Posts Tagged Standards
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February 27, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Kurt Elling: The Questions
Kurt Elling The Questions Sony Masterworks Kurt Elling remains the finest contemporary male jazz singer – I’ve been a fan across most of the last 20 years. It’s his voice, of course. The warmth. The depth. The heart. But it’s also the repertoire – and maybe those same descriptors can be applied, but it’s certainly […]Archive
December 26, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 347
Ringo Starr, Sentimental Journey (1970) Poor old Ringo Starr. I say “Poor old Ringo Starr”, when there’s nothing poor about him. Nice life, great drummer, in the best band in the world, lucky timing on that too, etc. And it really hasn’t mattered what he did after. I mean he’s as well-known – actually probably […]Archive
August 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Nikka Costa: Nikka & Strings – Underneath and in Between
Nikka Costa Nikka & Strings: Underneath and in Between Go Funk Yourself Records Inc/Metropolis Recordings The soul, blues and pop sound of Nikka Costa has been sorely missed across the last half-decade. Here with not quite a new album but new renditions of old favourites (from her pen as well as some standards) we have […]Archive
June 17, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 398
Bob Dylan, Triplicate (2017) I am enjoying Bob Dylan’s roll through the standards, serving up evergreens whenever/however he feels like it – this time a triple album, three separate 30-minute, 10-song mood-pieces. I’m still digesting this one in fact – hence the move to the LP, an easier way to take it all in in […]Archive
May 10, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Van Morrison and Joey DeFrancesco: You’re Driving Me Crazy
Van Morrison and Joey DeFrancesco You’re Driving Me Crazy Sony Legacy Van Morrison is sure making up for some recent lost time. He took four years off there – though no one probably noticed. And when he returned – in 2016 – it was with his strongest collection in 20+ years. That was no fluke […]Archive
February 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Van Morrison: Versatile
Van Morrison Versatile SMG No need to slow down and too late to stop by quite a way, and so here we have Van Morrisson’s second brand new album of 2017, this one arriving right at the end of the year and just a few short months after the also very good Roll With The […]Archive
October 18, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Alison Krauss: Windy City
Alison Krauss Windy City Capitol Windy City isn’t the best album Alison Krauss has made – and there are a small handful of precious gems to consider already. But it’s a timely, warm reminder that she’s one of the best pure singers and a wonderful song-interpreter. And sometimes that’s all you need. And so it […]Archive
March 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Willie Nelson: Summertime – Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin
Willie Nelson Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin Sony Legacy There’s dozens of Willie Nelson Sings and/or Willie Nelson Plays albums – a kids album, an instrumental album, reggae, jazz, standards, particular eras, composers…he is one of the most adept and brilliant song stylists of the post-war years. And yet some of his albums – particularly […]Archive
December 12, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
The Rolling Stones: Blue & Lonesome
The Rolling Stones Blue & Lonesome Interscope There are quite a few times, music-reviewing, when you’re sure you’re screaming that the sky is falling and no one is listening – other times you’re just flat out baffled when you read pull-quotes that reference “a lovely, childish innocence” and performances that are “honest, more rousing and […]Archive
October 5, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Bob Dylan: Fallen Angels
Bob Dylan Fallen Angels Columbia We shouldn’t need proof that Bob Dylan – still and always – does what he wants. But a second volume of pre-rock’n’roll Frank Sinatra covers arriving only a year after he first soft-dazzled and stupefied with that very concept should be all the proof that’s currently required. Remember, for the […]Archive
May 27, 2016 by Simon Sweetman