Search - George Gershwin, W.C. Handy, James [01] P. Johnson :: Gershwin's World [Hybrid SACD]

Open your ears shut your mouths

! | 08/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record is smoking , every cut is really CREATIVE(the St louis blues GROOVES). So all you guys looking for a museum experience look elsewhere, of course it is not what Gerswin wrote initially but if you want just a copy of past music then listen to the original and stop complaining that it doesn't sound like Gershin, the aim was to sound like Hancock. If you're not happy with that buy a Marsalis record to hear people compying artists of the past with nothing new to say."

You will be enthralled

! | yahoo chat: books and literature | 02/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Herbie just won another Grammy last week with River: the Joni Letters, so I thought I'd come back to this, his last project on Verve.



You won't find so much of standard tribute fare on Gershwin's World. It's more of a theme for some real creativity. There are two rhythmic fragments (including the Overture) that fade in and out and leave you wanting more. There's someone singing Summertime and another song, but don't look at who it is until you've heard them. There's also a great scat singer and harmonica player guesting on W.C. Handy's St. Louis Blues, but again don't look at the notes, just listen.



What else? Just a few odda and enda like Gershwin's Lullabye, with a string orchestra backing up Herbie, and something called Piano Concerto in D by a guy named Ravel, a piece in 3/4 that Hancock has turned into something ethereally else. Also a few very cool jazz numbers that turn all of this into a subtle smooth treat for jazz and music lovers.



You will be enthralled, mesmerized and amazed by this work.

"