Posts Tagged Standards
Archive
March 12, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Ella Fitzgerald: The Complete Piano Duets
Ella Fitzgerald The Complete Piano Duets Verve Where do you start with Ella Fitzgerald? There are hundreds of albums – including dozens of very good compilations. You could start with her duets with Louis Armstrong – sure. Many people do. And fair enough. There are her songbook albums – where she showcases the work of […]Archive
March 1, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
James Taylor: American Standard
James Taylor American Standard Fantasy Though James Taylor is no stranger to offering covers, and has even offered themed albums of interpretations before (two Christmas albums) he’s never sounded quite as joyless and muted as he does here on his half-strength run through some musical-theatre showstoppers and other canonical American standards.Archive
February 13, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 174
Sir Yehudi Menuhin & Stephane Grappelli, Top Hat (1981) I often talk about – and think about – the Stephane Grappelli concert I was lucky to see back in the late 1990s. One of the very best gigs of my lifetime. And it all started when my mum introduced me to Stephane Grappelli and Yehudin […]Archive
January 10, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 189
Bob Dylan, Fallen Angels (2016) Bob Dylan long ago earned the right to do whatever he likes and then in the last few years he tested the shit out of that by released three albums of covers in a row; the third a triple album. I was surprised a little at how much I love […]Archive
December 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Los Lobos: Llego Navidad
Los Lobos Llego Navidad Rhino Records From collections of Disney songs to old rock’n’roll covers if you need a band to deliver the goods – and reflect their own unique skill and flavour all the while then Los Lobos is a safe bet. So it’s no real surprise they’ve released my favourite new Christmas album […]Archive
September 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Chrissie Hynde & The Valve Bone Woe Ensemble: Valve Bone Woe
Chrissie Hynde & The Valve Bone Woe Ensemble Valve Bone Woe BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd. Well this is a lovely surprise. And for many reasons. Five years ago Hynde released her debut solo album and I thought it was a stinker – so this one gets a tick just for not being that. But […]Archive
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