Customer Reviews

Big City Rhythms

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Michael Feinstein and Mr. Chops what a unique coupling of musicians. The first time I saw Maynard was at the Newport Jazz Festival in the late 50's or early 60's. Only saw Mr. Feinstein crossing the street at where Doubleday's used to be on 5th Ave opposite Trump Tower. This album ,while not a knockout, is very pliable and swinging. Great CD to put in you BMW or Geo and roll down to the shore with. But this album leaves me with one longing ....WILL SOMEONE IN THE RECORDING INDUSTRY(maybe Mosiac or Rhino) please, PLEASE re-issue the wonderful Roulette material of that first great Maynard BIG Band sessions from 1957 through 1964. I can't for the life of me understand why these tracks have not been re-issued. Maynard had a glorious band with Slide Hampton, Don Ellis, Jaki Byard, Don Sebasky, etc. It's a shame with companies re-issuing everything but the kitchen sink with outakes no less; that this fantastic congregation of jazz stars has not had a package yet. Grrrr.. Anyway enjoy the Michael & Maynard CD, it is terrific music and with all the musical dreck there is out in the musical firmament,grab on to this.

This one grew on me. I liked it a lot, even on first hearing, and I'm not especially a fan of Feinstein's. Why did I buy it? The promise of a Big Band and the Maynard Ferguson name. Ferguson's two albums, sadly currently not available on CD, with Chris Connor are all time favorites. Some of the songs, and all the arrangements, grabbed me here right off, some songs seemed like filler next to some of the standards. Little by little, it insinuated itself into the everyday, and it's now never out of reach. It's pretty hard to single out a track when it's all this good: the smooth and easy "Girl Talk," the super "One Day at a Time," a killer "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else," and, best of all, a new one on me, "You Can't Lose Em All." Feinstein's delivery of the line "Who knows maybe, this could be your loving baby" alone is worth the price of admission to one helluva CD.

Concord Jazz presents two great talents on one album, Michael Feinstein and Maynard Ferguson - "Big City Rhythms", pulls out all the stops. Moving in an exciting and creative new direction, Feinstein is captured in his first recording ever with a big band, teaming up with none other than legendary trumpeter/bandleader Maynard Ferguson.

Feinstein swings with his elegant vocal stylings contrasting magnificiently with Ferguson's robust trumpet and lyrical flugelhorn...all cradled in the exciting, big city rhythms and sounds of Maynard's swinging big band. Highlight: "MEDLEY: WHEN YOUR LOVER HAS GONE/THE GAL THAT GOT AWAY", simply a captivating performance. Feinstein as always, sings the verse and then chorus, a favorite artist among songwriters.

Concord and Feinstein, make a big splash with "Big City Rhythms", with his original interpretive style, will have you begging for more...just give a listen to "CLOSE YOUR EYES", heavily swinging typically up-tempo, as Feinstein struts his stuff!

Total Time: 65:04 on 16 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4869...(1999)

I love Big City Rhythms. The big band sound is great. Michael Feinstein gives us a fantastic performance. This album gives us a swing type of sound with a cool Feinstein at the helm.

The selections on this cd are great. A great mixture of classics and new songs. This one is not to be missed, possibly the best cd he has done so far. I love it and will recommend it to anyone who will listen.

I don't know when I have been so captivated and entranced by the sound of a CD that I just could not turn it off. The seductive voice and lush harmonies just sent me "over the edge". This recording will touch your heart.

This is a very classy and stylish recording. The song selections, arrangements and vocals are all terrific. It's amazing the variety they achieve in the swing idiom. Feinstein has matured into a major vocalist. Although I miss the sound and feel of his early days as a "saloon singer" and pianist, I can't argue with the sheer musicianship and vocal expertise of this recording and his previous Gershwin recording and (my favorite) the "Forever" CD. This is a must for all Feinstein fans and for the new generation of "swing" enthusiasts.

I have all of Feinstein's other recordings. This one I bought, then gave away because it was so disappointing. The music overpowers his voice in many songs. I dislike the song selections. And I miss the sound and style of the Feinstein recordings that led up to this one. My favorite CDs are "Isn't It Romantic?" and "Nobody But You."

A grand collection which evokes many emotions in this elder fan
of Maynard *and* Michael. Purchased without knowing what
pleasures would greet me, I was overwhelmed by the rich
instrumental arrangements -- just a tip of the hat here and
there to Billy May and Nelson Riddle...not to mention the
Grand Master, Stan Kenton. I'm unable to relieve the sweet
agony which overpowers me with unrestrained delight during
the medley, When Your Lover Has Gone/The Gal That Got
Away...while aching for one, I melt -- similarly, the second.
While I can appreciate the possible disappointment noted
by fans of a pure Maynard Ferguson, it cannot be denied
that younger listeners may be drawn to the sheer delight
of what once was as it's indescribably combined with the
wonder of what is now.

Very disapointed! Vocals were much too soft. I found myself straining to hear his wonderful voice and not just enjoying the total composition. jp