Ragtime Music

this is a relatively obscure and only sparsely available album on the (German) Ruf label - a pity, as it deserves a lot more attention than it gets.

I am a big John Mooney fan (a declaration I made in my review of my favorite Mooney album "Against the Wall")

This album is about as close to one can get to a good live performance by John.

This set was recorded in 1995 live in Bremen - and it's just John solo with electric (slide) guitar, vocals and foot stomping. The recording is very good and immediate - and definitely has the feel of "being there".

The performance is really good - as good as I have heard him live and I've seen him often - he makes a lot of sound for a guy on his own.

His guitar playing shows a person who has spent a lot of time with it - someone who understands but does not accept the limitations of a single guitar - there are times when he sounds like a band on his own.......

The songs selected are really good, making this a very strong set, exhilerating and very enjoyable.

Very well worth getting this album - it should be a must for any live John Mooney fan -
some of the prices on Amazon MarketPlace are almost stupidly inexpensive for such a great album.

This guy is amazing, the best, soulful, talented, best of old and new school blues, if you don't get this one you'll regret it big time!

I love the blues and this is one of the most authentic and powerful blues artists around. John Mooney is one of the greatest slide guitarists ever. I saw him live last year. If you haven't ever seen him live I recommend you do. This DVD brought back memories of that amazing performance.
There is not one weak track on this CD.

Few performers can generate as much heat as this guy! The sound quality is excellent, like he's in the room with you, and he is WORKIN for a livin. If you like National slide with amplification, foot stomping, and a rich texured voice that can shake your roof a little, this show is for you.

I understand he's currently without a label...if anyone out there know his new label or any touring info, please post a link! If this guy comes within 250 miles of me, I won't miss it!

Devil Makes Three has a distinctive bluegrass-punk sound. The three members put out a lot of good, fun, upbeat music and when you listen to it, you'll be happy. They do some of their own music and some covers (I didn't know originally they were covers), but they make the music sound as if it's their own. Nowadays, other bands are covering songs of the Devil Makes Three. Their music is so good and their live performances are so fun that they've gone from playing small clubs to playing large clubs (800 people or so). Anyway, the CD is strong and it's not one I get tired of hearing. I've got about 900 or so CDs and none have the sound of a Devil Makes Three CD. Enjoy.

I bought this CD and also picked up their CD titled "A Little Bit Faster and A Little Bit Worse" when I saw them live... I loved both CDs so much I had to buy the other. Fantastic. Buy it, then go to their show if you ever get the chance. They are awesome live. Just fun music. The punk rockers of old time music; I can't think of a category they fit into other than that.

Just go to their website and get it on CD Baby.

I have a soft spot for all this "jug-band noir" stuff that's coming out now. The Devil Makes Three is easy to listen to and fun in its own black-humor kind of way.

This album is fantastic! This band rules! If you ever get the chance to see them, do it! A little rockin' modern bluegrass...very cool indeed. BTW: you can get this new for $13.99 (and hear samples) at cdbaby. Play list: 1. The Plank, 2. Graveyard, 3. Beneath the Piano, 4. Ten Feet Tall, 5. Shades, 6. Old Number Seven, 7. Chained to the Couch, 8. To the Hilt, 9. The Bullet, 10. For My Family
If you dig them, get your hands on Pete Bernhard's solo album too.

Hi,

I think this is a very nice Perlman collection...Beautiful works selected from different Musical Eras and different styles...And Mr. Perlman is very succesful in all these types of masterworks...you can easily feel the Bach's crying words...Mozart's fun...Brahms's passion...Sinding's virtuosity...Wienlawski's Romantism...Khachaturian's hurry...and Rachmaninov's sentiments....and many others...
and also Israeli Orchestra did a very good job on this performance...They are like the third hand of Perlman...They work and feel like a family...
If you are a Perlman Fan, you must have been already bought this CD...if you are not or new to this performer it is time to meet him..and it is the way to meet him...go!!!

Perlman plays Bach quite well, but when compared to Hilary Hahn, Perlman comes out second best. Hilary captures the whole essence and spirit of Bach, and herr violin sings Bach in two, three, and four beautiful voices in perfect harmnony.

The sentiments of certain Baton Rouge residents notwithstanding, this is the consummate collection from a great artist AND a great humanitarian.

If you enjoy Itzhak Perlman and do not have very many of the selections on these discs, here is one way to get hold of them. Each of the four discs boasts a theme: 1. Baroque and Chamber Music, 2. Violin and Orchestra, 3. 20th Century Music, and 4. The Lighter Side. The selections are naturally limited to recordings Perlman did with EMI, but this represents quite a bit of his overall output. Among the recordings of the Sibelius Violin Concerto that I've heard, the one included here with André Previn and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is one I enjoy immensely. I like the cinematic sweep of the Korngold Concerto; the Bach Violin Partita; the jazz selections written by Previn. There isn't much that I don't like here. Here is a compilation where variety is a key factor. If you're into variety and Perlman's style, this set gives you plenty of both.

Almost 30 years ago, at Penn State while I was a student there, Itzhak Perlman visited, gave some lessons to aspiring violinists and gave the most astounding, memorable concert I've ever attended. Quite to the contrary of the fellow from Baton Rouge, Perlman was the consummate teacher who critiqued and encouraged students with far lesser talents, and he did it with class. This collection contains a number of recordings I already have but consider them worth having again in such a superbly arranged collection. His arrangements on the Hungarian Dances are the best!

Wow, I can't believe I found this! When I was in high school my dad use to play this album. It was one of his favorites, I still have the album. As a CD is is also fantastic! It is awesome blues, Johnny Maddox is one of the best. A real treasure to find this. If you like blues you will not be disappointed. Yellow Dog Blues is the best!

Although this was recorded in the 1950's and is thus part of the Dixieland Revival rather than the authentic stuff of the teens and 20's, it is so well done that it is fast becoming my favorite Dixieland recording. The recording is superb, everything is crystal clear. The players, many of whom were around and recording back in the 20's!, are on top of their games and together craft an extremely listenable collection of tunes. There are some standards here as well as some that are nearly unknown, but all are well done, with plenty of musical precision coupled with that indefinable freedom that makes for exciting Dixieland jazz. If you're not sure of the role the piano takes in a Dixie setting, this recording will set you straight. Yes, there are banjos here, but the piano(s) not only help with motion of the harmony, they really spice up the fills, take over on the melody and provide some quite tasty rides here and there. That said, at no point is it "too much"; everything mixes well and these great arrangements truly allow this band to create what must be seen as a reference work for these tunes. Well done!

I owned this album as a teenager (the 50's)and it was my favorite then. The remastered CD is a work of art with the original analog warmth very present. Perfect sound, great performances and very nostalgic for me. It should be in everyone's collection who even casually likes Dixieland.