SOUND CHECK.FRANK SINATRA: ``Sinatra: Vegas'' (Rhino/Reprise) - Four stars Long after he sang his last set in Sin City, Sinatra's music remains the swinging sound that millions associate with Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . This four-CD, one-DVD box presents five previously unreleased full-length concerts from 1961, 1966, 1978, 1982 and 1987. Sinatra's performances grow a tad more rote rote 1 n. 1. A memorizing process using routine or repetition, often without full attention or comprehension: learn by rote. 2. Mechanical routine. and crowd-pleasing as the years progress -- how could they not? -- but each disc showcases the Chairman of the Board in his big, brassy glory. The gem is the 1966 set with Count Basie, featuring different performances from those released on the landmark ``Sinatra at the Sands'' album. This shadow album finds Sinatra looser, edgier, even more in the moment. It's one of the great shows in the history of song. -- Glenn Whipp CIARA CIARA Center for Internet Augmented Research & Assessment : ``The Evolution'' (LaFace/Zomba) - Three stars She says she's not just the Princess of Crunk anymore, that she's evolved. But it's going to take more than slapping violins onto hip hop hip-hop or hip hop n. 1. A popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and with the style and fashions of African-American inner-city residents. 2. Rap music. adj. , recruiting a host of A-list talent - ranging from 50 Cent to Pharrell Williams - or dispersing earnest (albeit self-important) interludes about music, dance and fashion to prove she's not parading under a misnomer misnomer n. the wrong name. MISNOMER. The act of using a wrong name. 2. Misnomers, may be considered with regard to contracts, to devises and bequests, and to suits or actions. 3.-1. of a title. Having in a short time journeyed from singer to singer-songwriter and producer, 21-year-old Ciara now takes the helm of this follow-up to 2004's triple-platinum ``Goodies.'' Highlights include the crunk-tastic ``That's Right'' (featuring Lil Jon's instantly recognizable growl), the sultry club track ``I Proceed'' and the soul-drenched ``So Hard.'' Of the 18 tracks, the bass-heavy ``Get Up'' (featuring rapper Chamillionaire) is the pick of the album by an artist who, evolved or not, has made at least one thing clear: Change can be good. -- Sandra Barrera JULIE KELLY: ``Everything I Love'' (Chase) - Four stars While relatively unknown, Kelly is one of the area's best jazz singers, with a remarkable tone in the alto range, rock-solid intonation, knowing interpretation and a nice way with original lyrics. Besides Brazilian classics -- sung partially in Portuguese -- and standards (``I'm Glad There Is You''), Kelly pays homage to Joni Mitchell with extraordinarily pure renditions of ``Both Sides Now'' and ``Woodstock.'' Kelly's heart and voice are in the right place. She performs Jan. 5 at Charlie O's. -- Steven Rosenberg Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., (b. 2 August 1940) is a leading cancer researcher and surgeon. He is credited with developing the use of IL-2 and immune cells for the treatment of patients with melanoma. RHONDA VINCENT Rhonda Vincent (b. July 13 1962, Kirksville, Missouri) is a bluegrass singer and an accomplished mandolin, guitar and fiddle player. [1] Her musical career started as a child in her family's band, The Sally Mountain Show, and has spanned almost four decades. : ``Beautiful Star: A Christmas Collection'' (Rounder) - Three and one half stars The multi-award-winning bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. vocalist sings pristine yet distinctive renditions of religious and popular carols, as well as her own catchy new composition ``Christmas Time at Home.'' The musical approaches vary more than you'd expect, from breakdowns, of course, to hillbilly jazz and a wittily tone-deaf run through ``The Twelve Days of Christmas Twelve Days of Christmas presents increase with each day of Yuletide. [Am. Music: “Twelve Days of Christmas” in Rockwell] See : Generosity .'' -- Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 4) no caption (CD covers) |
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