1001+ Albums:
60s Block 2
Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Artist: Bill Evans
Year: 1961
The live aspect with the table chatter and clinking of glasses in the background is a nice touch. Just lay back with your eyes closed for this one or scan through the internet or a book. Very relaxing and just nice to listen to.
Rating: B+
Green Onions
Artist: Booker T and the MGs
Year: 1962
The title track is essentially the definition of cool. The rest is more of the same kind of thing: organ driven jazz with a little rock and soul spirit. This is mostly a lesser version of the awesome green onions, more like white or red onions, not quite achieving that perfect green again. Not to say it isn't enjoyable though, or even pretty damn good.
Rating: B
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Artist: Ray Charles
Year: 1962
Ray Charles doesn't seem to do it for me. As I can recall, probably a little better than his first album in the 1001, but still not my taste. I don't like that heavy orchestration, big band sound. A little too saccharine and sentimental. It is, to be fair, toned down a bit from the other album.
Rating: C
Night Life
Artist: Ray Price
Year: 1962
The introduction is funny (unintentionally so) and unnecessary. The 1001 albums book describes this as Nashville's answer to Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours, and for me it seems to do the same thing to country music what that album did for me and Sinatra's big band swing type style: cooled it down with melancholy and therefore made it enjoyable. That's not to say it's as good as that album, because it's not. Just more enjoyable than most of the country I've listened to before on reviewing the 1001.
Rating: B-
Jazz Samba
Artist: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
Year: 1962
Cool hearing the guitar as a jazz instrument. I like my jazz light on the blaring horns, and this reflects my tastes rather well. It isn't calm, necessarily, but it isn't annoying or busy. It had me moving but also relaxed. Something I could dance to but also just chill out with, which is a combination I've found rare in jazz thus far. Makes me think of salsa. The food not the dance. But also the dance.
Rating: B+
Green OnionsArtist: Booker T and the MGs
Year: 1962
The title track is essentially the definition of cool. The rest is more of the same kind of thing: organ driven jazz with a little rock and soul spirit. This is mostly a lesser version of the awesome green onions, more like white or red onions, not quite achieving that perfect green again. Not to say it isn't enjoyable though, or even pretty damn good.
Rating: B
Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicArtist: Ray Charles
Year: 1962
Ray Charles doesn't seem to do it for me. As I can recall, probably a little better than his first album in the 1001, but still not my taste. I don't like that heavy orchestration, big band sound. A little too saccharine and sentimental. It is, to be fair, toned down a bit from the other album.
Rating: C
Night LifeArtist: Ray Price
Year: 1962
The introduction is funny (unintentionally so) and unnecessary. The 1001 albums book describes this as Nashville's answer to Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours, and for me it seems to do the same thing to country music what that album did for me and Sinatra's big band swing type style: cooled it down with melancholy and therefore made it enjoyable. That's not to say it's as good as that album, because it's not. Just more enjoyable than most of the country I've listened to before on reviewing the 1001.
Rating: B-
Jazz Samba
Artist: Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd
Year: 1962
Cool hearing the guitar as a jazz instrument. I like my jazz light on the blaring horns, and this reflects my tastes rather well. It isn't calm, necessarily, but it isn't annoying or busy. It had me moving but also relaxed. Something I could dance to but also just chill out with, which is a combination I've found rare in jazz thus far. Makes me think of salsa. The food not the dance. But also the dance.
Rating: B+
I spent some time listening and dancing to salsa music. I love it. Much jazz this week!
ReplyDeleteAhhh Rico Suave. So what type of music is Sunday at the Village Vanguard by Bill Evans? I much prefer this format Alex, reading more than one at a time allows more of the subtle humor to show through, which is one of the great aspects of your writing.
ReplyDelete