Funk Brothers Music

I cannot put into words how this CD affects me. This is Jazz - the real thing - at its best. Killer improv; the chemistry between all the players is really something. This CD won the Grammy the year it came out and for good cause. This is definitely a CD I would take with me on that deserted island. I wouldn't want to be without this recording. It is in my top 3 favorites of all time.

I've owned at least four copies of this cd. People borrow them and ... you know the rest. Musically great, sonically excellent, I still listen to it often today. Brilliantly walks the line between accessible and challenging listening.

The greatest brothers in jazz since the Adderlys; Coltrane and Davis reappear in the same family. Although called "Out of the Loop", this album has a more popular sound than most Brecker work. Evocations (track 2) has a "smooth jazz" sound, though far superior to it; and there is also a Brazilian style number (Secret Heart, track 4) an afro-latin beat (African Skies, track 5) and simple funk (When it Was, track 6). Great ballads are included, particular the ultimate Breckers' ballad, "And then She Wept (track 9).

There are times in which the intuition, the joyous rapture and the inspiration seemed to melt in the right proportions to make an unforgettable record. In the jazz story there are many examples.
But in the particular case in what it concerns the Brecker Brothers made to my mind their best achievement, without any shadow of doubt. Fascinating, exciting and captivating in every track. There is not any hole all along this work.

Simply extraordinary and consider this title among the cream of the cream albums during that year.

I have had this album for many years now. I am only a junior in college, however I'm in music school - I have just recently dug deeper into this album after learning more here. The stuff Michael and Randy play are just heart-stopping. Rediculous. Michael's lines are so out and crazy, yet beautiful. They keep you listening on the edge of your seat. Randy's playing on this album is quite the opposite - its warm and mellow. He pours his heart out through his horn. The mixture of these two with the outstanding arrangments of great song ideas are indispensable. This album is a staple in a musician's listening and learning experience. All other audiences will also be in shock as they listen to what Michael and Randy say musically.

I just have to say that this album is a wonderful piece. I have often just replayed the songs again and again. She has really found the soul of some of these songs.

Joan is so versatile, here again a wonderful collection of songs sung beautifully. A must in any music library!!!

It sucks to be me, because I just now came across this CD at a country radio station I work at. Why in God's name none of these songs aren't on the air, I don't know. I suppose the masses want the effervescent bubblegum pop of a Taylor Swift, all pitch-correct and pseudosexy on an album cover, than this collection of prime country. On second thought, I guess it sucks to be the masses.

On this disc, Joan has quite capably channeled Patsy Cline and Emmylou Harris and come up with a stunning take on what could be called 'classic country.' Help from people like Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminsky of Union Station, and Vince Gill certainly don't hurt. The interesting thing is, listen to this album and try to tell which of the songs were written by Kris Kristofferson and Jerry Garcia and Rodney Crowell and which ones are the tunes that Joan wrote herself. You probably won't be able to do it.

Joan's voice has always been fantastic, and it's so refreshing to hear it put to yet another use on this CD. It's one of those discs that grabs you within the first ten seconds and won't let go until you've listened to the whole thing at least twice.

Sad thing is, with the current state of the music industry focusing less and less on actual talent, Joan is probably destined to be one of those "B-list" singers who are popular with quite a few people but never achieve huge mainstream success (again). In the event that winds up being true, then I guess it sucks to be all of us.

"Pretty Little Stranger" is Osborne's best effort since "Righteous Love" and pulls together all the elements that make most of her previous albums great. The album features many of her original songs as well as some fantastic covers that make up for "How Sweet It Is," a previous collection of lackluster covers.

For me the album brings forth a combination of musical deity that I haven't experienced since Osborne toured with The Dead back in 2003 for the Summer Getaway Tour. Her heartfelt rendition of "Brokedown Palace" is no doubt a product of that union. What makes it even better is "What You Are" by Patty Griffin, who replaced Joan on my heavy rotation list. There's also a Kris Kristofferson song thrown in for good measure.

Although the album is honest and heartfelt, what's missing is the brassy, belting and sexy tone that characterized her first three recordings and electrified her live shows. I miss the sheer power of "Early Recordings" and the crunchy guitar from the title song of "Righteous Love."

Much of the buzz concerning the CD seems to be that it's country. Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that. It's slower than some of her previous albums, but otherwise not much different. I don't care what you call her stuff, it's just great to hear a new Joan album in any form.

I am a big fan of Joan Osborne, but this CD is a bit too much country for my taste. It is only for die-hard Joan Osborne fans. I myself probably wouldn't have bought it if it would have been by another artist. It is beautifully played and sung, but the style just is'nt for me. I like her other stuff, but this one I probably won't play as much as her other CD's.

The Breckers' music is funky jazz at its best, and the music on this disc is no exception. Be warned, though, that this "best of" type collection samples from only 2 albums- 7 songs from Return of the Brecker Brothers (1992) and 4 songs from Out of the Loop (1994). Some fine songs from the latter album are left off, including Scruch. Still, when I listen to these guys, my head is nodding, my feet are tapping, and my fingers are drumming- if I'm not up dancing.

This here is another on what seems to be a long list of non-authorized dvds of the best music group ever, outkast. This one was better than some becuase of the people interviewed, Organized Nosie, outkast's old manager, Atlanta local celeberties, and other people of importance. It also didn't repeat itself, and used different backgrounds and music. It just didn't have actually interviews from Andre & Big Boi liked I had hoped, it also was a little cheap made and cheezy setup, but this dvd did have extras which others didn't, although they weren't good extras they where still something more.

Excellent purchase. Classics revisited and redone in the late eighties by various artists. Annie Lennox's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is perhaps one of the best songs she has performed. Iggie Pop and Debbie Harry are hilarious. The DVD has videos for many of these songs that I forgot even existed. The video from Tom Waites is surreal.

I was skeptical when I read some of the reviews here. However when I viewed my copy, It was great, just as my original VHS tape. It is an important piece of work, even today. We should not forget until a cure has been found.

it took them 15 years but it was about time that they did a clever mix of a dvd music video with the classic original extra songs included in with the cd and well worth the wait.

i found the quality excellent and liked the fact of the different styles of musicians and celebrities through the entire compilations to enhance in a blend of great interpretive songs/gems from the exceptionally talented songwriter cole porter.

the overall, i see was high in content and extras and for a good cause of course with excellent art form to boot. it's content talking about education, take precaution with history and current news on aids with people different takes with music videos. some examples were richard gere, john malkovich, debbie harry, annie lennox and others which also did brief clips with these people in between the music videos to break up the songs.

of course, the premise of this is for sales, music, help and awareness and i found the talks were not intrusive but brief and with interesting points from each person. i liked all the music videos but the ones that stood out the best to me were kd lang, sinaed o'connor, lisa stansfield, neneh cherry, annie lennox and the beautifully sung "do i love you" remix from aztec camera.

it's definately an interesting mix of sounds from various types of musical artists but i enjoyed the balance and think it was well worth the price for everything.

i would highly recommend it and found it a timeless treasure at home or on the road...

I was glad I purchased this set. I think the imagining was abit soft but the picture quality did not lack at all. I did like the varied videos along with the CD mixture. There were a few stand outs U2, k.d. Lang, Salif Keita's, The Neville Brothers, Annie Lennox.

It was not a waste of time I thought but money well spent. I was not disappointed at all but with a slight imagining issue that is not overt to most eyes. The songs & text was a mixed bag that also was in the underlying issue of AIDS and I felt it did a good overall job and enjoyed them both. Recommended.

You can learn a lot from watching the new DVD release of "Red, Hot and Blue." One is the importance of safe sex. Another is the uncanny resemblance between k.d. lang and Roddy Frame.
This 2-Disk collection (which contains the DVD, plus a CD with all of the music), which originally dates circa 1990, compiles some very interesting interpretations of Cole Porter songs as performed by a wide variety of artists. Because of his own sexuality, the choice of Porter's songs may distract from the important point that AIDS is not a `Gay' disease, but it also communicates the need for open-minded awareness and non-prejudicial intelligence, especially as it regards to a health issue of universal scope. While the artistry of these interpretations varies widely, the entertainment factor is fairly consistent. For example, Sinead O'Connor's version of "You Do Something to Me" is fair to middling, but if you ever wondered how attractive she would be if she grew out her hair, here's your answer. Erasure may not be one of my favorite artists, but their video and recording of "Too Damn Hot" is a coy highlight of the DVD. Iggy Pop's pairing with Debbie Harry is an absolute hoot, as is Jim Jarmusch's video for Tom Waits' version of "It's All Right with Me". Other highlights are Neneh Cherry's ultra-pithy recording of "I've Got You Under My Skin," and the ever-reliable Annie Lennox, whose video for "Every Time We Say Goodbye" may move you to tears. The world may have since forgotten about Jody Watley (a winner of the `Best New Artist' Grammy in 1990) and Lisa Stansfield, but they both provide excellent material for this project.
One interesting (and depressing) observation is how the politics and statistics presented during the course of the program have not aged at all, while the careers of a few of the performers have fared much worse. While the number of deaths in other than third-world countries has subsided, the number of people infected by AIDS has increased spookily in accordance with the predictions. Because of this shift, it feels as though our political focus on this disease has shifted as well. The media addressed AIDS with some regularity when American and/or European artists were among its highly visible victims. Today, hard economics decide who survives and who dies, with poor countries struggling to prevent the disease from ravaging their population. Proceeds from the sale of this collection benefit AIDS research and relief, so here's an opportunity to reminisce, be entertained, and provide assistance where it is most needed. A- Tom Ryan

The CD is a fine CD, but Amazon shipping has a lot to be desired. The case has one of the ears that work as hinges broken off. I thoroughly searched the sealed envelope the CD came in and it wasn't in it so it didn't happen in transit. The case was damaged before it was packaged, and the individual packing it or the person who broke it had to have known.

This is Joan Osborne's best album. You'll recognize several songs since they've been played on the radio. This upbeat CD is memorable and you'll be humming some of these tunes. It's a very nice pop female vocal CD that's highly recommended.

This is one of those great classic albums, where an artist's "best of" isn't better. Listeners may have a least favorite song (for me, it's "Let's Just Get Naked"...and I get it), but that doesn't tarnish its five stars.

I bought this CD after hearing One of Us on the radio. I was very pleasantly surprised to find the CD was a collection of great rock and blues. Great Blues tracks include Pensacola and Crazy Baby. Right Hand Man and Spider Web are great rocking tracks.

I'd recommend this to anyone who loves either genere.

Her songs have framed moments in my life.This album in particular. 'St. Teresa' was the first song I ever heard sung by Joan Osborne. I saw her performance of it on late night TV...Amazing-a prayer full of rhythm, smoke, love and the pain of grief observed from a distance. The next song I heard by her was 'Spiderweb' On a radio-again late at night... a dream journey and the open window-dancing around my bedroom. Each
song on this album is a touchstone to someplace/someone/sometime. The album's style mixes the richness of blues...hear a little of Bonnie Raitt "Streetlights',Some Velvet Underground..at times feels the darker edges of Sarah Mclaughlin emotional hotwire ('Crazy Baby'), The lyrics border Dylan (Man in the 'Long Black Coat' is his) and have the feel of a diary-raw and real. Over a few beers a friend and I decided *Relish* was like the perfect cup of coffee-hot,a dark roast-not to sweet, creamy edges and very satisfying! This to me is her seminal album. O' and it has her radio hit-'One of Us' If you are going to buy one of her albums -this is it. Enjoy!

The same talent and energy of the old Brecker Brothers, but a whole new "thang." Outstanding composing, excellent improvisation, tight ensemble and great energy. This is one of my favorites. (I also recommend "Out of the Loop" - another outstanding recording from the Bros - won a Grammy the year to came out and for good cause!)

Take away the hip-hop, the samples (it's LAZY music, man) and Randy's bad singing (why does he do it - I hope it's meant as a bit of fun, but I fear otherwise; listen to some of his solo albums) this is a full-on high-octane, high-range, rubber-burning horn set that defined their sound over a decade earlier. It's tinged with the nineties' sound of world-music synth rhythms, which is not a criticism (I particularly like 'Wakaria' with it's quirky rhythms and tribal chant tip). I'm not a lover of Hip-hop, and would take sampled music and strap it to a large explosive device if only someone would ask; however, this is definately the Return of the Brecker Brothers. Welcome back boys, it's been a long time.

This is an inspired album, that carves in relief the kaleidoscopic creativity of these outstanding musicians brothers.

The front page of the CD is eloquent and talks by itself. This album goes over many different rhythms with such mastery and enraptured vision that has meant not only one of the best albums in the whole discography of these brothers, but besides a never ending motive to enjoy their craft: innovativeness of first order. You will never let disappointed with this album.

Praising recommended.

Fusion, when done right, can be one of the most exciting genres of music..harnessing the power and majesty of rock or the rhythmic inventions of funk (or both) while filtering in the subtle melodicism of jazz. The Brecker Brothers were one of the bands there with their "skunk funk" at the beginning, when the genre hit its stride in the early 70s. This was their first album since 1980.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Jazz purists will hate the hip-hop influenced "Big Idea" but it has one of the better musical grooves on the album to my ears. I think the addition of Veera's electronicly altered voice was a bit much though. Peppy somewhat Latin flavoured "Above and Below" reminds me a bit of Chick Corea Elektric Band. "On the Backside" is a strutting chunk of mid-tempo funk with some nice trumpet/sax interplay by the Breckers and tasteful piano asides from George Whitty. "Sozinho" is a lovely flugelhorn based ballad though it's perhaps a bit too long. "Roppongi", the album closer, flirts with Brazilian rhythms and flits between several quirky melody/meter changes that somehow manage to hold together.

LOWS:
Randy Brecker makes an ill-advised attempt at singing on "That's All There is to It", a self-penned tune that's no great shakes in the lyric department though the skewed reggae arrangement is at least occasionally interesting musically. "Good Gracious" sounds like the theme song to some bad WB TV show.

BOTTOM LINE:
There are some good songs here and I enjoyed it enough to buy it, but I don't count it among my favourite jazz CDs or even my favourite fusion for that matter. There are some definite "skip" tracks. Listen for yourself and choose accordingly.

The first time I heard this album I wasn't so impressed, and put it aside. Now, several years later, I'm just listening to it, and can't understand why didn't I perceived all the beauty it has! It's amazing! very creative, and it's fun to listen to.
You must have it!

Dihelson Mendonça

The same talent and energy of the old Brecker Brothers, but a whole new "thang." Outstanding composing, excellent improvisation, tight ensemble and great energy. This is one of my favorites. (I also recommend "Out of the Loop" - another outstanding recording from the Bros - won a Grammy the year to came out and for good cause!)

Take away the hip-hop, the samples (it's LAZY music, man) and Randy's bad singing (why does he do it - I hope it's meant as a bit of fun, but I fear otherwise; listen to some of his solo albums) this is a full-on high-octane, high-range, rubber-burning horn set that defined their sound over a decade earlier. It's tinged with the nineties' sound of world-music synth rhythms, which is not a criticism (I particularly like 'Wakaria' with it's quirky rhythms and tribal chant tip). I'm not a lover of Hip-hop, and would take sampled music and strap it to a large explosive device if only someone would ask; however, this is definately the Return of the Brecker Brothers. Welcome back boys, it's been a long time.

This is an inspired album, that carves in relief the kaleidoscopic creativity of these outstanding musicians brothers.

The front page of the CD is eloquent and talks by itself. This album goes over many different rhythms with such mastery and enraptured vision that has meant not only one of the best albums in the whole discography of these brothers, but besides a never ending motive to enjoy their craft: innovativeness of first order. You will never let disappointed with this album.

Praising recommended.

Fusion, when done right, can be one of the most exciting genres of music..harnessing the power and majesty of rock or the rhythmic inventions of funk (or both) while filtering in the subtle melodicism of jazz. The Brecker Brothers were one of the bands there with their "skunk funk" at the beginning, when the genre hit its stride in the early 70s. This was their first album since 1980.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Jazz purists will hate the hip-hop influenced "Big Idea" but it has one of the better musical grooves on the album to my ears. I think the addition of Veera's electronicly altered voice was a bit much though. Peppy somewhat Latin flavoured "Above and Below" reminds me a bit of Chick Corea Elektric Band. "On the Backside" is a strutting chunk of mid-tempo funk with some nice trumpet/sax interplay by the Breckers and tasteful piano asides from George Whitty. "Sozinho" is a lovely flugelhorn based ballad though it's perhaps a bit too long. "Roppongi", the album closer, flirts with Brazilian rhythms and flits between several quirky melody/meter changes that somehow manage to hold together.

LOWS:
Randy Brecker makes an ill-advised attempt at singing on "That's All There is to It", a self-penned tune that's no great shakes in the lyric department though the skewed reggae arrangement is at least occasionally interesting musically. "Good Gracious" sounds like the theme song to some bad WB TV show.

BOTTOM LINE:
There are some good songs here and I enjoyed it enough to buy it, but I don't count it among my favourite jazz CDs or even my favourite fusion for that matter. There are some definite "skip" tracks. Listen for yourself and choose accordingly.

The first time I heard this album I wasn't so impressed, and put it aside. Now, several years later, I'm just listening to it, and can't understand why didn't I perceived all the beauty it has! It's amazing! very creative, and it's fun to listen to.
You must have it!

Dihelson Mendonça