Search - Albert Ammons, Mea Lewis :: First Day

Good Stuff!

06/11/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered this CD sound-unheard, on faith. If I was a little surprised, I was not disappointed. The music here, from the first day Blue Note opened its doors, takes me back to a time I can only imagine, but which feels very real and strikes a sympathetic note in my soul somewhere.I can hear echoes of ragtime here mixed with blues and foreshadowing (gulp!) Rock and Roll. Sometimes melancholy, sometimes rollicking, but always the real thing, no BS. Recording quality varies, and the occasional pop or hiss can be annoying, but these defects are infrequent, fortunately. My only other complaint was the sequencing of the tracks. Lewis' blues numbers are very similar, and to put three of them back to back right at the start isn't how I would have done it. Personally, I like the Ammonds tracks better. I am going to buy some of his other work, hopefully some recorded on magnetic tape rather than those old master discs. But if you want a taste of late-night-smoky-30s this is a good one to start with."

Two grand masters at work

T. Bekken | Austmarka Norway | 06/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ammons and Lewis cannot be overestimated as boogie and blues pianists, and this cd is ample proof that their music is as timeless as anything else you will ever hear. The quiet grace of Lewis' slow numbers and the two-fisted punch of Ammons' uptempo boogies must be heard by anybody who claims even the slightest interest in jazz, blues and for that matter, rock & roll."

If you only have one Boogie Woogie CD in your collection ...

Delta Dave | Santa Clara, CA United States | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"make it this one. Other Boogie Woogie CDs may have more fireworks. This one has magic. Invite these two legends into your home and hear music that is authentic, relaxed, and accessible. There's a strong left hand throughout and a right hand that plays an economical number of melody notes. You can hear and appreciate the stylistic differences between Lewis and Ammons, and the minor surface noise just adds to the old time ambiance. As a student a Boogie Woogie piano, I find this CD a perfect learning tool."