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Of All the Things

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Jazzanova

October 27, 2008
It's nice to receive a plesant surprise from time to time. I pre-ordered Jazzanova - Of All The Things Audio CD on Amazon.co.uk about a week ago. It came today, with an FBI warning at the back, guaranteed to be sent from the UK. The long established group from Berlin will officially release their new piece on October 27th. Nice! Half price, btw.

Crystal clear sound, original compositions for each song, exceptional vocals (my favourite is Phonte): all this makes Jazzanova one of the trademarks of German electronic scene and puts them right next to the godfathers OF ALL THE THINGS, Kraftwerk.

The new album is magnificent. If you like Jazzanova, you'll love it. If you don't know them and you like fresh brew of jazz and ... Read More:

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The Definitive Ray Charles

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Ray Charles

September 26, 2005
The first hit single in the U K by Ray Charles was Georgia on my mid in 1960 and this disc made No 24.Charles was on a new label by then and the Atlantic sides while issued here meant nothing until the Age of Merseybeat.
Hit the road Jack went top 5 and it was nothing but up from then with the Modern Sounds of Country & Western spawning a number of hit singles.
Ray's earlier work on Swingtime began apperaing on a label called Society.
This CD is a pretty comprehensive overview of the most essential recordings which include his Beatles covers and ends with his version of Imagine.
Theres never been any shortage of albums by Ray Charles and I think the first was What'd I say-which was probably too far away from general ... Read More:

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The Express

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Belleruche

October 13, 2008
Once again Belleruche deliver a fantastic album. Yes I am a long term fan of this trio and I found this album showed a slightly different side to 'the 'Ruche' with a more bluesy, almost creole feel at times. I'm loving the funky faster tunes on this album - and agree with one of the other reviewers that De Boer's voice is used to great effect but I also think that Fabulous's guitar is allowed a starring role for the first time and this is welcome. The album does fail to capture some of the dynamism of the live performance and it can leave some of the production sounding sparse at times but I'm still giving it a 5 because I know it'll get a lot of play in my house!! I can't help but think that Belleruche are going places - get on the Express if you want ... Read More:

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The Very Best of the Temperance Seven

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Temperance Seven

January 12, 2004
...nothing better to warm the cockles on a cold winters day. Really cheering stuff if you like it slightly quirky, and let's face it English eccentricity can't be beaten when delivered as the Temperance Seven do.

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Where Rivers Meet

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Zoe Rahman

September 22, 2008
...nothing better to warm the cockles on a cold winters day. Really cheering stuff if you like it slightly quirky, and let's face it English eccentricity can't be beaten when delivered as the Temperance Seven do.

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Tales from the Beach

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Incognito

May 05, 2008
After "Bees And Things And Flowers," I was so looking forward to "Tales" (and maybe that was the problem)that I almost ripped the cd out of the posties hands.

But after a couple of listens I was ready to consign it to the "looks like they are on the downslope" section of my cd collection.The more laid back acoustic groove of what I thought was merely a stop gap release in "Bees....." remained and I was left thinking, where had they left their funkiness?

HOWEVER......I am happy to report I was very very wrong. Having stuck with it "Tales..." is actually a very mature collection of songs from a band who are at the top of their playing/singing abilities. The first 7 tracks demonstrate what the album is all about - the songs aren't ... Read More:

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Midnight Blue: Remastered

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Kenny Burrell

April 05, 1999
Hynotic, subtle and the same time wonderfully soulful this record surely sits within the top five of all time Blue Note releases. It's the ultimate late night session. The consistently wonderfully Kenny Burrell who makes the difficult sound effortlessly simple gives a masterclass in Jazz guitar playing with an endlesss tapestry of smooth licks that melt into the instinctive groove of Stanley Turrentine's sax. It's a partnership made in heaven, they work so languidly off each other on, "Mule" The way Burrell brings in the track on,"Soul lament," with his emotive twanging are classic bars of music. I am also particularly fond of the waltz tempo on,"Wavy Gravy."
This record is wonderfully focussed, Burrell's musical philosophy is stamped all over the music. ... Read More:

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Miles Davis: Kind of Blue 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition 2CD/LP/DVD

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Miles Davis

October 27, 2008
It's just arrived and the package feels like it is worth the money. I already have all the music bar a few fragments of studio sequences and the "previously released in unauthorized form" 17:28 version of So What, but for the Miles completist it's wonderful to have.

Now - to sit back and luxuriate in this sublime music once again!

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The Essential Collection - Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grapelli

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli

April 17, 2006
It's just arrived and the package feels like it is worth the money. I already have all the music bar a few fragments of studio sequences and the "previously released in unauthorized form" 17:28 version of So What, but for the Miles completist it's wonderful to have.

Now - to sit back and luxuriate in this sublime music once again!

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The Cole Porter Mix

Childrens Toy Shop > Music > Jazz
by: Patricia Barber

September 29, 2008

Why not match the songs of Cole Porter with Patricia Barber, one of the most thoughtful and powerful jazz vocalists working today? What a great idea!

As a longtime fan of Barber's, I am delighted to see her varying her darker, more experimental work with this album.

Her outstanding technical talent and understated delivery work miracles on 'standards' such as 'Miss Otis Regrets' and 'I Get a Kick out of You'.

The band are in great shape too.

Perfect listening as the nights start to draw in. At least that's my excuse.