Brilliant selections unavailable elsewhere
Robert English | Independence, OR USA | 05/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The only way to approximate this collection would be to turn on your tape recorder while these movies were showing on your TV. Even if you'd managed to do all that, you still wouldn't have the pristine sound quality that Rhino managed to get by using the source material for this collection. Let alone the out-takes that were never included in the released versions of the films.My favorite examples here are the Bojangles/Fats version of "Great Big Way" (which opens the collection), Ellington's uncut rendition of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" (Marx Brothers fans take note - this is different than the hacked version that you'll hear in "Day At The Races"), and the Andre Previn selections on disk 2 - there's some wonderful soloing here, as good as the material that Benny Goodman recorded with him in the late 50's.Sure, there's a little hokey stuff in here too, like the Mel Torme' selection in disk 1, but it's good-natured and doesn't detract from the real gems of the collection. It's a narrowly better value than Rhino's previous movie nugget compilation, "Alive and Kickin'", and it's fair to say that if you like that one, then you'll love this CD too."
A Phenomenal Treasure-Trove of Amazing Music.
Robert English | 06/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're a fan of "traditional jazz", you'll love this incredible collection from Turner/Rhino. If you're a fan of classic musical soundtracks, you will also find this collection essential for your music library. If you're like me, and you have a pechant for both kinds of music, you'll be in utter ecstacy with the selections here.The list of performers here reads like a who's who of jazz:
DUKE ELLINGTON, COUNT BASIE, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, GERRY MULLIGAN,
LESTER YOUNG, BENNY GOODMAN, CARMEN McRAE, FATS WALLER, the list goes on and on. What really makes this collection sizzle, are the real rarities included. Who knew Duke Ellington had recorded music for A DAY AT THE RACES with the Marx Bros.? No one! Until
the producers here unearthed a track that had been recorded by 'Sir Duke' for that classic comedy that ended up on the cutting room floor. That's just one example of the jewels to be found here. There are several great vocal renditions, with everyone from Ethel Waters to Pearl Bailey, and you even get a whiff of Brazillian Bossa Nova Jazz with Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto doing a version of THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA that is slightly different (but just as incredible) than the famous recording.Then there's unreleased material from Nat "King" Cole, Billy Eckstine, and even Dorothy Dandridge. My favorite track is a swingin' rendition of "One O'Clock Jump" by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra that almost sounds like it's going to explode!It's too bad that more people don't know about this album. It's one of the most creative assemblages ever released on CD. The album comes with a richly-illustrated booklet and great liner notes, too!"