Southern Jazz Music

Michael Le Van is one of the purest pianists since the Gershwin age and no one is listening? I understand that he isn't in with the popular music. It's sad that synthetic music has taken over so much that no one can appreciate the arts of classical music. Maybe if it was 50 Cent of Taylor Hicks (everyone is making SUCH a big deal about that dude) then maybe someone would listen. As for me I am with classical. It's nice to listen to real music and appreciate those other acts such as Chopin. Lets not allow the music of the arts die because of synthetic, mess with your voice to make it sound better, garbage that is infiltrating the airwaves.

16 songs of and about Memphis - in fact, Memphis is in the title of each and every song.
I was a wary of this album at first but the more I thought about it, the more I understood it. Memphis' diverse musical situation needs to be celebrated and Dattel has compiled a carefully conceived and varied selection here.

Some songs will be recognized, some won't. Some were done in Memphis (most of them) and some in other places. Some songs are old, some songs are new, but for the most part it's a blues album, and since it's from Memphis, even the weak cuts are strong.

Susan Marshall's "In the Mood for Memphis" begins the album and seven songs later, we hear vocalist Gary Johns' version of the same song. Longtime player Don McMinn tells about "Memphis in May" and Joyce Cobb tells us all about "Memphis in June" in her unique.

Two songs jumped out at me and made the album worth the time - Jim Dickinson's Mud Boy and the Neutrons hammering out his friend Bob Dylan's "Stuck Inside of Mobile (With the Memphis Blues Again). " It's done with verve and vigor and I've always liked Jim's voice.

Eddie Harrison's version of "Walking in Memphis" is the best version of that Grammy-winning song I've ever heard. I remember seeing and hearing Eddie Harrison and the ShortCuts 35 years ago and thought they were great, and he's an even better singer now.
From beginning to end, the musicianship quality is top-notch and Dattel and company have an excellent CD here. If you're already from Memphis, go get this CD and celebrate your town. If you're not from Memphis, come on down! There's magic here.

Few live albums fail to capture the energy of the actual show as well as this does. You can't help but smile & dance when listening to the King & his all-star cast (Jemmott rips) bring the heat. the solo by purdie while he is being introduced is worth the price of the album alone.

This is one of those albums and artists that is constantly shuffled away and almost forgotten. King Curtis was one of the great sidemen of R&B, and this cd will testify to it. The selection of tunes was obviously geared for the Filmore crowd. I still think his version of "Whiter Shade of Pale" one of the finest covers ever. The sax technique on it obviously reveals his earlier career as a "serious" jazz man (if you can find it, check out those early jazz lps). Check out this "back up" and warm up act/band with Curtis with an appearance by the late Billy Preston and others. Mighty fine music here.

I've love this cd!!! I can hardly wait for the complete show to be released with aretha. Hopefully within a few weeks time.

Check out the king/aretha disc set instead. Better sound quality for what I imagine are the same shows. Otherwise stick to some of his studio work. Playing this in multiple cars it just sounds muddy where the aretha set (4 cds) has much better if not fantastic sound.

This CD is AWESOME! Track two is unbelieveable... you just have to hear it... I love it.

If you like New Orleans music -- cajun, zydeco, r&b, etc, this cd is for you.

With groups big on the current New Orleans scene like The Iguanas and the Dirty Dozen, this live cd will take you back to New Orleans in no time.

The Mountain Stage always puts out great releases, and this one is no different.

I have lots and lots of CD's and this is by far my favorite. It is good from start to finish and includes a wide range of music. If you don't like this one you are deaf or dead.

I have listened to almost all the upcoming Texas singer songwriters, and Davin James is right at the top, no question. Davin has always put on an awesome live act, but has not released a defining CD until now. Magnolia does not have one bad track. Some songs sound like Steve Earle's pickin', others like Waylon's bass, but all with Davin's own style. Some New Orlean's piano mixed with Davin's strong guitar work and great lyrics make this a must have. DO NOT MISS THIS CD! GO GET IT!!

"Magnolia" is difficult to pigeonhole. That said, it's a delight to hear. You don't just listen to this disc ... you feel it. It gets down and dirty, deep inside of you. It's true Texas dancehall ... campfire sing-along ... roadhouse stomping ... delta shuffle ... gospel anthem ... story telling ... country and blues and horns and rock and roll and more country ... good time music. With this disc playing in my truck, I've felt at home in lower Louisiana, I've made friends in the Texas hills, I've bonded with buddies on the ski mountains of New Mexico, and felt the energy to make it that last 100 miles home to my beloved flatlands. We cranked up "Magnolia" by the Frio River in summer 2001, and literally hundreds of the thousands on the river that day were begging me to crank it up even louder. Davin James makes music for the people, and we love him for it. This disc is a must-have, and Davin James is a treasure. I hope he's not a Texas secret much longer ... he should be nationwide. Buy this disc, and see for yourself. Vaya con Dios, amigos.