There will be copycats but Russell Watson is an Original!.......2005-03-04

One listen to the voice and it will offer you a true appreciation for this hybrid singer. I call him a hybrid singer because he is one of the new generation singers that have the range to sing beatiful, classical pieces as well as pop songs. Russell has the looks of a boy band star but he chose, instead, to follow his heart and bring beautiful, european music to the world's attention. While I have heard comparisons to Josh Groban let me just set the record straight. Russell Watson is the original while Josh Groban, who needs a good barber, is the copy. Russell's first album, the voice, was released in April 2001. Josh Groban's cd was released in May 2002. Both singers have worked with some of the same producers but there is no true comparison when you hear the range and beauty of Russell's voice. He truly could have been an opera singer and has performed in a few operas in europe. I wont bother to get technical about this cd. It truly is one of my favorites in an extensive mixed cd catalog that I own. What I will say is to listen to a few sample tracks and understand what so many of us in the U.S. and abroad already know: Russell Watson is King!
Seduction
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Boney's Best
  • Success!!
  • good old boney
  • Smooth As Silk
  • Wonderful Wanda
 Seduction
Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Body Language
  2. Sweet Thing/It's All Good
  3. Backbone
  4. Pure
  5. Trust

ASIN: B000002MYE
Release Date: 1995-10-10

Tracks:

  1. Camouflage
  2. Got It Goin' On
  3. Lights Down Low
  4. Seduction
  5. Washington Bridge
  6. Without A Doubt
  7. Sara Smile
  8. Second Nature
  9. Ain't No Sunshine

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Boney's Best.......2007-07-07

This is the quintessential Boney James CD. His version of Ain't No Sunshine is a classic that fans salivate for at his concerts(I being one of them)! Sara Smile is also a masterpiece. If you love Boney, this is a must have!

5 out of 5 stars Success!!.......2007-06-07

This is definetely his best CD including the latest "Shine". If you're a true fan, you must get this one. When I got it, I too couldn't stop listening to it! Great Job Boney!!

4 out of 5 stars good old boney.......2007-05-20

Better tahn his latest issue.True boney fans will already have this in there box but for those just discovering 'seek out'.

5 out of 5 stars Smooth As Silk.......2004-11-03

Boney is extremely smooth and talented. From the named title "Seduction" to "Ain't No Sunshine" the man grooves. Easy on the heart as well as the soul. Boney took a number of old ballads and does wonderful things with them, for example I can listen to "Ain't No Sunshine" over and over again. He makes magic with "Sara Smile". His style of horn is a very unobtrusive and as I said before, smooth as silk. You do not have to be in the "right" mood to enjoy this classic, just put it on and it fits like an expensive well maintained luxury sedan. Give it a test drive and you will like it. Your collection will not be complete without this one, you will not be dissappointed! If love the stylings of the late great Grover Washington Jr and the ever present David Sanborn, you will love this one and many of his others.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful Wanda.......2003-03-21

I like this cd because it's everything that I am. Sexy, Sensual, romantic and always in the mood. I enjoy Boney James music anyway, because he knows what to play to put you in mood and keep you that way. Makes the ladies as well as the men keep coming back for more. He's the Luther Vandross in jazz. Keep it coming Boney.
Sweet Thing/It's All Good
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Great work Boney!
  • The CD case.
  • 5 Stars and then some!
  • Smooth Jazz
  • The BEST Boney cd ever! Take this on the desert island!
 Sweet Thing/It's All Good
Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Body Language
  2. Seduction
  3. Backbone
  4. Ride
  5. Pure

ASIN: B0000062W3
Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

  1. East Bay
  2. Nothin' But Love
  3. Words (Unspoken)
  4. Sweet Thing
  5. It's All Good
  6. After The Rain
  7. Innocence
  8. I Still Dream
  9. Ivory Coast
  10. It's All Good (Bonus Remix)

Amazon.com

Boney James is a master at combining cool R&B grooves and good melodies, then surmounting them with warmly memorable saxophone sounds. On Sweet Thing, the lighter, piping tone of his soprano sax floats smoothly through tunes like "East Bay" and "Ivory Coast," but he gets a distinctly funkier touch from his deeper horns. There's a cool intensity to his alto sax on "Nothin' but Love," while his soulful tenor is his main voice, whether biting gently into the beat on ballads or generating more heat over Latin tempos. James gets some terrific support here from David Torkanowsky on keyboards and Lenny Castro on percussion. Alex Al provides all the backing tracks for "Words (Unspoken)," a lightly pulsing carpet of keyboards and programming, while there are several good vocalists, including Tony Maiden on "Sweet Thing," Al Jarreau on "I Still Dream," and Eric Benet on the funky remix of "It's All Good." --Adam Rains

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great work Boney!.......2007-04-05

Although Seduction will always be my all-time favorite of Boney's, Sweet Thing/It's All Good is great work. East Bay is a wonderful groove and sets the tone for the rest of the tracks. But Sweet Thing is my cut from this cd. I got the opportunity to hear him play that song live and oh, my word!!

Buy it for yourself. Listen to it. You'll find yourself coming back to it.

3 out of 5 stars The CD case........2007-03-13

The CD case was a bit cracked,but over all it as ok...

4 out of 5 stars 5 Stars and then some!.......2007-03-12

This artist is truly gifted and we adore his JAZZ....we recently went to his concert in Atlanta, he was unbelieveable and determined this was one of the best entertainers we have ever seen. The music quality and arrangements are unique and a real night of jazz. We already pruchased his "Shine " CD....BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Smooth Jazz.......2005-07-29

A friend of mine let me listen to this CD. After I heard it once I had to go out and get it. I hope his others are just as good. I will buy them too. I love to put on a CD and it can play from beginning to end without interruption. ITS THAT GOOD!!!

5 out of 5 stars The BEST Boney cd ever! Take this on the desert island!.......2004-09-18

My favorite Boney cd and one of my favorite cd's overall in my collection. Every song is great, but my two favorites are East Bay and After the Rain. He brings a soulful, R&B funk to the saxophone. What a talent!
Pure
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Pure is puuurrre genious
  • A fine, fine album!
  • Urban Jazz comes of age...
  • The Best Boney I Have Heard
  • Good Melodies but lacks the Depth
 Pure
Boney James , and Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Contemporary R&BContemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Shine
  2. Body Language
  3. West Coast Coolin'
  4. Seduction
  5. Sweet Thing/It's All Good

ASIN: B0002HJF34
Release Date: 2004-08-03

Tracks:

  1. Pure
  2. Better With Time - featuring Bilal
  3. 2:01 AM
  4. Stone Groove - featuring Joe Sample
  5. Appreciate - featuring Debi Nova
  6. Here She Comes
  7. Break Of Dawn - featuring Dwele
  8. It's On
  9. Thinkin' 'Bout Me
  10. You Dont Have To Go Home

Amazon.com

The man who made R&B safe for smooth-jazz saxophonists has another possible Soul Train award winner featuring slick vocal excursions by Debi Nova and Dwele. There's also a real groove-a-thon with Bilal titled "Better with Time" that, like the lyrics state, is like an old soul record. Keyboards also stand out among these 10 tracks. Joe Sample delivers one of his patented short piano solos on the aptly titled "Stone Groove," and while Billy Preston's organ and Bobby Lyle's piano are not out front on "You Don't Have to Go Home," the aural picture they frame for the artist is masterful. James, who produced this album, has developed into a very solid contemporary jazz composer, adding spicy horn arrangements throughout that really showcase his growth in that area--particularly on "Here She Comes," which has an Incognito horn-section vibe to it. It all adds up to James's most rewarding album since 1998's Sweet Thing. --Mark Ruffin

Album Description

Smooth Jazz sax superstar Boney James challenges conventions with his ninth album, Pure. The premiere urban instrumentalist's first album since 2001's near-gold and Grammy nominated Ride, and the first he has wholly produced, Pure is the most soulful and freewheeling of an extraordinary career. With three straight #1 Contemporary Jazz/Top 40 R&B albums, and three career gold albums, Boney James is pure gold with Pure.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pure is puuurrre genious.......2007-01-12

I had to have this cd when i heard Better with time and after wearing a hole in that track i broke out and immersed myself in the whole cd. Love it!! Great music for a romantic rainy cozy day with your mate or without.

5 out of 5 stars A fine, fine album!.......2006-09-25

I give out 5 stars very sparingly, and only for the truly best of the best. But this album deserves it. Where to begin to describe its merits? Boney's classy sax, the sexy grooves that effortlessly go back and forth between smooth jazz and R&B, the exquisite musical arrangements, the outstanding vocals.... this album is a must in any music lover's collection.

5 out of 5 stars Urban Jazz comes of age..........2006-07-12

Pure is pure good stuff!

His first totally self-produced album with co-writing credits on all tracks. Boney grows with every new album.

And Debi Nova is simply amazing on her track.

Definitely earns it's 5-star rating from me.



4 out of 5 stars The Best Boney I Have Heard.......2006-03-09

I have four other albums by Boney James. This one is my favorite. The more real drumming he uses, the more I like it.

3 out of 5 stars Good Melodies but lacks the Depth.......2005-08-18

Boney is the BEST wind instrumentalist I have ever heard play and a lot of people will agree with me. Any Symphony Orchestra won't hesitate to have him in its esemble. The problem here is that his fans had been accustomed with his style from earlier recordings which I believe should not have changed. People should take note of the UK group SADE in this regard. Change your style and its back to square one.
Pity !!, but I will stay loyal. Brilliant musician nonetheless
Ride
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • I wish I could give it a 10!
  • Good jazz music with different influences
  • Come along for the ride!
  • A wonderfully crafted cd and more than worth the money
  • Smooth Ride!
 Ride
Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
RomanticsRomantics | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Body Language
  2. Sweet Thing/It's All Good
  3. Seduction
  4. Pure
  5. Backbone

ASIN: B00005O6JQ
Release Date: 2001-10-23

Tracks:

  1. Heaven (featuring Trina Broussard)
  2. Grand Central
  3. RPM
  4. Something Inside (featuring Dave Hollister)
  5. So Beautiful
  6. See What I'm Sayin'?
  7. All About You
  8. Ride (featuring Jaheim)
  9. As You Are
  10. This Is The Life

Amazon.com

It's no wonder Boney James is a winner of a Soul Train music award, and that his music is heard on urban radio almost as much as he's heard on smooth-jazz radio. From his first album, and on up to Ride, his eighth, James always has had a degree of funky soul and light pop mixed in his sax playing, which is a smooth-jazz staple. But here the lines are drawn more clearly and distinctly. There's no doubt that he's staking a claim in the retro-soul R&B movement with several potential hits, including "Something Inside," with its gospel-drenched Dave Hollister vocal, and "See What I'm Saying," featuring bassist Marcus Miller. With popular singer-rapper Jaheim, James manages to make at least three musical references to the '70s on the title track, including a musical nod to Con Funk Shun. The average smooth-jazz saxophonist wouldn't know Con Funk Shun from Brass Construction, which is one reason why James is not your average smooth-jazz saxophonist. He has chipped away at two different audiences and now has one big one that not only allows him headline status, but gold records. Ride will be his fourth in a row. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I wish I could give it a 10!.......2007-01-05

Boney James is awesome. I like the artists he chose to collaborate with on this album. I bought this years ago but still find it soothing and refreshing now as I commute to and from work.
#5 So Beautiful has been my all time ultimate ballad...the crescendos, the soothing, the rhythms....BEAUTIFUL as the title indicates.

5 out of 5 stars Good jazz music with different influences.......2005-07-11

This is a great jazz album for those to enjoy who can appreciate modern jazz with a variety of influences, including hip hop and R&B. James pulls it off here with Ride. Standout tracks include Heaven, Grand Central (my personal favorite) and RPM. He has managed to unite devoted jazz listeners and urban audiences across North America, proving that music like his transcends all boundaries. All of his albums are full of his self-penned classics and anyone who craves jazz with an urban feel to it will enjoy this album from start to finish.

5 out of 5 stars Come along for the ride!.......2004-12-18

This is a fantastic album if you are not a "jazz purist" and are open to smooth jazz with an R&B/Hip Hop flavor. That said, I bought this CD 2 years ago and have not tired of it yet. Each song brings something to this release. The songs with the vocal tracks (especially "Something Inside" and "Ride") are really enjoyable. You can feel the emotion expressed in the cut "So Beautiful", and "This Is The Life" transports the listener to the Carribean. This is definitely a CD for your collection - if you are not limited in your musical tastes.

4 out of 5 stars A wonderfully crafted cd and more than worth the money.......2004-01-15

I highly recommend this album to just about anyone that likes jazz, no matter what kind. This is his best album to date and a perfect one to start on if you're just getting into him. He may look like Kenny G with the hair and all, but there is no question that Boney James is the premiere modern jazz saxophonist right now. Perfect for a background with people over, grooving to by yourself or with that other special person. If you were thinking at all about buying this, I would definitely go ahead and do so.

Heaven - Similar to the style of his album Sweet Thing, the opening track reinforces the almost R&B-esque sound that Boney James has been weaving more and more into his songs. This song annoyed me at first, but it grew on me--the same way the entire album did :: 6/10

Grand Central - This song is a solid groove track, setting the standard for the upbeat songs on the album. Unlike Sweet Thing, Ride displays a much funkier and fun side to Boney James, straying a bit from the make-out theme in his previous recordings :: 8/10

Rpm - Boney James branches out here with a fast-paced dance beat to back him, and it succeeds wonderfully. It is an aptly named track that will have you just grooving to the cd :: 9/10
Something Inside - James slows us back down here to settle back into his traditional laid-back sound. There is nothing old about it though, as he continues to refine and develop his sound, avoiding the boredom and redundancy a lot of artists slip into :: 7/10

So Beautiful - Continuing with the R&B groove and weaving in a funkier background, this has elements of Shake It Up with Rick Braun, and involves some great saxophone work :: 8/10

See What I'm Sayin' - One of the highlights tracks. This is one of my all time favorites and never gets old. Need to lift the mood or just feel like grooving? Turn up the sound system and love it :: 10/10

All About You - It's hard to follow up the pervious track and Boney tries to bring us back down, but by now the vocals have become a little tiring and he does begin to risk repetitiveness here. The lyrics certainly were not inspired and there is a certain lack of melodic development, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it as a nice background song. But don't turn the volume down just yet... :: 5/10

Ride - Vocals are dominant again with Jaheim, but this recording is the best vocal song on the disc, snapping out of the boredom that was threatening to set in. A retro sound with beautiful harmonies and fun lyrics, you can't but help but feelin' the groove and wishing she (or he) was there to dance with you :: 8/10

As You Are - Though not the last track, this song brings closure with a beautiful lullaby song as only Boney James can do them, reminiscent of The Stars Above from Shake It Up :: 8/10

This Is The Life - And the final track...and the best Boney James song to date. This is my favorite song, period, at the moment. Like in Sweet Thing's closing track Ivory Coast, James reaches out for a carribbean sound, and comes up with this jewel that'll have you wanting to dance every time it comes on. The steel pans are simply awesome, and a grooving melody and inspired solos...well, I can't describe how awesome this song is. Make sure to have your volume up in the beginning to catch the little laugh and steel pan opening :: 11/10

Bonus Track - A much appreciated and funky offering, especially after the last song...

4 out of 5 stars Smooth Ride!.......2003-10-27

I know I'm late evaluating this CD and it's been out for over a year now, but it's still worth a review in my book! I've been a huge fan of Boney James now for over 10 years and I've collected all of his albums. I've even had the pleasure of watching him in concert here in Syracuse back in 1998. So it's a no brainier to purchase his latest album, "Ride".

Right off the bat I noticed something different about this CD from past releases. There are 3 vocals that I have to tell you are good, but don't give me a buzz like in his previous albums. "Heaven" with Trina Broussard is listenable. "Something Inside" with Dave Hollister however does not do this CD justice. Maybe he should have left it for another album. The rest of the CD is flawless, vintage Boneyism! I love "Grand Central" and "RPM". With that said, Ride certainly is one you can take.
Backbone
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • BONEY BONEY BONEY!!!
  • Backbone
  • The epitome of sensual jazz
  • The epitome of sensual jazz
  • SIMPLY SUPERB ........
 Backbone
Boney James
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
4-for-3 Jazz4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 Pop4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
4-for-3 All Music4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Trust
  2. Seduction
  3. Sweet Thing/It's All Good
  4. Body Language
  5. Shine

ASIN: B000002MR6
Release Date: 1994-05-24

Tracks:

  1. Backbone
  2. Bleecker Street
  3. Just Between Us
  4. Trinidad
  5. Blue
  6. Love You All My Lifetime
  7. Happy Home
  8. One Autumn Night
  9. The Night I Fell In Love

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BONEY BONEY BONEY!!!.......2005-10-25

The first cd I bought by Boney James was Body Language; then I got Ride and Pure followed. I thought Body Language was cool but did not care for Ride and Pure because I thought it leaned really more toward r&b than jazz. I know a mixture of jazz and r&b is what Boney is about but just a little too much r&b. Now this cd (Backbone) is a serious smooth jazz cd. A must have for your collection. There are some mean grooves on here. When I first heard this cd I went (that's Boney James)? Man he really sounded great without all the singing. He can really play the sax. I hope he does more like this one and Seduction and Trust. I had to go back into time to get some real music from Boney James. This music is guaranteed to satisfy your smooth jazz appetite. When you get this one or these. ENJOY!!!

5 out of 5 stars Backbone.......2005-08-03

Excellent, Boney James has done it again. For those jazz lovers, its a must have CD. Like all the previous CD's, Boney has a way to move you while you listen to his music. This, like every other cd, sets the mood for enjoyment, and lots of loving.

5 out of 5 stars The epitome of sensual jazz.......2003-04-21

"Backbone" is by far one of the sexiest and most sensual CD's I have ever heard. Every track drips with emotion and the song "Blue" is a veritable musical aphrodisiac. "Backbone" should be in everyone's Smooth Jazz collection.

5 out of 5 stars The epitome of sensual jazz.......2003-04-21

"Backbone" is by far one of the sexiest and most sensual CD's I have ever heard. Every track drips with emotion and the song "Blue" is a veritable musical aphrodisiac. "Backbone" should be in everyone's Smooth Jazz collection.

5 out of 5 stars SIMPLY SUPERB ...............2002-04-23

BONEY JAMES IS THE CREAM OF THE JAZZ STARS, AND " BACKBONE "
IS ONE OF THE BEST JAZZ ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.
I HAVE EVERY ONE OF HIS ALBUMS, AND THEY ARE ALL GREAT.
BUT THIS ONE IS THE BEST. EVERY TRACK IS PURE LISTENING
PLEASURE, AND SLIPS FROM ONE TRACK TO THE NEXT WITH
EFFORTLESS EASE. THIS IS SOME OF THE SMOOTHEST JAZZ
YOU ARE LIKLEY TO HEAR. BUY A COPY NOW, TRUST ME, YOU'LL
BE GLAD YOU DID !!

Music Review:

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  7. Maestro Nobile Herbert Von Karajan 1 [Box set]
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Music Review

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