Customer Reviews

Anything Goes

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

 

 

This works for me as mood music. With my iPod/jukebox software set to "random" and the unexpected Cole Porter tune played by Grapelli/Ma, it's kind of nice, but I have yet to really be grabbed by any one tune or the album as a whole.

Stephane Grappelli is one of my favorites, so it surprised me how lousy this CD is. You'd think that he and Yo-Yo Ma would have really brought some sparkle to these songs, but they are performed in a leaden, almost folkie style. Fortunately I didn't spend money on this. A friend has a copy of the tape, which I popped into his car stereo one day recently. After a few songs, we both agreed to turn it off. In fact, my friend said that he had only listened to it once or twice years ago, and that he didn't like it then and that it hasn't improved with age.

What can I say? I put this CD in tonight, and within 5 seconds of the title track, "Anything Goes," starting, I felt like if I closed my eyes, I'd see visions of 'Jeeves and Wooster' (humorous PBS series starring Peter Fry and Hugh Laurie), which means it was very near perfect.

In the first (title) track, Ma's instrument is a sultry flapper singing in a speakeasy, blouse falling low over one shoulder, smoke curling up from a cigarette in one hand, her dark eyes smiling as she shares with the listener a private joke. Forgive me if I say I'm sure Grappelli does a fine job, but I don't remember any of his performance; in a setting like that, the spotlight's only big enough for one.

I was in a daze for the rest of the album, but I can say it was all good, though not as arresting as the first track. Some songs had me wondering at Ma's obvious hard concentration in execution, even though the pieces came across jazzy or airy. I'm going to have to go back to that bar again tonight, I can already tell...

Meh. Love Cole Porter, was excited about Yo Yo Ma playing him, but this is an incoherent album. Too much deviation from the melodies in most cases, becomes irritating while waiting for Cole Porter to reappear, especially because the artists don't seem to "get" Porter--their improvs seem unrelated to the spirit of the piece. Anything Goes is by far the best, but even there the "hoedown" intro is obtuse.

I re-donated it to the thrift shop.

When I listen this CD I really think that God really exists. Beautiful. The best cello player and the best jazz violin music. Thank you

This recording is simply great. Stephane, Yo-Yo & the others in the ensemble blend perfectly. Yo-Yo is a perfect foil for Stephane. Yo-Yo's silky smooth & rock solid playing perfectly frames and supports Stephane and the rest of the band. And Stephane, he is something else. He plays plenty of sweet licks, as well as some really soulful bending and twisting. And though you could go on a long time about the rightfully revered player, please don't forget the other people on the team: Roger Kellaway, Piano, Marc Fosset, Guitar, Jon Burr, Bass, Daniel Humair, Drums. They are all quite excellent. The three non-Porter pieces were written by Kellaway, producer Ettore Stratta and a pair named C. Burwell & M. Parish. So in Love & All Through the Night close, beautifully, the album. On the former, you get to hear Yo-Yo stepping out nicely. And the orchestration, if you will, of that piece in particular is really masterful. The way the last piece ends is magic. Technically, the CD is exactly what you want, never getting in the way of the sound, simply letting it present itself. Nice treasure.

Well it's hard to say anything about Yo Yo Ma. He's great and I love the cd.

This dynamic duo has really hit the mark. Pleasing sounds that lifts the soul. It is rare to listen with your eyes closed and have a picture painted as if your eyes are open. Gracious tones of Ma's Cello sing in harmony with Grappelli. A must for everyone.

I'd never heard a Stephan Grapelli song that I didn't like before, but there's not even one on this album that I DID like. Yo Yo Ma is not a jazz man, and his music sounds stiff and march-like compoared to Stephan's. This aslbum is a dead loss, almost unlistenable.