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Advantages: Great Trad Jazz
Disadvantages: None

Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt was one of the first important jazz musicians to be born in Europe. He spent most of his youth in the gypsy encampments close to Paris, France, playing banjo, guitar and violin. At an early age he started playing professionally at dance halls in Paris. When he was 18, he was injured in a fire in his caravan loosing the use of his 3rd and 4th fingers on his left hand. After this he focused on the guitar and developed ...
...The man is nothing short of the original guitar god influencing everyone from the Beatles, Tony Immoni, B. B. King, Willie Nelson, and myself. I lost the use of my left forefinger due to an accident. I decided that if Django could do it with 2 fingers then I could do it with 3 fingers!!!!!! Stéphane Grappelli is quite simply the greatest fiddle (violin) player the planet has ever seen. Grappelli was born in Paris, and started his career as a silent ... Read review

Advantages: Sublime music and musicianship
Disadvantages: None

...the film and character of Alfie and how it inspired different parts of the score. He was appearing at Ronnie Scott's club when he was invited to compose for Alfie, and was intrigued. He had never scored a movie before. THE TRACKS This CD, being the soundtrack to the movie, does NOT feature Bacharach's 'What's it all About Alfie?' popularised by Cilla Black et al, nor does it contain the ballad bawled by Queenie Watts during the pub brawl. There ...
...two versions of the main Alfie theme, the first is upbeat and 'jaunty', Alfie as Jack the Lad, the second version, final track, is still upbeat but chastened, the final theme where he realises what he has missed out on. The other tracks are lovely incidentals to the plot, eg the sombre moody 'He's Younger Than You Are' as painful home truths comes home after the surprise visit to the hairdresser's fancy flat; similar but more painful 'Little Malcolm ... Read review

Advantages: Some outstanding tracks.
Disadvantages: Some rubbish.

Norah Jones - Come away with me This album cost me a princely sum of 50p from Barnsley Sunday Market. The album, released in 2002 is still riding high in the jazz charts, and the only track I had heard prior to buying this album was 'Don't know why' which is certainly in the jazz style of ballads, and she has a jazzy voice to match. Five Grammy's, twenty million plus sales, this has gotta be a cracking album right? Coupled with the fact that she ...
...no life. 0/10. 5. Come Away with Me First track on the cd written by Norah. A ballad like song with a change of vocal style for her at the beginning with an almost hushed voice...piano work is quite sublime. What this song essentially does is tells a dreamy longing by someone. Not my usual type of song, yet, there is something about the guitar work again, Asian and jazz influenced that makes me really like this, and her vocals really are quite ... Read review

Advantages: Lots of styles, really contemporary on some, more traditional on others.
Disadvantages: If you enjoy only house music then I wouldn't really say you'll like this.

. Poison Sweet Madeira is an album of suprises. Each track differs in style but collectively they fit together perfectly. If you enjoy klezmer, jazz, classical or just something a little different then this ablum is perfect for you. If you don't strictly fit into any of these categories I'd recommend it to you as each of the people I've played it to have found something that appeals to them. It's such a mixed album that it trancends a rigid definition, ...
...middle eastern feeling. Poison Sweet Madeira is another mostly fast paced track, which is really dramatic. The violin is accompanied by harps and an arcordian which to me gives it a French feeling in parts. Quite the opposite, Burnt By The Sun is a bit more melow and sounds samba inspired. Richard Hawley on vocals. It's a really calmly sung but dramatic track, with great catchy lyrics. KT Tunstall features on Lazarus, with sultry vocals in one of ... Read review

Advantages: Easy listerning - Relax mode - Good recording
Disadvantages: Sax solo a bit shorter - I like more !

Introduction My first impression to Ella is from a compilation. What's an amazing to me when her gentle and intimate voice came into my ears? She is really a good singer that you are hard to find in now a day. She sings with her soul and feeling. Thereafter, I bought "The Ballads" from a local store when I saw it, I told myself must buy and try. Overall Date of release: 26 July 1994 Genre: Vocal - Jazz Ballads Label: Verve Records The Singer ...
...- Tunefulness, easy listening, soothing. The tempo - Slow to medium. This jazz ballads album embraced the 50's great ballads collections, including big-band and swing. It's remastered from the original LP by Verve Records. The background of the music in this record is clean and clear, and Ella's warmth voice is closed to the LP. I am unable to pinpoint to her outstanding and flawless performance in every tracks. The only thing I can say is the instruments ... Read review