Search - Leonard Bernstein, J. Michael Leonard, Sergey Rachmaninov :: The Art of the Song

In love with this music

11/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Charlie Haden(bass and vocal)), Shirley Horn(vocals), Bill Henderson(vocals), Ernie Watts(tenor sax), Alan Broadbent(piano and arragements) and Larance Marable(drums, primarily sensitive brush work). This is music at its finest. If you like lyrical, medodic jazz, don't pass up this disk. Shirley Horn creates a spell with magical ballads that ooze perfect phrasing. Bill Henderson sings with a deftness and sensitivity that will take you over. Ernie Watts playing is flawlessly lyrical. Larance Marable's brush work is soft and tasteful. Charlie Haden will move you to tears when you hear him sing the final ballad on this CD. Alan Broadbent has arranged a Rachmaninoff piece for strings, bass...stunning. This is a CD for thoughtful, quiet times - it's beautifully rendered around themes that are timeless. If you want to be moved...if you want to hear music that's wonderfully moving on a number of levels...if you want to hear musical passion, thought and rare jazz genius realized, buy this CD!"

Beautiful, heartfelt, great vocals

11/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've loved Haden's other work, and this one is no exception...rich arrangements, soulful vocals... If it had grooves, I'd wear it out."

"Good music lasts forever"

10/24/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"  Charlie Haden- Quartet West The Art Of The Song (Verve 547403-2) Now here's a man who is in love with the past. Haden seems to be able to bring out the magic in the songs of the past, predominantly the film musics of the thirties to the fifties. Quartet West (Haden- bass / Alan Broadbent-piano/ Ernie watts-tenor sax / Larance Marable-drums) have been around since about 1986,and have recorded a number of albums to date all of equal beauty and scope. This group pretty much allows Charlie Haden to work with standards and create a late night feel, if you like your jazz this way. On this release he works with Shirley Horn on four tracks, as well as Bill Henderson on four. The group sounds relaxed and laid back, with Ernie Watt's extended sax solos sounding as sweet as ever, while Marable's brush work on drums compliments the material covered. Haden of course is Mr Versatility, with material covered from Rachmaninov to Jerome Kern, Ravel, Jimmy van Heusen, to compositions by Haden himself and pianist Alan Broadbent. The strongest piece here is the beautiful tune by Jerome Kern The Folks Who Live On The Hill, which was originally featured in the film High,Wide and Handsome (1937), with stunning vocals by Horn. This is an intimate recording, with beautiful arrangements and delicate phrasings, and if you're not a stranger to the works of this outfit, then you'll like what you'll hear on this recording. Haden employs a chamber orchestra to accompany him on most number, heightening the emotional content of the pieces. Haden has such a vast history to his name as a bass player, and it's not for me to go over old territory. Just check out his resume in any number of jazz encyclopedias to realize how talented and experienced he really is. Just when I thought I was getting tired of jazz standards performed by quartets, I am reminded how graceful it can all be. As Haden says re this record "Good music lasts forever.""