SOUND CHECK.Various/``Rhapsodies in Black: Music and Words From the Harlem Renaissance'' (Rhino) This handsome four-disc, 85-track box pays tribute to New York's cultural explosion of the '20s and early '30s, with a generous helping of vintage jazz - Duke Ellington's ``East St. Louis Toodle-O,'' Cab Calloway's ``Minnie the Moocher mooch Slang v. mooched, mooch·ing, mooch·es v.tr. 1. To obtain or try to obtain by begging; cadge. See Synonyms at cadge. 2. To steal; filch. v.intr. 1. ,'' Bessie Smith's ``Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out,'' Louie Armstrong's ``Ain't Misbehavin' '' - alongside equally great tracks by slightly lesser-known stars of the era (Leadbelly, Sidney Bechet Sidney Bechet (May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important soloists in jazz (beating cornetist/trumpeter Louis Armstrong to the recording studio by several months[1] ). Contemporary artists Quincy Jones, Ice-T and Alfre Woodard Alfre Ette Woodard (born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. She has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won four Emmy Awards, three SAG Awards and one Golden Globe Award. further amp the upscale quality of the product with spoken-word recitations of great African-American writing (Langston Hughes Noun 1. Langston Hughes - United States writer (1902-1967) James Langston Hughes, Hughes , W.E.B. DuBois), while the box and booklet offer gorgeous reproductions of the era's art and photography. The package engages not just the ears, but the eyes and mind, as well. Easily on equal footing with Ken Burns' forthcoming, dazzling and more expansive five-disc ``Jazz'' anthology. Three and one half stars - David Kronke Fatboy Slim/``Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars'' (Skint/Astralwerks) The UK's sample-happy Fatboy Slim (Norman Cook) hit the big time three years ago with the million-selling ``You've Come A Long Way, Baby,'' which spawned hit singles and fodder for numerous film soundtracks and TV commercials. The uplifting, dance-oriented new disc's 11 tracks include vocal collaborations, a new development for the veteran DJ, producer and remixer, with cameos courtesy of Macy Gray and Bootsy Collins and samples of Jim Morrison, soul crooner Roland Clark and '70s Southern rockers Wet Willie. Cook sure knows how to craft hooks and tracks such as the chill-out dance tune ``Star 69,'' ``Ya Mama'' (also featured on the ``Charlie's Angels'' soundtrack) and the funky ``Love Life'' (highlighted by Gray's soulful stylings) will have long shelf lives beyond this album. Three stars - Fred Shuster George Benson/``Anthology'' (Rhino/Warner Archives) Benson basically picked up the middle-of-the-road, pop sound that his major influence, Wes Montgomery, was mining for A&M before Wes' untimely death in 1968. Not that there's anything wrong with that as this well-chosen 32-track, two-disc retrospective shows. One of the founders of today's smooth jazz sound with his 1976 No. 1 hit ``Breezin','' Benson also honed his singing talents, using Donny Hathaway as an inspiration on hits like ``This Masquerade,'' ``On Broadway'' and ``Give Me the Night.'' Pop music to be sure, but Benson never lost his talent for great jazz soloing, particularly when he granted himself the opportunity to stretch out. In that respect, this set should please both purist pur·ist n. One who practices or urges strict correctness, especially in the use of words. pu·ris  tic adj. and mainstream fan. Three and one half stars - Glenn Whipp Samantha Mumba/``Gotta Tell You'' (Interscope) Debunking de·bunk tr.v. de·bunked, de·bunk·ing, de·bunks To expose or ridicule the falseness, sham, or exaggerated claims of: debunk a supposed miracle drug. the stereotype that all teen pop sensations are blue-eyed blondes comes Mumba. The 17-year-old doll's ultra-catchy debut is aimed straight at the Top 40 and fans of her pop majesty Britney. Sounding like a more soulful Spears, Mumba turns up the heat with breathless vocals on the funky ``Body to Body,'' a track that samples David Bowie's ``Ashes to Ashes Ashes to Ashes may refer to: As a metaphor:
- Sandra Barrera Slobberbone/``Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today'' (New West) This Texas hybrid band specializes in boilermaker-strength juxtapositions: thrashing yet melodious guitar assaults, brash bar rock with delicate banjo banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and four to nine strings, which are plucked with a pick or the fingers. and pedal steel filigree filigree (fĭl`ĭgrē), ornamental work of fine gold or silver wire, often wrought into an openwork design and joined with matching solder and borax under the flame of the blowpipe. , hard-living lunkheadedness and gospel truth. Singer Brent Best's voice, supple as fresh-laid asphalt yet coarse as underprocessed macadam macadam Form of pavement invented by John McAdam. McAdam's road cross-section consisted of a compacted subgrade of crushed granite or greenstone designed to support the load, covered by a surface of light stone to absorb wear and tear and shed water to the drainage ditches. , fits the musical mood to a T. While many of the songs here are loud and enjoyably overbearing, the most memorable include the lightfooted slacker anthem ``Lazy Guy'' and ``Lumberlung,'' an epic ballad of blasted self-analysis that hauntingly epitomizes the tension between dissolution and devotion that drives the entire album. Three and one half stars - Bob Strauss Spice Girls/``Forever'' (Virgin) Today's Spice Girls are a far cry from the spunky spunk·y adj. spunk·i·er, spunk·i·est Informal Spirited; plucky. spunk i·ly adv. Grrl Power gang of the past. There's hardly a hint of the foursome's former attitude, punch or awesome arena-sized hooks. In fact, the first single, the drum 'n' bass- style ``Holler,'' rarely makes a peep. The Girls do let loose with the disco-inflected ``Get Down With Me,'' ``Wasting My Time'' and ``If You Wanna wan·na Informal 1. Contraction of want to: You wanna go now? 2. Contraction of want a: You wanna slice of pie? Have Some Fun,'' but the good times don't last. By the end of the disc, you realize ``Forever'' isn't really so special after all. Two and one half stars - S.B. CAPTION(S): 9 photos Photo: (1 -- 4) Clockwise from top left, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington are featured on ``Rhapsodies in Black.'' (5 -- 9) no caption (CD covers) |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion