Customer Reviews

Amazon Jazz Sampler

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very diverse yet upbeat album. I'm listening to it for about the third or fourth time right now. It can be a nice mood setter or move into the foreground at times. I really appreciate the opportunity to sample some really fine albums for free or cheap. It opens doors into new realms of all kinds of music. Thanks.

OK...this is an example of why I never (well, ALMOST never! ;-) make statements like, "I DON'T like...(fill in the blank)..type music." Because, sooner or later, if I listen long enough, I will come across something (in the genre) that I DO like.

For the most part (4 out of 5 stars) I like this sampler. If you are one of those "I don't like ---" people...you MIGHT want to try this one.

In reference to the previous reviews, I will say that:

"Christmas Eyes" ISN'T vocal...and IS what I would expect, if someone said "Jazz" to me

"Two Small Cars in Rome" and "Waters of March" are NOT what I would expect from a "jazz" sampler. "Two Small Cars..." sounds like a country/western instrumental (to me). I'm not sure how to describe "Waters..." (since, here again, is a song that probably would go in a genre that I don't often listen to)...but it just so happens, that it's my FAVORITE of the whole album! The mellow, "sing-song" rhyme to it is smooth on my ears...but when I pay attention to the words, it has that "hidden hook" that I (personally) like in songs. (Which is what makes it my FAVORITE of the whole album)

(PS...I went out and looked up a couple other songs by Holly Cole ("Waters...") Oddly enough, all except one ("Cry") were NOTHING like this one...and much MORE like the "jazz" I would've expected on this album.)

This is one of those samplers, that you might just want to listen to...then pick and choose your favorites from...

The Amazon Jazz Sampler is a very nice album of jazz music that includes many different styles spanning modern jazz, smooth jazz, Bossa Nova, jazz pop and even a country-bluegrass infused tune. As such, while not every track will appeal to everyone, everyone should be able to find at least a couple of tracks that they really like. This is one of several compilations that I have had on rotation recently, and I think that the album tag-line is appropriately stated: "The more you listen, the more you hear."

There are plenty of big names in the world of Jazz represented here. From Earl Klugh to Steve Tyrell and everybody in between, this compilation is loaded with top level talent. And for the most part, the recordings are all of very good quality.

"The Jive Samba" by Warren Hill is a very cool modern tune that will be a good listen for those who haven't been turned on to Jazz yet. As for me, I liked the vast majority of the included tracks. Earl Klugh's "Bye Ya" is just as good as any fan of Klugh would expect from him. And I really love the Bossa Nova track from Vinicius Cantuaria, Chuva. It has a nice easy arrangement and beautiful mellow vocals. "Gal From Joe's" by Simone is a modern, cleaner rendition of the song made popular by Nina Simone. I can't deny that, as a huge Nina Simone fan, I was happy just to hear this song included here.

The final two tracks end the collection with very nice vocal performances. Steve Tyrell's version of the Bacharach hit song "Alfie" was a bona-fide hit for him last year, and got steady air-time on Jazz radio stations. That particular track comes off of his most recent album of popular standards, Steve Tyrell Back To Bacharach. Even though many tracks on that album border on the fringes of jazz pop, it was one of the better selling albums last year and spent plenty of time on the Billboard Jazz Top Ten. It might be one of the better renditions on the album. The fact that it is included for free here is incredible. And "Christmas Eyes" by Bob and Hilary James ends the compilation on a very nice mellow note.

Jazz has always been about experimentation and has influenced and been influenced by many genres. So I was open to the technical merits of the country bluegrass tune that's included here, even it if wasn't entirely my cup of tea. But the real objection I have to this collection is that on at least one of the songs it sounded like the effect they were trying to achieve with the organ may have lent to a choppy-sounding recording. I am going to test my original copies of this recording to make sure it's not some random error on my copy.

This album should appeal to fans of jazz as well as those who enjoy music fusion and world music. A few classics thrown in will help general listeners find something they can relate to as well. So I think this is a no-brainer. Download this album now and take advantage of a great music value while it's still available.

Enjoy!

OK...so it's not the greatest jazz collection ever. It's FREE! "Like Someone In Love" by Sophie Milman has got an older flavor to it, like that found in the '50s. "Stolen Moments" by Jason Miles is drop dead on. The heavy organ, smooth lead guitar & silky sax makes this one of the best tracks. "Awful Sad" by Jenny Scheinman is just that...a melancholy tune with a country flavor. "Two Small Cars In Rome" by Jerry Douglas is a cross between jazz & country again. "Waters Of March" by Holly Cole may appeal to the younger crowd. Reminds me of Norah Jones. "Chuva" by Vinicius Cantuaria has a very good Latin beat to it. "Bye Ya" by Earl Klugh - what can I say? One of the best jazz guitarists around. "The Jive Samba" by Warren Hill will keep your toes tappin'. A cross between urban & latin jazz. "Gal From Joe's" by Simone reminds me of The Manhattan Transfer a little. "Wes Before Dawn" by Nick Colionne is a good cross between urban jazz, R&B, and old school mellow guitar jazz. Mellow - but good. "Alfie" by Steve Tyrell is old school vocals - the Burt Bacharach; Hal David song from the movie. "Christmas Eyes" by Bob & Hilary James is up & down and all over the place. An instrumental that's OK, but doesn't top the list. Bottom line: considering it's FREE, you can't go wrong if you're a jazz lover. Tracks 2, 6, 7, 8 and 10 are my favorites.

Some of this stuff borders on "smooth jazz" which isn't my cup of tea, but overall it's pretty eclectic and enjoyable to listen to. I particularly like Holly Cole's version of Waters of March.

This Jazz Sampler is fabulous. I love every one of the songs. And, they were all free.

Amazon mp3 downloads rock and.....they are so much better than the paltry one song a week on iTunes.

Keep up the good work

This is a great sampler and you sure can't beat the price. It downloaded to iTunes w/o a problem.

I really enjoyed all of the songs and look foreward to hearing more from ones that are new to me. Thanks Amazon.

Free music when I got this from amazon, it was pretty good and most of the tracks I liked the rendition. I would pick this up if you want some background music or just listening to different versions of the listed pieces.

Good music, I enjoy hearing the tunes as they come up on "shuffle" in my ipod!

And it was FREE!