Customer Reviews

American Landscape

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I would agree that this is a fine CD because of the great musical content, but I bought it primarily because I have DTS equipment and there are few recordings worth having in DTS format thus far. I am less than pleased with the DTS recording quality, and would recommend the others I own for critical listening before I would this one. The sound is muddy when played at loud volumes, and I have a system that is top-notch!

This was the first Benoit CD I listened to. I heard him on the radio, and was awe struck at the wonderful sound of this music. The song I heard was Rue de la Soleil. It's kinda a Vince Gueraldi based song, but it has that Samba beat to it too.

Saying goodbye is a very sad song. It was written for his mother who died on February 18, the very day the album was scheduled for final mastering.

Mr Rodrigues's Opas is a really good song- I recommend it.

As for If I can Believe. Its the best song on the CD. I'd buy it just for this one song. Its a very compassionate, and pretty song.

And for American Landscape, Max's Boogie, Lost in toxyo, and Speed Racer. Those are true "American Music" songs. They are upbeat, and you can hear the people in the swamps of Louisiana just singing along.

"American Landscape is magical, energetic and joyous. There are touches of sadness with a great deal of whimsy. It is constantly changing and filled with surprise. American Landscape is a magnificent adventure."- Sally Field

The CD contains soothing jazz piano music that is great for listening alone or when caught in traffic. Will calm your nerves down. GREAT GREAT PIANO CHORDS by David Benoit.

When I bought this CD, I already was familiar with DB. This is the first CD of his that had a different approach, compiling orchistration with banjo and conga's. I have "Waiting for Spring" which is mostly contemporary trio sounding jazz, like Bill Evans.
This CD is a different sound. I recommend it because the music is good, and it is different. I still pull it out once in a while, so the music is never stale. Enjoy.

This was the first David Benoit's CD I heard and For me this is the best CD of David Benoit! The songs are really good and are backed with a full orchestra.
The best songs in this CD are If I Can Believe, American Landscape, Mr Rodrigues's Opus and Saying Goodbye.

For real jazz listeners, this CD might be too light though, but for me it's just perfect.

This review refers to the DTS-CD version

This album is very relaxing, with good, uplifting music, which is in the smooth jazz style, but not dull or repetitive at all. It's all centered around the piano, which is played beautifully, with good orchestral arrangements in the background. Even people who don't care very much for music have stopped to listen to it, at my home, and commented on how beautiful it was. The surround experience is wonderful as well.

One technical note: this is NOT a DVD-audio as Amazon states, but a DTS-cd which can only be listened to if you play it in a DVD or Blu-ray player which can decode DTS (virtually all of them can), or if you play it in a CD player with digital coaxial or optical output which can then be decoded by a receiver.

This CD will definitely make you feel good. Don't we all need that?

The tracks Rue De La Soleil and Saying Goodby are beautiful songs and let you know that David Benoit is an extraordinary artist. He composes and plays beautiful music. The two songs are worth the price of the CD. Good music is timeless... This CD should be re-released and at least those two songs should be included on a Benoit's Greatest Hits list. Timeless... Ageless... this is the Benoit CD not to miss.

I've owned this CD from the beginning. For 13 years, I've listened to it. Each time, I come away just as awed as I did the first time I heard it. Benoit has composed (and performs) some richly beautiful music. Sometimes when a musician brings in an orchestra it can get . . . well, muddled. Some contemporary music simply isn't suited to an orchestra. Benoit's American Landscape is. This seems to be a "short" album, with only nine songs, but what great songs they all are. My personal favorite is Speed Racer, followed by Max's Boogie and the title track. I hear such beauty -- American beauty, a ranch on the plains perhaps -- in Speed Racer. Such determination, such drive, so inspiring that song. For 13 years I've listened to the beauty within these songs. I'm still awed.

I own several of Dave Benoit's albums but American Landscape is my favorite. Every track is exceptional.

I bought this disc on the recomendation of a friend, and I am now looking for someone I dislike to pass it on to.

Is this really what has happened to Jazz?

The cover offers so much promise; an American landscape, as the title promises, even looking a little like a Grant Wood painting...

But what happens next is depressing.

The piece "Amercian Landscape," starts over the top, sampling the sounds of a train whistle, some "ho down" music and then simply blurs (melts?) into a pasty over-produced mess.

Like too much of today's "smooth jazz" this piece, indeed this entire album, just blurs together, never celebrating single instruments, or for that matter, original thoughts.

This CD is the ideal poster child for the "Save Jazz" foundation, as it clearly demonstrates that jazz has been bterayed and sold to the masses.

If you are looking for some quiet, thoughtful jazz, this is not the place to start.

Maybe this CD passes for tolerable mindless background music, but only if your standards are low.