Song of Love & Praise [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese limited edition remastered reissue for the Quirky & psychedlic English band, originally released in 1972. Packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Universal. 2005.

Tracks:

A Tisket a Tasket - Natalie Cole
Lullaby Of Birdland - Chaka Khan
The Lady Is a Tramp - Queen Latifah
Dream a Little Dream Of Me - Diana Krall
(You'll Have To Swing It) Mr. Paganini - Natalie Cole
Oh Lady Be Good! - Dianne Reeves
Reaching For the Moon - Lizz Wright
Blues In the Night - Ledisi
Miss Otis Regrets - Linda Ronstadt
Someone To Watch Over Me - Gladys Knight
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me - Etta James
Angel Eyes - K.D. Lang
Too Close For Comfort - Michael Buble
You Are the Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Airmail Special - Nikki Yanofsky

Amazon.com

Covering songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald is a daunting endeavor, since only Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan challenge her place as the premier female jazz vocalist in history. But the late Fitzgerald inspired and influenced a wide array of talented acolytes--from Natalie Cole to k.d. lang to Dianne Reeves--many of whom gather on this spirited, Phil Ramone-produced tribute to partially benefit the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation. Cole, backed by an eager gaggle of call-and-response male worshippers, breathes fun new life into the swingy "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," while Chaka Khan, showcasing the breadth of her range, delivers a transporting rendition of the enchanting jazz blues "Lullaby of Birdland." (The two also team up for a delicious scat-fest on "Mr. Paganini.") If lang is equally transfixing on the ballad "Angel Eyes," it's newcomer Ledisi who steals the show with "Blues in the Night," her expansive soprano often mimicking a muted or full-tilt trumpet, one of Fitzgerald's hallmarks. Performances from Etta James and Nikki Yanofsky also rivet, even if Diana Krall and Hank Jones's "Dream a Little Dream of Me" comes across as a little too sleepy, and Gladys Knight is probably not the best singer for "Someone to Watch Over Me." The album surprises with a live duet ("You Are the Sunshine of My Life") between Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder, recorded at the 1977 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Although it seems tacked on, it doesn't grate nearly as much as Michael Bublé's "Too Close for Comfort," so slick it would put an eel to shame. Skip over that transgression, and turn to the antidote of Lizz Wright's sultry take on the melancholy "Reaching for the Moon," which plumbs emotional depths not even the ever-joyous Great Lady managed to attain. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

A star-studded album from legendary producer Phil Ramone pays tribute to one of the most celebrated female vocalists of all time, Ella Fitzgerald.

This CD includes performers such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Ledisi, Lizz Wright, Queen Latifah, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Dianne Reeves and more.

Customer Reviews:

We all Love Ella.......2007-07-18

I love Ella but this one some of the artists just don't do her songs justice.

Notable Tribute.......2007-07-16

This CD is a very good tribute to Ella. All the artists added thier own style without losing the essence of the performer they all admired.

This is good, but I love Ella more than the folks trying to sing her.......2007-07-03

My favorite part of this collection was Ella and Stevie Wonder singing "Sunshine of my Life." The blend of their voices was amazing. If it possibly could have been done, I'd love to have seen the video of this performance.

Of the tributes, Ledisi's "Blues in the Night" blew me away. Her vocalese imitation of a trumpet was one of the best impressions I have ever heard.

I also liked hearing Natalie Cole and Chaka Khan in duet on "If you can't sing it, you'll have to swing it." Etta James' alto was definitely refreshing on "Wait til you hear from me." She's the only woman on the CD with a voice in the lower registers and definitely different from the other vocalists.

Great CD, especially for someone new to trad jazz.......2007-06-27

This is the second CD I've purchased of music from Ella Fitzgerald's era. I have one CD of Dave Grusin pays Homage to Duke Ellington and I didn't like it at all. But this CD is great! It has a variety of vocalists who are tops in their field, mostly jazz but some rock (Linda Ronstadt and K.D. Laing). The orchestration and vocal stylings are all excellent with great variety. The selection of artists is about as good as good gets. Practically no one great was left out that I know of who sings in this genre. Buy it as a great introduction to this era.

Should Be A Grammy Winner In 2008!.......2007-06-11

'We All Love Ella' is a first rate tribute to the First Lady Of Song, Ella Fitzgerald. While I agree with the previous reviewer on many points, I'll try to focus on the project as a whole. Verve must be commended for asembling such a formidible list of singers & musicians on this CD, and you can't help but feel good while listening to the various interpretations, which are all top rate. The one track which caught my attention from the start was the LONG OVERDUE DUET between Natalie Cole & Chaka Khan! The two divas' voices blend SO WELL on '(If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have To Swing It (A.K.A. Mr.Paganini)', and I also love the arrangement of the song, which is long enough for Chaka & Natalie to sing & scat up a storm.

There are so many other highlights on 'We All Love Ella', BUT the failure to include songs by TWO prominent Ella disciples (Patti Austin & Dee Dee Bridgewater), was questionable (IMO). Both of these legendary singers recorded Ella tribute projects in the past ('Dear Ella' & 'For Ella' respectively!), and they could've shined on this new CD singing 'Our Love Is Here To Stay' & 'How High The Moon ?'. Both of these songs are Ella classics without question, but are absent on 'We All Love Ella'. Oh well, maybe Verve will cook up Volume 2 ?

All in all 'We Love Ella - Celebrating The First Lady Of Song' is a first rate tribute to an American Icon, and I applaud everyone involved for the great music...which is one of the finest 'tribute' projects in recent memory. I'd also like to thank Phil Ramone for NOT releasing a shabby collection of songs (most of those countless 'remake' CDs on Shanachie Records comes to mind!!). Obviously a lot of thought & time was invested in producing 'We All Love Ella', so I'd recommend it to jazz lovers everywhere.
Peace, SD
(of 'Chakasworld')

Average customer rating:

Give Us More. Please......
Fondness for Careless Love
Careless Love by Madeleine Peyroux
Spent my Last $20 on this Album with no Regrets!
Madeleine the Magnificent

Careless Love
Madeleine Peyroux
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Dreamland
Half the Perfect World
Got You on My Mind
From This Moment On
Hang on Little Tomato

ASIN: B0002NRRAG
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Dance Me To The End Of Love
Don't Wait Too Long
Don't Cry Baby
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Between The Bars
No More
Lonesome Road
J'ai Deux Amours
Weary Blues
I'll Look Around
Careless Love
This Is Heaven To Me

Amazon.com

When Madeleine Peyroux's debut, Dreamland, was released in 1996, its success threw her for a loop. She's taken eight years to create this follow-up, and, at age 30, she brings a confidence and resilience to this dozen-song set. She's able to move seamlessly between songs by writers as diverse as Elliott Smith and W.C. Handy, whose title track was popularized by Bessie Smith. Though American-born, Peyroux absorbed the language and culture of France growing up in Paris with her French-teacher mother. On her debut, she covered Edith Piaf, and this time out she wraps herself around "J'ai Deux Amours," which Josephine Baker sang to the Allied troops during World War II. --David Greenberger

Album Description

Boasting an enthralling voice many have regarded as reminiscent of Billie Holiday's, Madeleine Peyroux burst onto the music scene eight years ago with the extremely successful release of Dreamland. Championed by major publications such as The New York Times and Time Magazine, Peyroux was immediately recognized as a remarkably talented singer with a promising future. With the release of her long awaited follow-up album Careless Love, Peyroux's potential as an artist is truly realized. Her smoky voice and knowing delivery make each song her own, whether she's singing vintage tunes by W.C. Handy and Hank Williams, or contemporary songs by Leonard Cohen and Elliott Smith. Producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin) weaves strands of acoustic blues, country ballads, classic jazz, torch songs and pop into a vibrant fabric that is both timeless and thoroughly up to date, with Peyroux's arresting vocals always front and center.

Customer Reviews:

Give Us More. Please.............2007-06-16

I first encountered this album a couple of years back, and it was a most pleasant surprise. This is real jazz, the way it ought to be. Madeline, for the most part, "covers" the work of others; that's OK...old standards became standards for a reason, and she covers them so well that they are virtually her own. This album is my very frequent driving companion. I have since bought her other albums, including the newest release. I wish there were more.

Madeline's personal problems have been well documented. They don't matter here. She is also said to be one of those singers who are better on disc than in person. Apparently, she has severe stage fright. Moot point. So does Carly Simon, and so did Rosa Ponselle, who was the greatest singer who ever lived.

This is a fabulous album. A reviewer once wrote "If you like Norah Jones, try this". Amen. I love Norah Jones, and listen to her frequently. But, Madeleine is in a different league.

Fondness for Careless Love.......2007-06-08

If you've ever wished that Billie Holiday were still alive and singing. Check out Madeleine Peyroux. One of the best thing out of of Georgia in a long time.

Careless Love by Madeleine Peyroux.......2007-06-02

I love the music of Madeleine Peyroux. She certainly has her own style and anyone who enjoys jazz will feel fortunate to enjoy any of her music. I found this CD to be tops in every way.

Spent my Last $20 on this Album with no Regrets!.......2007-06-01

I heard "You're gonna Leave Me Lonesome When You're Gone" on the radio a while back and thought how great she sounded. The next day she was still in my mind and I called the radio station and they told me who she was. I was dead broke, wasn't getting paid for another week. . . and I went down and bought the CD. I listened to it through nights of Top Ramen and ice water-- ramen never tasted so good!

The whole CD is great. Each song makes me feel like I am in some European tavern. This is music that just makes you feel good. My teenagers listened to it and I got them to quit listening to their R&B long enough to ask who she was. One resumed playing the guitar that she'd given up a few years ago.

The CD is haunting and stays in your mind long after you turn it off.

Madeleine the Magnificent.......2007-05-24

There is nothing I can write about "Careless Love", that will top the two spotlight reviews. All I will say is thank God there are artists still left in the world like Maleleine Peyroux, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, etc... etc... This whole recording is excellent, and I can never get enough of her version of Bob Dylan's classic "When You Go". The warmth and passion she emits from her sleepy, serene voice... man, oh man, does she make me feel all warm and gushy inside. I love singers who pour all their emotions into their songs, who let it all hang out. Sure, she's no Billie Holiday, but there is no popular singer alive today that resembles Billie more than Madeleine. I just saw her in concert recently and she and her quartet were absolutely awesome.

Those of you looking for an option from all of that top 40 sewage that plagues our airwaves nowadays, look no further than Madeleine. I have heard just about all of her stuff and this particular recording is my personal favorite. This is also perfect music for many of you out there looking to simply wade into the world of jazz music, rather than diving in head first. Jazz is like fine wine, you don't develope a taste for it overnight, however, once you do start developing that taste, well... then it's all over for you. Trust me, I know from experience.

Enjoy this one!

Average customer rating:

Sweet
superb
Oh my Gosh, Josh!
a true star
Floodgates of the Heart

Josh Groban
Josh Groban
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Soundtracks | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Closer
Awake
Josh Groban in Concert (with Bonus DVD)
Il Divo
Andrea Bocelli - Amore

ASIN: B00005RGNI
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Alla Luce Dal Sole
Gira Con Me
You're Still You
Cinema Paradiso (Se)
To Where You Are
Alejate
Canto Alla Vita - featuring The Corrs
Let Me Fall
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
Un Amore Per Sempre
Home To Stay
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (w/Lili Haydn)
The Prayer - featuring Charlotte Church

Amazon.com

There are worse things in life than making your acting debut on the much ballyhooed season finale of Ally McBeal, though teen operatic baritone Josh Groban doesn't seem destined to encounter them anytime soon. As the awkward high school student-client who asks the typically romance-jinxed Ally to his senior prom, Groban performed this debut album's "You're Still You" (adapted from film-composing legend Ennio Morricone's Academy Award-nominated score for Malèna, with lyrics by Linda Thompson) as a heart-tugging, literal showstopper. The young phenom was just 17 when veteran producer-writer David Foster tapped him to fill in for Andrea Bocelli at rehearsals for the 1999 Grammys, where Groban found himself suddenly dueting with Celine Dion.

Indeed, such were his fortunes that the young Foster protégé was forced to drop out of Carnegie Mellon when professional commitments--including this record--interfered. And if this collection tends to hew sometimes uncomfortably close to Foster's own MOR sonic instincts, the material offers enough challenges to display Groban's talent and the potential of his warm, mature voice: a lyrical take on another Morricone classic, "Cinema Paradiso"; melancholy readings of Don McLean's "Starry, Starry Night" and Albert Hammond's "Alejate"; masterfully dramatic takes of the Neapolitan "Alla Luca Del Sole" and "Canto Alla Vita," the latter featuring the Corrs. Many of Groban's performances here, including a neo prog-rock-opera take on Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (with Lili Haydn), seem both bigger and bolder than their precious musical frameworks, a telling hint that Grand Opera can't be far from his grasp. As said earlier, there are worse things in life. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Sweet.......2007-07-13

Josh Groban and Charolette Church! Yum. This is a very good album and a must buy!

superb.......2007-07-05

What a voice, what an artist, what a man.
Underestimated in Europe. His concert on 21 May 2007 in Amsterdam was superb!

Oh my Gosh, Josh!.......2007-07-03

I love Josh Groban's music! It is romantic, mellow and beautiful :)
This CD has two songs on it that are very unusual. I believe both are from Cirque de Soleil, and draw you into the music--warning-- While driving, do not close your eyes!

a true star.......2007-06-24

First saw and heard Josh on the Tv and was blown away by his talent! it was about a year later that I found out who he was and bought the first album and can honestly say that I have never tired of his work. Every song is magical and he is truely wonderful. Have since purchased all his work and have also had the priviledge of seeing him live in concert in Glasgow/Scotland and was amazed. such a talented young man with a truely magical voice

Floodgates of the Heart.......2007-06-05

This CD played almost constantly in my wife's car for several years. Josh Groban's voice is so gentle and can go from gentleness to anthematic, almost operatic, textures. He sings in Italian effortlessly. The orchestration on "Cinema Paradiso" is enthralling with its emotional reach, powerful even with lyrics beyond my understanding. "To Where You Are" is one of the most gorgeous songs. Knowing how it moved my wife in the years before breast cancer proved stronger than her body, it touches me now, "Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant star I wish upon tonight to see you smile, if only for awhile to know you're there; a breath a ways to where you are." The song opens the floodgates of my heart. The Corrs were on Groban's 143 label when this release came out in 2001 and join him on the upbeat "Canto Alla Vita." Groban makes an interesting selection with Don McLean's "Vincent," polishing the melody to a fine sheen in ways that surpassed the original. Listening to Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" is like being in a sonic cathedral with Groban's voice matching the grandeur of the music. With Charlotte Church on "The Prayer," Groban concludes the set with the Carole Bayer Sager/David Foster composition that makes one contemplate the eternal, "Lead us to a place, find us with your grace, give us faith so we'll be safe." Groban's first CD enhances with repeated listening by virtue of the depth of musicianship and performance. I listen to it now hearing the music that moved the one I love to tears. It does the same for me. I hope it touches you too. Bravo!

Average customer rating:

The beautiful gift of opera...
Pretty darn good
The Opera #1 Opera Album
Excellent assortment
Great Selections

The #1 Opera Album
Giacomo Puccini , Giuseppe Verdi , Léo Delibes , Georges Bizet , Umberto Giordano , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Richard Wagner , Gioachino Rossini , Alfredo Catalani , Jacques Offenbach , Ruggiero Leoncavallo , Charles Gounod , Gaetano Donizetti , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Richard Bonynge , Herbert von Karajan , Alberto Erede , Lamberto Gardelli , Giuseppe Patane , John Mauceri , Zubin Mehta , Charles Dutoit , Gyorgy Fischer , Riccardo Chailly , Istvan Kertesz , Leone Magiera , Evelino Pido , Gianandrea Gavazzeni , Renée Fleming , Cecilia Bartoli , Luciano Pavarotti , Jussi Bjorling , and Renata Tebaldi
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Most Famous Opera Duets
The Most Famous Opera Arias
The Best of Italian Opera
The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!
Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...

ASIN: B000059RXO
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Carmen: Act 1: Prld - LPO/Sir Georg Solti
La Traviata: Brindisi: Libiamo, Ne'lieti Calici - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Luciano Pavarotti
Lakme: Flower Duet: Dome Epais Le Jasmin - Joan Sutherland/Jane Berbie
Fedora: Amor Ti Vieta - Jussi Bjorling
Carmen: Habanera: L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Tatiana Troyanos/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis
Nabucco: Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves: Va Pensiero - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hills
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Dove Sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Luciano Pavarotti
Lohengrin: Bridal Chor: Treulich Gefuhrt Ziehet Dahin - Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor/Walter Hagen-Groll
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Renata Tebaldi
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Largo Al Factotum - Leo Nucci
La Wally: Ebben?... Ne Andro Lontana - Angela Gheorghiu
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chor - Wiener Staatsopernchor/Norbert Balatsch
Carmen: Flower Song: La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee - Placido Domingo
Les Contes D'Hoffmann: Barcarolle: Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'Amour - Joan Sutherland/Huguette Tourangeau/Chor De La Radio Suisse Romande, Pro Arte De Lausanne Et Du...
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Placido Domingo
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
Les Pecheurs De Perles: C'est Toi... Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Gregory Cross/Gino Quilico

Tracks:

Die Walkure: The Ride Of The Valkyries - Wiener Phil/Solti
Le Nozze Di Figaro: Voi Che Sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Luciano Pavarotti
La Boheme: O Soave Fanciulla - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti/Roland Panerai
Il Trovatore: Anvil Chor: Vedi! Le Fosche - Chicago Sym Chor/Margaret Hillis
Manon Lescaut: Donna Non Vidi Mai - Jose Carreras
Don Giovanni: La Ci Darem La Mano - Lucia Popp/Tom Krause
Mattinata - Andrea Bocelli
Faust: Soldiers' Chor - Ambrosian Opr Chor/John McCarthy
L'elisir D'amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Roberto Alagna
Turandot: Signore, Ascolta! - Montserrat Caballe
Don Giovanni: Champagne Aria: Finch'han Dal Vino - Bryn Terfel
Cosi Fan Tutte: Trio: Soave Sia Il Vento - Renee Fleming/Anne Sofie Von Otter/Michele Pertusi
Il Trovatore: Di Quella Pira - Luciano Pavarotti/Joan Sutherland/London Opr Chor/Terry Edwards
Tosca: Vissi D'arte - Kiri Te Kanawa
Carmen: Toreador Song - Jose Van Dam/Tatiana Troyanos/Norma Burrowes/Jane Berbie/Thomas Allen/Pierre Thau/John Alldis...
Madama Butterfly: Love Duet: Vogliatemi Bene - Mirella Freni/Luciano Pavarotti
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Nat PO/Gianandrea Gavazzeni
Rusalka: O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
La Boheme: Si. Mi Chiamano Mimi - Angela Gheorghiu
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Luciano Pavarotti/John Alldis Chor/John Alldis

Amazon.com

The labels that are now gathered under the Universal Classics umbrella have a pretty impressive scorecard in the area of classical compilations. We've seen The Greatest Opera Show on Earth, The Yellow Guide: Classical Music, Best of the Millennium, and now there's The No. 1 Opera Album. But that's no surprise, since Universal has some of the finest interpreters in its catalogue to draw from. This two-CD set (at the price of one), for example, brings together the likes of Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, and many more. Yet the other key to a successful compilation is canny anthologizing, and here again, you have a nice selection to give you a smattering of opera's heavyweights from the Italian, German, and French repertory (there's even a step outside the standard framework with an aria from Dvorák's lovely Rusalka). Ranging from 1959 to 1997, the choices from back catalogue will doubtless be the entry ticket for many into this grandest of the arts. --Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

The beautiful gift of opera..........2007-07-17

This 2-CD set is absolutely wonderful! You can close your eyes and feel like you're actually at the opera, listening to those beautiful voices bringing tears to your eyes. Nessun Dorma still stirs up emotions in me, no matter how many times I hear it. Great examples of opera to give someone wanting to get interested in this style of music.

Pretty darn good.......2007-07-04

This CD set has a lot of familiar music on it, so if you're a newbie, you might want to try starting with this. There are some great pieces on the first CD. I usually don't even make it to the second.

The Opera #1 Opera Album.......2007-06-07

The music is wonderful. The production is terrible!! The sound fades in and out and is very scratchy in some places.

Excellent assortment.......2007-05-12

I'm not a big opera fan but I wanted to expose an assorted selection for my kids. This was perfect since it included several recognizable selections.

Great Selections.......2007-03-31

This Cd, has the very best of Opera
covering mainly from the classcal
to the to the romantic periods, a most
memorable selection here is Leo Nucci
in a lagendary performance of Rossini's
"Largo al Factotum" from "Il Barbiere di Seviglia"
also Andrea Bocelli in his performance of Leoncavallo's
memorable "Matinatta" here in an orchestrated version.
Indeed some of opera's most loved arias are in this recording
various conductors, orchestras, and soloists. All in their
very best. Indeed a five-star recording...

Average customer rating:

Diana's Brazilian Sound
Cover Artist
The Look of Love
Almost great.
The Sound of Love

The Look of Love
Diana Krall
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Jazz | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

$9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

When I Look in Your Eyes
The Girl In The Other Room
Love Scenes
Live in Paris
From This Moment On

ASIN: B00005N9CV
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

S'Wonderful
Love Letters
I Remember You
Cry Me A River
Besame Mucho
The Night We Called It a Day
Dancing In The Dark
I Get Along Without You Very Well
The Look Of Love
Maybe You'll Be There

Amazon.com

The Look of Love doesn't tamper with Diana Krall's ongoing success, continuing the emphasis on romantic ballads and embracing them with lush string arrangements. At the core, of course, is Krall's voice. She's developing into one of the great torch singers, with an approach that's both direct and subtly nuanced, true to the song and yet deeply personal. There's a combination of restraint and drama here, as Krall ranges from the confident to the wistful, from loss to playful insinuation, as each song requires. "Cry Me a River" is bittersweet triumph, while "Love Letters" and "Maybe You'll Be There" maintain the most tenuous emotional hold, at once fragile and resilient. "Besame Mucho" and "Dancing in the Dark" are sultry romances wafted on light Latin beats. The songs develop their intimacy in the setting of Krall's quartet, which usually includes bassist Christian McBride and drummer Peter Erskine and several fine guitarists, most frequently Russell Malone. They're a superb complement to her voice and piano, and the close communication carries through the depth and sheen added by Claus Ogerman's rich orchestrations. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Diana's Brazilian Sound.......2007-07-20

About half this album is done in bossa nova rhythm. Diana Krall is clearly comfortable in this idiom. She also echoes back to Julie London. First rate!

Cover Artist.......2007-07-19

I listened Diana Krall live in concert tonight. I did not know much about her except that she is regarded as one of the greatest jazz artists of our generation which made me feel rather ignorant as I am a big fan of jazz. She played for an hour and a half tonight and she is obviously a talented musician. However, one thing struck me as odd ... for one of the shining lights of modern jazz, she sang one, ONE, original song. All of the music she played were covers of some of the greatest jazz music ever recorded. What became evident is that this talented woman bears a talent that is only skin deep. The one original song that she sang was horrendous, a lyrical disaster. I cringed each and every time the refrain was repeated. Granted the crowd, purveyors of insipid music one and all, ate it up. Her own music can't all be that bad can it? I walked away with the thought that music, as in fine arts, has simply become a playground for lazy artists to appeal to lazy fans who don't expect any more than rote regurgitation. Diana Krall is a cover artist. What galls me about her fame and fortune is that talent alone didn't make her famous. Is it because she's an attractive woman who can tickle the keys of a piano and sing in a sultry voice? There are multitudes of rock cover bands who get ridiculed for playing songs they didn't write. So, why does this woman get lauded for doing the same thing? Talented yes, but genius? ... to compare her to Cole Porter or Nat King Cole would be sinful.

The Look of Love.......2007-07-01

This is a wonderful CD from beginning to end. Diana Krall's voice is sultry and sexy and is the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening or just relaxing at home. You won't be disappointed!

Almost great........2007-06-21

The cover featuring the very beautiful Diana Krall certainly will help sales. My apologies to her many fans as I must confess to not being one of them. I am sure the enjoyment she seems to give people is real. This is simply my take on her overall sound and impact.

Diana studied extensively with Jimmy Rowles and seemed to be on the inside early on when she was very young. With so much assistance and encouragement, she learned to play. She worked hard at it and it shows - you can only applaud that. However, the playing, IMHO, is not distinctive. It sounds like good jazz piano but there is no unmistakable sound. There is nothing that separates her playing from the fold. Great jazz musicians develop a sound, a trademark approach, something unique and new. You can easily tell Bill Evans apart from Monk or Peterson for example. This is very competent playing but there is no signature concept or sound yet in her still young career. Her singing can sound nice also, but she has no show stopping voice, nor show stopping style.

I do believe she will continue to develop and perhaps someday I'll eat these words. I truly hope so! In the meantime she is still in search of her own sound. Again, simply one mans opinion and I encourage you to take a listen. We need more women in jazz and the piano - voice one two punch she possesses could still be a poignant force in the future.

The Sound of Love.......2007-06-05

Like so many of the late Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers who are drawn to the standards, Canadian vocalist and keyboardist Diana Krall fell in love with the music through her father. He was an accomplished stride pianist with an encyclopedic knowledge of 1920s and '30s jazz pianists. "I think Dad had every recording Fats Waller ever made, and I tried to learn them all," she said. Krall performed in jazz ensembles in the Vancouver area during her teen years and at seventeen won a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. After a couple albums in the early 1990s, Krall hit it big with her tribute to the Nat King Cole trio, All for You (1996).

Like Harry Connick, Jr., Krall is a studied and accomplished musician. Unlike Connick, though, she hasn't let book learning inhibit her musical intuitions. The best quality of her albums is thematic and aural unity. Check out her version of Bonnie Raitt's "Love Me Like a Man" from her latest offering, The Girl in the Other Room (2004), a collection of mellifluous and bluesy ballads, half of which were penned by Krall and her musician husband, Elvis Costello. Her fingers really have a way with the black keys that gets under the skin of this piece. Krall realizes that what blues is all about is what's between the notes. Many have compared her playing to that of Bill Evans, but I think there's also more than a little bit of Jerry Lee Lewis going on--this lady can really rock!

But it's her 2001 recording of standards in a bossa nova vein, The Look of Love, that really does it for me (and about a billion other guys). The beautiful blonde's dusky vocals spread soothingly over the calming strains of a bossa nova jazz combo, backed subtly by the London Symphony Orchestra. Opening with a relaxed version of the Gershwins' "S'Wonderful," Krall takes you on a luxurious ride in your own private club car for the better part of an hour. Sit back with this one, kick off your shoes, and enjoy a fine single-malt Scotch that's as smoky as Krall's alluring voice. She's often been compared to Miss Peggy Lee, but on this one her unembellished sensuality is more reminiscent of Julie London's, or Keely Smith's absent Louis Prima. Besides her smash-hit title track, the best cuts are "Love Letters" (made famous by Ketty Lester), a wailing "Cry Me a River," and "I Get Along Without You Very Well," where the halting, stiff-upper-lip quality in her voice ever-so-gently, and so poignantly, betrays the bravado claim of the title.

Average customer rating:

Is it bad to say I like this better than the original soundtrack?
Absolutely Exquisite
Yo Yo Ma and the Maestro Marvelous!!!
Better Every Time
Fabulous CD

Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Mission: Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture
The Essential Yo-Yo Ma
Obrigado Brazil
Appassionato
Vivaldi's Cello

ASIN: B0002YCVXI
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Tracks:

The Mission: Gabriel's Oboe
The Mission: The Falls
Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Playing Love from The Legend of 1900
Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Nostalgia from Cinema Paradiso
Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Looking for You (Love Theme) from Cinema Paradiso
Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Malena (Main theme)
Giuseppe Tornatore Suite: Remembering (Ricordare)*
Sergio Leone Suite: Deborah's Theme from Once Upon A Time In America
Sergio Leone Suite: Cockeye's Song from Once Upon a Time in America
Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in America
Sergio Leone Suite: Main Theme from Once Upon a Time in the West
Sergio Leone Suite: Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Brian DePalma Suite: Main Theme from Casualities of War
Brian DePalma Suite: Death Theme from The Untouchables
Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Journey from Moses
Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Theme from Moses
Moses and Marco Polo Suite: Main Theme from Marco Polo
The Lady Caliph: Dinner
The Lady Caliph: Nocturne

Amazon.com

Ennio Morricone is well-known to moviegoers. His soundtracks for The Mission, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, and others are invariably warmly melodic and superbly suited to the films they grace. They not only add atmosphere; they help tell the story. For this CD Morricone has created new orchestrations for many of his scores, adding a solo cello part for the indefatigable Yo-Yo Ma, whose musical curiosity seems to be endless. Outside the films, these pieces tend to be lovely melodies, mostly pretty sentimental stuff, and, in the best way, gorgeous aural wallpaper. The most moving are the two selections from The Mission, but fans of Morricone's music will find plenty to enjoy here. Ma's playing, as always, is exquisite---warm, deeply felt (given the circumstances), and entirely idiomatic within the context. Perhaps not quite for the classical music lover, but an affectionate reworking of music by an important film composer. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Is it bad to say I like this better than the original soundtrack?.......2007-06-02

I never thought Yo-Yo Ma would do Gabriel's Oboe (Track 1) from THE MISSION justice, but I was wrong. There's a pureness to this version that makes it easier casual listening than the version(s) on the soundtrack CD itself. So no matter how much I love the theatrical "largeness" of the Original Soundtrack (not to mention the full choir), this is the version I grab for the CD player/iPod/whatever.

My two other recommendations are Main Theme from ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Track 11) and Ecstasy of Gold from THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (Track 12). I suggest playing these consecutively as a single medley. Track 11 *WILL* bring tears to the manliest among us --particularly if you remember in the movie where Sergio Leone pulls the camera up to reveal the town rising.

I get the feeling "hardcore" classical fans would dismiss movie scores as commercial work. I truly believe Ennio Morricone transcends that. Even moreso than, say, John Williams, and on a different plane than a Danny Elfman. And I can't say more about the emotion Yo-Yo Ma brings to the table than what's already been discussed.

Absolutely Exquisite.......2007-05-15

The combination of Morricone and Ma is pure perfection. This CD fills my heart with so much joy that I could just cry. I listen to it almost daily and have given it away as a gift to my loved ones. I am captivated by their incredible talents, and I know you will be too.

Yo Yo Ma and the Maestro Marvelous!!!.......2007-05-13

Having recently succumbed to Yo Yo Ma after a longtime love of Ennio Marricone I was excited to get this CD from Amazon. It is superb! All of the songs had to be recrafted by Morricone to suit Yo Yo Ma but it is a great listen as you sonically travel down memory lane through some of Maestro Moricone's musical marvels. "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" now becomes "Gabriel's Cello." I laugh as Yo Yo Ma bows his brains out on the "Ecstacy of Gold' from "The Good,The Bad, and The Ugly." I recommend this to all Yo Yo Ma and Morricone fans...a great listen. Soothing after a hard day!

Better Every Time.......2007-05-09

This CD gets better with every listening. It was a great purchase.

Fabulous CD.......2007-05-07

I love Morricone and this CD has some of the best versions of my favorite pieces. I have ordered several as gifts for friends.

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day

Average customer rating:

A Beautiful Wedding
Wonderful!
Good CD for Wedding
A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers
great choice!

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
O'Neill Brothers
Manufacturer: O'Neill Brothers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Day to Remember vol II
Classical Wedding
25 Wedding Favorites
Heart Beats: Now & Forever - Timeless Wedding Songs
I Will Be Here: 25 of Today's Best Wedding & Love Songs

ASIN: B000066RG3
Release Date: 2002-04-25

Tracks:

Falling in Love - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Wachet Auf - J.S. Bach
Air on a G String - J.S. Bach
Air (from Water Music) - Handel
Reminiscent Joy - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Canon in D - Pachelbel
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach
The Wedding Song (There is Love) - Stookey
Ave Maria - Schubert
I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
The Gift of Love (Water is Wide melody)
Spring (from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
The Way You Look Tonight - Kern
Forever in Love - Kenny G

Album Description

After performing at more than 200 weddings, Tim and Ryan O'Neill recorded this beautiful CD of favorite wedding songs. It features a full hour of instrumental piano, string quartet, flute, and guitar music that can be played at your ceremony or reception.

It also gives suggestions for music at your wedding, including a special bridal website!
*Over 1,000 song titles listed
*Listen to samples of songs
*More ideas for each part of your ceremony, reception, and dance

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Wedding.......2007-07-10

This CD made all the difference in our wedding celebration. The songs were simply beautiful. The CD was delivered promptly. I would definitely buy from this vendor again.

Wonderful!.......2007-03-23

This is exactly what I was looking for for my wedding day. It's a beautiful cd, absolutely perfect.

Good CD for Wedding.......2007-03-21

All great music for weddings. It really does have all the music I want to use!

A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers.......2007-02-07

The music was just perfect for our wedding--not too formal, not too simple.

great choice!.......2007-01-10

There are so many different songs to choose from on this cd and it's a great buy. whether you want to play it while eating dinner at the wedding, to walking down the isle, it's wonderful!!!!