Customer Reviews

From the Age of Swing

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A true "reference" recording for those who love acoustic instrumentation. The music is wonderful and fun - a throw-back to my grandparents' time; the musicianship and tactile presence of the players makes this recording a palpable "live" experience. It's rare that you find the combination of an excellent performance captured so realistically. You are seated at Dick Hyman's piano for a number of the tracks - his piano is close-miked, and "right there".

Looking to buy new speakers/equipment? Take this CD (with your others) and see the crowd it attracts. You'll find the staff will gravitate to your listening room just to experience it.

One of the best.

A true "reference" recording for those who love acoustic instrumentation. The music is wonderful and fun - a throw-back to my grandparents' time; the musicianship and tactile presence of the players makes this recording a palpable "live" experience. It's rare that you find the combination of an excellent performance captured so realistically. You are seated at Dick Hyman's piano for a number of the tracks - his piano is close-miked, and "right there".

Looking to buy new speakers/equipment? Take this CD (with your others) and see the crowd it attracts. You'll find the staff will gravitate to your listening room just to experience it.

One of the best.

Technically a good cd, which I really bought for the great sound reviews it has. Sonically terrific, musically a little unexciting, but most enjoyable.

Though I delight in raucous music (Led Zeppelin, Little Feat), my heart really belongs most of all in the swing era. This disc is a superb example of music that was out of style for a while, but is coming back. It's also an excellent example of music that I can put on and my wife won't complain.

Highlights: Them There Eyes, Hyman and Frank Wess and rhythm -- as good a tenor solo as I have heard in several years); Topsy, piano and rhythm; the fine work by Joe Wilder (not Newman!)

A really fine record. I have the companion disk on order...

I purchased this on a recomendation of a person from a review. Although this music isn't exactly my cup of tea, the quality of the recording is excellent.

Une bande de copains, musiciens talentueux et vétérans du swing se réunissent pour graver une somme, véritable mémoire. Cela sonne comme du swing pur et sans bavure. La section rythmique ne plaisante pas, même si l'ensemble est placé sous l'heureuse atmosphère de partitions classique remarquablement bien écrites. Hyman pianiste virtuose dirige l'ensemble qui se fond et se confond dans un espace sonore bien carré. Si vous ne devez avoir qu'un spécimen de cette musique si particulière, c'est celui-là qu'il faut ranger dans sa discothèque.

The appeal of this CD is how it hits the mark on so many levels.

If you are a casual listener of swing music you will appreciate the way each track is complemented by the tracks that precede and follow it. The arrangements and engineering form a cohesive whole. This CD is well suited to casual listening throughout.

Or, if you are a dyed in the wool Audiophile you will enjoy the quality of the recording itself. This is as good as CD sound gets. The CD is recorded using the HDCD recording process but will also shine on a standard CD player. The DYNAMIC sound and large soundstage evident on this recording really captures the live Big Band sound and puts a lot of the swing recordings out there to shame.

But of course it is the quality of the performances that are the real gem on this CD. Some of the best musicians in Big Band are represented here. If you love instrumental Big Band you will love "The Age of Swing".

There really aren't any negatives to "The Age of Swing", it fires on all cylinders and appeals to the casual listener, the audiophile, and the Big Band fan. I highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed.