A lot better than I thought
01/17/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I loved The Police but I have to admit I was a little skeptical of Andy Summers tackling Monk since he isn't from a true jazz guitar background. But I have to say that overall he did a pretty good job. The sound reminds me of Bill Frisell and although Summers doesn't really knock me out on his soloing his tonal pallette is pleasant and his style is suitable to Monk's music. If you are new to jazz guitar I would check out guys like Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, and Mark Elf for a more mainstream look at jazz guitar; or something a little more rock-edged also there's John Scofield & Mike Stern & Paul Bollenback."
Not quite smooth jazz, rock, or straight-ahead jazz
a superintelligent shade of the col | minneapolis | 01/30/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Not a great jazz album, but a good one. Andy Summers doesn't have the melodic brilliance of a more hardcore jazz guitarist (even though it's all he's done for the last several years). What he DOES have is an ear for pleasing pop production and arrangement. The recording and production quality is far more polished than usual for a jazz album, and the arrangements are creative. From a pure production point, it'd be good smooth jazz. But Monk's tunes are too jagged for smooth jazz, the sometimes aggressive arrangements are too rocking for straight-ahead, and the swing too overtly jazzy for the rock fans. So it's an album that fails to please three different markets. Still, it's a good effort, with particularly nice performances by some of the sidemen (Peter Erskine on drums). But when it gets down to it, if i want Summers i'll put on a Police record, and if i want Monk i'll put on a Monk record. Nobody but nobody tops the master!"
Green chimneys is a winner
a superintelligent shade of the col | 07/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"when i listen to music, it's either soundgarden, or pearl jam. however, when i visited barnes and nobles the other day, i came across an album done by andy summers entitled "green chimneys". i was a fan of andy's when he was with the police, so decided to sample this album. "green chimneys" is a great album. tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 are great medleys that stay in your head. summers has really evolved into a jazz musician. the horn line featured in this album are impressive, while summers' guitar play is smooth and tranquile."