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Zucchero & Co.

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Customer Review:

A must for any Zucchero fan!

Please note this review is pertaining to the IMPORT (not Italian) version of this CD which has 18 tracks. Of the four extra songs not on this CD, only one of them is a 'skipper,' (the Tom Jones duet that I mention below). Otherwise, it's worth the few extra dollars (I think) to get the longer, IMPORTED version. If not, get this one! You have got to give Zucchero a try if you haven't already. I also highly recommend his "BLUE" CD.
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I adore this CD. It's worth the price just for the Macy Gray (Jeff Beck) duet in "Like The Sun" which is my favorite, if I was pressed.
If you already have 'SHAKE', you will recognize the John Lee Hooker duet from that cd; but you can't hear that tune too many times, either.
"Blue" from the BLUE cd is made fresh with the Sheryl Crow addition. I don't know who "Mousse T." is, but the "Mama Get Real" duet is a toe tapping winner.

I only have to skip past a couple of unfortunate songs here: the duet with Tom Jones (!!) being one of them. But there is Lots to love here like I said before-well worth the price for any Zucchero fan.

regards,
Laurie in Alaska

Come Sweet Soul of Mine, I Lay Down With The Angels

John Lee Hooker sings with his soulful voice and mellow tones with Zucchero's rustic, Italian pop and blues, "I Lay Down". This song was recorded in 2001, and John Lee Hooker died in a month's time. When you hear this tune, you will play it over and over in your mind.

"Come sweet soul of mine
I lay down with the angel
I lay down with an angel

I lay down
With an angel
I lay down
With an angel
'cause she treat me kind sometimes
Vieni in me
Portami via
Ali d'oro"

Zucchero which means Sugar, whose real name is Adelmo Fornaciari, was born in Roncocesi, Italy. He learned to play the organ at church, and was eventually introduced to Black Spirituals by a visiting American. He formed his first band known as "Le nuove luci", The New Lights. He traveled Italy playing his music. In 1994 he played at Woodstock Festival with Eric Clapton and Lucianno Pavorotti. But this is one of the first times his music has been played in the US. This CD is climbing the charts quickly. Zucchero has joined many talented musicians and has produced a CD of magnificence.

The most magnificent of these tunes is "I Lay Down" with John Lee Hooker. I forecast this as a top ten hit. This is followed by "Blue" sung with Sheryl Crow, with her lovely, lilting voice. They performed "Blue" first in 1998 in another album. The lyrics are written by Bono of U2. This song will catch you and lift you into the stratosphere.

Former Cranberries singer, Dolores O"Riordan, sings "Pure Love" with Zucchero, a memorable performance. She has a particularly lovely accent.

Miles Davis heard the song "Dunne Mosse" "Dune of Mercy" on the radio while he was touring in Italy, and he performed it with Zucchero first in 2001 and then in 2003. Gravelly voice and catchy rhythm.

Sting asked Zucchero if he could write lyrics to "Muoio per te", "Mad About You."and this is the final version. This is Sting at his finest.

"Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" with Vanessa Carlton is one of the newer tracks on this CD. Vanessa Carlton plays the piano and Haylie Ecker plays the violin. You will recognize the lovely melody and sing along.

I have not been a fan of Macy Gray, but she sings "Like The Sun" with feeling and style. Macy Gray sings and Jeff Beck added a guitar solo

"Wonderful World", Eric Clapton met Zucchero in 1989 and they started singing together whenever their tours coincided. Eric Clapton at his best,sounds like his earlier style.

"Diavolo In Me" (Devil in me) with Solomon Burke is a treasure. Zucchero and Burke met in the 80's on several tours and festivals. Their styles click and this song is sweet. Higher and higher as the notes and their vocies swell, the sweeter the song.

"Miserere" with Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli was written by Zucchero and Bono. Pavarotti recorded it first, and Bocelli recorded the studio version. Bocelli as an unknown is now a known entity.

This is a masterpiece of an album. The Italian pop and blues of Zucchero mixed with the talented voices of BB King, Miles Davis, Eric Clapton, Sting, Sheryl Crow, John Lee Hooker and others have given us a mix of a soulful, resounding memory. Highly Recommended. prisrob

Raspy, Sexy---Fresh

Zucchero is a true talent. His Joe Cocker-like voice fills your ears with emotion, pain, exhileration. The songs are fabulous, the arrangements intriguing. He is the real deal. I especially like the songs adapted by Frank Musker, but all are great. He is a master in his prime.

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Keywords: Int'l & World Music; Italian Pop; Italy; Latin Pop/Rock; Modern Electric Blues; Political Folk; Pop;

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25 Mozart Favorites

This is an astonishing collection of works - or parts of works - by Mozart that covers almost every aspect of his creative output: symphonic, religious music, concerti (for piano, horn, violin, clarinet, flute), chamber music, serenades (for strings; winds), a couple of opera overtures and more. Those who know and love Mozart's music will not need this, but it's a great introduction, a great overview. The selections are well-chosen and interestingly organized, with familiar pieces splrinkled among some not-so well known. A good primer. --Robert Levine

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Customer Review:

woah

Like, hizzoly crap fo shizzle mah nizzle dawg. I thought I wuz da only gangsta who listened to tha Mozart shizzang! Like dang yo dat is down! Dis CD wuz great fo chillin in da club and breakin' it down fo mah fine gal down in mah crib we be bumpin up da beat box to this jam fo real! Y'all mah homeys say G werd if you down wit tha Mozart jamz! Up, down, an back to da hizzle.

MOZART WAS A CRAZY SILLY GUY!

I cannot believe my ears!!!!!!!!!

I usually listen to the radio or MTV or huff gasoline and listen to the ringing sounds that the vapors cause in my head, but man oh man, this is something I'd never heard before until I picked it up at my local gas station! It was sitting on the counter near the microwavable burritos, and in my gasoline-induced stupor, I picked this up by accident (and by "picked up" I mean "I put under my shirt when no one was looking").

When I got home and logged onto Amazon.com to see how much I could get for it on here, I was dismayed that it was selling for a miniscule $2.45! So instead of selling it, I decided I would add to my ever-growing collection of CD's that I get from the gas station.

When I first put it on, I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Really, I couldn't! The whole CD sounds like it was recorded underwater. Upon inspecting the linear notes, it was confirmed that this CD, was indeed, recorded underwater! Simply amazing! Also, another great thing this CD has going for it is the fact that there isn't one complete piece of music on the entire goddamn thing! Who wants to hear a masterpiece like Mozart's Symphony No. 25 in its entirety when you can just listen to a snippet? No sir, not me! Just give me the "good parts."

Overall, this fine compact disc gets an astounding FIVE STARS. And what a funny coincidence...that's how much this CD costs: FIVE DOLLARS. Bargain of the century!

Pick it up at a local 7-11 near you!

A good begining to learn about Mozart's music

This CD contains the most popular music from Mozart. If you are just start to listen some classical music, this one is a wise choice for you. The price is cheap, and the quality of recording is acceptable.

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Keywords: Chamber; Chamber Music & Recitals; Choral; Clarinet Concerto; Classical; Classical Composers; Classical Period Serenade/Cassation/Divertimento; Classical Period Symphony;

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Mamma Mia! The Musical Based on the Songs of ABBA (Original 1999 London Cast)

Put together by Abba's own Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, Mamma Mia! manages to cram over 20 of the Swedish supergroup's songs into a threadbare plot. It goes a little like this: Young Sophie is getting married and she's trying to identify which of three men is her father. That's about it. Wisely, the musical doesn't mess around with the songs, save for the insertion of some dialogue or for having some of them performed by a man (it works amazingly well). Abba fans will jump on this import of the London production, but traditional fans of musical theater should consider it as well. After all, Andersson and Ulvaeus's songs have always felt as if they were more than isolated pop gems and actually belonged to a longer narrative. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

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Futures

Cast Recording;

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Customer Review:

Catchy Songs, Decent Recording, Mediocre Musical

First, let me start off by saying that if you are an avid ABBA fan, you will enjoy this recording. The cast sings the songs pretty well and the recording/mixing quality is not bad.

I went to see this show on Broadway recently (it was the only show we could get into that night). Having recently seen some very good theater on broadway and/or on tour in Chicago (Wicked most notably and the re-staging of Jesus Christ Superstar), my hopes were high.

This show, however, was nothing like those. The plot was very threadbare, dopey, and reminded me of a bad sitcom. The songs themselves, however, were sung very well (I liked our live cast better than the London one on the soundtrack) and so we bought the CD in the lobby after the show.

Not being a particular ABBA fan (I knew a few songs, but certainly not all 24 from the show), I thought the songs were catchy, but not great. They are, first and foremost, pop songs. They just don't really hold their own in the context of a musical.

In general, I do like a few of the songs on this recording (primarily the ones that I knew before seeing the show), but I don't listen to them often. The cast on this recording does a good job, but I don't like all the voices, and most could be stronger or fuller, as they seem somewhat thin. If you are an ABBA fan, by all means, see the show and buy the recording. If not, don't expect either to convert you. Borrow it, burn it, return it. Listen to it once and then stick it in the back of your collection and wait for a time when you have an insatiable urge to hear "Dancing Queen".

The Mamma Mia Score Is Awesome

Listening to my new Mamma Mia CD while driving makes every trip shorter and gives me the opportunity to sing along to fantastic music. It brings the memory of the show which I saw in January right back!

The Original "Catalog" Musical

Sure the musical merely ties a couple dozen ABBA songs together to form a loose story ...
Sure the concept is a bit cheesey ...
Sure the songs are best performed by ABBA themselves ...
But it works! ... and it's fun!

Broadway's first "catalog" musical (though the cd is actually the London cast despite the misleading cover) is fast, fun & worthy of repeat listenings.

Best tracks:

Mamma Mia
Dancing Queen
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
Voulez-Vous
The Winner Takes It All

Relive the 70s & 80s!

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Keywords: Cast Recordings; Music Theater; Musical Theater; Musicals; Pop; Pop/Rock; Showtunes / B'way; Soundtracks; Swedish Pop/Rock;

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That's What I Say: John Scofield Plays the Music of Ray Charles

Although sure to be criticized for cashing in on the Ray Charles bandwagon, jazzman John Scofield’s 2005 tribute release is also one of the most varied yet successful albums in the guitarist’s extensive catalog. Shifting from a big band/multi-vocalist approach for the classic "What’d I Say" featuring an all-star lineup of Dr. John, Warren Haynes, Aaron Neville, John Mayer and Mavis Staples trading verses (they all also take solo vocals on other tracks), along with longtime Charles saxist David "Fathead" Newman, to the lone guitar rendition of "Georgia on my Mind" that closes the disc, Scofield celebrates both Charles’ music and his eclectic approach to it. The stripped down instrumental version of "Crying Time" with only funereal organ accompaniment is perfectly offset by the following gospelized reading of "I Can’t Stop Loving You," brought home by Mavis Staples’ explosive vocal. Teen throb John Mayer acquits himself admirably on vocals and guitar, singing and trading licks with Scofield on a rugged "I Don’t Need No Doctor," and Dr. John brings New Orleans soul on a greasy "Talkin’ Bout You"/"I Got a Woman" medley. The horn section gets a workout on powerfully swinging instrumental takes of "Hit the Road Jack" and "Let’s Go Get Stoned." Scofield’s quivering solos show moderation yet convey the music’s R&B roots, even when he’s turning up the heat on a rousing Medeski, Martin and Wood -styled, acid laced "Sticks and Stones." Producer/drummer Steve Jordan finds the perfect vibe between jazz and R&B, and keeps the guest vocalists from stealing the spotlight. He provides the ideal framework for John Scofield’s fiery yet restrained playing and a fitting tribute to a jazz/R&B icon. --Hal Horowitz

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Customer Review:

thank you Mr. Scofield

When I heard this reviewed on NPR one Saturday morning recently I was absolutely mesmerized by Scofield and the arrangements of Ray Charles music. I was on my way to a meeting and not happy about that on a Saturday, BUT, by the time I got there I was in a great mood thanks to Mr. Scofield and the CD they were playing. I came home and immediately went to Amazon and ordered the CD. Actually I ordered two one for my sister knowing she would like it as well.
Thank you Mr. Scofield!!!!!

Great neosoul

This is not a typical guitar record. This a rendition of Ray Charles tunes done in a ultra tasteful way, with a smoking bass and drums section, and
Sco doing his signature funk licks. Willie Weeks shines. Highly recomended. Best Ray Charles tribute so far.

addictive

i was a bit taken aback by Ray Charles connection - didn't seem logical to me . . . but gave this an open minded listen and am more and more addicted evry day . . . this is a great record from start to finish. the guests do a great job but they fit within the context . . of course J. Sco plays his butt off and the whol;e thing has a great flavor . . . highly reccomended

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Keywords: Contemporary Jazz; Jazz; Pop; Post-Bop;

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