Search - Ben Webster :: At the Renaissance

Excellent

03/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm generally averse to giving a rating of 5 stars, which, to my mind, should be reserved for things that are virtually perfect. Like almost everything else, this CD is not perfect--the performers sometimes strayed way too far from the microphones, and there are occasional popping noises (they are not too loud) that one does not normally hear from CDs--but this CD is so excellent, overall, that 4 stars would just not be enough. I love this CD, and I am by no means a hardcore jazz fan. The music is great and this remaster (the Analogue Productions gold CD) is excellent. I'll bet the JVC remaster is excellent also, though I have not heard it. Nor have I heard the regular (earliest-mastered) CD, so I cannot comment about it. All I can say is this Analogue Productions disc provides great music with excellent sound-quality--though it does unfortunately come at a much higher price than the regular CD."

Wish I was There

06/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Must have been a great live show; wish I had been there. "Georgia On My Mind" alone is worth the price of the CD. And, despite its appearance on so many other recordings (notably on "See You At The Fair" & on the famous Ellington Fargo live gig), "Stardust" has Ben stretching out further than you otherwise get to hear. "Poutin'" from "King of the Tenors", one of my favorites, appears under another title as well. Cool gig!"