Beautiful Day

Andrew Hill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 13, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Palmetto Records
• ASIN: B000068VIC
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,518 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #100 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Avant-Garde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting performances, imaginative compositions., April 11, 2003

By 

Brian Gilbey (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Day (Audio CD)

Before I bought this CD, I had read two different reviews which both said, "there's a lot going on in here". I thought that was a cop-out that left me as a potential CD buyer with no clue about whether I'd actually like the CD or not. Exactly WHAT was "going on"? WHY was it going on? These were questions that I wanted answered. So I bought the CD and I've listened to it several times now. Y'know what? There really IS a lot going in here. But let me try to give you a little more information than that.

First of all, the general sound. The reviews I'd read tended to compare A Beautiful Day to the works of Ellington or other big bands. Personally, I think the general sound is more akin to the work of Charles Mingus' larger scale recordings, in particular his "Let My Children Hear Music" record. You'll hear a lot of very exciting and imaginative performances and jazz compositions in A Beautiful Day. In the opening piece you'll hear two simultaneous sax solos; either one of these solos is exciting enough to stand on their own. In Faded Beauty you'll hear a truly beautiful melody which is played by the flute actually fade right before your ears with a technique that sounds like over-blowing. You'll hear solos that comment on the ensemble, and ensemble breaks that comment on the solos including within the song A Beautiful Day, raucous laughter that breaks out after a particularly tense sax solo. Andrew Hill is supposed to be one of today's most imaginative jazz composers and you'll hear ample evidence of that talent in the amazing number of composition techniques used throughout this offering.

So, should you buy this CD? I personally think it's one of the best CDs I've heard in awhile. I think it is large-ensemble jazz at it's very finest, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that you buy it. The reason is that I don't know you. So, be forewarned that if you're looking for a smooth jazz style CD to use as romantic background music for a date, then A Beautiful Day won't work for you. Trying to convince someone that A Beautiful Day is romantic will likely result in a knowing glance from your date that sentences you to an endless stream of lonely Saturday nights. However if you'd like to own a CD full of very exciting jazz band performances, coupled with enough detail and imagination to provide excitement even after many, many, many listenings, then let me assure you that you'll certainly find a lot to enjoy within A Beautiful Day.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PHENOMENAL., September 9, 2006

By 

Nathan Eliot "composer, music lover" (Hopkins, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Day (Audio CD)

This will be looked upon as a work of genius in 40 or so years just as his blue notes from the 60s have been more popular than ever. with open ears. From the Mingus meets Weather Report opener Divine Revelation to the inspired reed work on Faded Beauty to the through composed mind f*ck of Belezza. The peak for me is New Pinnochio a relentlessy-dark piano concerto where the leader is showcased. It is best listened to at home in headphones. THIS IS NOT FREE JAZZ. It sounds like it sometimes in the dense solo sections. They're are creating textures and colors as they go, but the time is consistent. This is focused and sofisticated stuff. Stop trying to count and you'll feel the pulse. It is a shame the Nasheet and Colley combo did not record and album. I also wish Andrew were coming anywhere near Minneapolis anytime soon. Chicago would be worth it. I wish a lot of things. (sigh)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting performances, imaginative compositions., April 11, 2003

By 

Brian Gilbey (North York, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Day (Audio CD)

Before I bought this CD, I had read two different reviews which both said, "there's a lot going on in here". I thought that was a cop-out that left me as a potential CD buyer with no clue about whether I'd actually like the CD or not. Exactly WHAT was "going on"? WHY was it going on? These were questions that I wanted answered. So I bought the CD and I've listened to it several times now. Y'know what? There really IS a lot going in here. But let me try to give you a little more information than that.

First of all, the general sound. The reviews I'd read tended to compare A Beautiful Day to the works of Ellington or other big bands. Personally, I think the general sound is more akin to the work of Charles Mingus' larger scale recordings, in particular his "Let My Children Hear Music" record. You'll hear a lot of very exciting and imaginative performances and jazz compositions in A Beautiful Day. In the opening piece you'll hear two simultaneous sax solos; either one of these solos is exciting enough to stand on their own. In Faded Beauty you'll hear a truly beautiful melody which is played by the flute actually fade right before your ears with a technique that sounds like over-blowing. You'll hear solos that comment on the ensemble, and ensemble breaks that comment on the solos including within the song A Beautiful Day, raucous laughter that breaks out after a particularly tense sax solo. Andrew Hill is supposed to be one of today's most imaginative jazz composers and you'll hear ample evidence of that talent in the amazing number of composition techniques used throughout this offering.

So, should you buy this CD? I personally think it's one of the best CDs I've heard in awhile. I think it is large-ensemble jazz at it's very finest, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend that you buy it. The reason is that I don't know you. So, be forewarned that if you're looking for a smooth jazz style CD to use as romantic background music for a date, then A Beautiful Day won't work for you. Trying to convince someone that A Beautiful Day is romantic will likely result in a knowing glance from your date that sentences you to an endless stream of lonely Saturday nights. However if you'd like to own a CD full of very exciting jazz band performances, coupled with enough detail and imagination to provide excitement even after many, many, many listenings, then let me assure you that you'll certainly find a lot to enjoy within A Beautiful Day.