Mark Maj | Lackawanna, NY United States | 08/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My father has played Accordian since he was a very small child. He played in a polka band when he became old enough to play in bars. After hours he would go down town and sit in with the local jazz musicians. My father always had some vinyl of some great player on the turn table most every night while i was growing up. Monk, Diz, Bird, Miles and Art. It may seem funny sounding to you, But Art Van Damme is the king of his instrument and just as great an artist. He could play great ballads like Miles. Dizzying hot upbeat tunes like Bird or foot taping latin beats like Dizzy. I personally am greatful I had a chance to know who he was and am Very glad his work is coming out on CD."
ONCE OVER LIGHTLY
FRED C. DORN | GAITHERSBURG, MD | 12/23/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"IT TOO BAD THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THE ACCORDIAN AS A MINOR INSTRUMENT. ART VAN DAMME'S STYLE WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN JAZZ STYLE OF THE 50'S AND 60'S. THIS IS A RECORDING THAT SHOULD BE IN ANY JAZZ LOVERS COLLECTION. ART VAN DAMME IS TO THE ACCORDIAN AS DAVE BRUBECK IS TO THE PIANO."
Relax....and enjoy
FRED C. DORN | 03/20/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having played the accordion I can state for a fact that it's capable of many colors and sounds. In the hands of Mr. Van Damme it proves to be a true jazz instrument. This CD is a perfect example of his quintet and the added bonus are the tracks recorded with Jo (Darlene Edwards) Stafford. Ms. Stafford has perhaps one of the most effortless vocal styles and the interplay with Mr. Van Damme's accordion is an almost textbook example of how a singer with an accompanist should sound. Great stuff and here's hoping that more "Columbia Records" Van Damme is reissued."
Jo excellant; Art not bad either!
Jim Holtz | Madison, Wi United States | 06/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every avid Jo Stafford fan must own this cd although she is only on the 1st album, ONCE OVER LIGHTLY. She was, as the title of another cd suggests, America's Most Versatile Singing Star. That latter cd on her own label, Corinthian, is of hits from her super productive Columbia period. She proved that bold compliment with this and her other theme genre dominated albums. In 2 swingers from LIGHTLY, Lady Is A Tramp & Nice Work If You Can Get It, Jo worked her voice like a true jazz instrument. She was doing the scales along with Art's accordion on Lady & scatted crazily on Nice Work. That great ballad, But Not For Me, started with piano backup & quickly swithed to accordion after the verse & ended with both instruments together. This effect & Jo's great jazz reflections made But Not sound very original although it's among the most recorded of songs. With the ballads (These Foolish Things, Foggy Day, Autumn Leaves, My Old Flame, But Not For Me, & One For My Baby) & the swingers,(Amost Like Being In Love, Mine, Gypsy In My Soul, Lady is A Tramp, Nice Work, & Your'e Mine You), Jo & Art perforemd as true jazz musicians & made them true individualized jazz masterpeices. Her voice flowed easily over the notes & blended well with the 5 musicians. Art Van Dammme's non-Jo album, MANHATTEN TIME is probably ***** but without her, I can't be as praiseworthy. I wish that Amazon would list this 2-4-1 under Jo Stafford's cds but it can be called up under Jo's name & the title, ONCE OVER LIGHTLY."