Customer Reviews

Blue Sun

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hate to make Miles Davis comparisons, and I won't even attempt to critique his technique--I'll let the experts and the brass players do that. I will simply say that, as years have gone by, when I am in the mood for a trumpet CD, I reach for SKETCHES OF SPAIN or BLUE SUN. I don't know what that says for Miles or Isham, but I love both. BLUE SUN is such a wonderful blend of sounds, melodies, and harmonies that I just don't get tired of hearing it. From the opening percussive notes of "Barcelona," right through the subtle keyboard and sax intro to "That Beautiful Sadness," the more restless feel of "Trapeze" and the melancholy "Lazy Afternoon," Isham has me in his grasp. I love the sax harmony and interplay on "Blue Sun," the sorrow of "In More Than Love," and the tip of the hat to both Miles Davis and Robert Frost (I'm a high school English teacher, so I really appreciate the Frost reference) on "And Miles To Go . . . Before He Sleeps." I love just the hint of electric on the closing tune, "Tour de Chance," as well--it closes everything nicely.

Where he really slays me, though, is on "In a Sentimental Mood," track 8. I don't think anyone, living or dead, could wring any more emotion and "sentiment" out of a melody than Isham does on this piece. Ohhhh. It's almost exhausting to listen to, but somehow I don't feel exhausted when it's done--I feel refreshed and invigorated. He's done all the work--I just need to slow down and listen. . . . Really nice keyboard work underneath and behind the melody--very understated and appropriate. I don't know how a person could listen to Isham on this track and not run out and buy the CD. Even if you hated the rest, which would be virtually impossible, it would be worth the asking price for this 7+ minute experience.

Bottom Line: Whether or not he's the next coming of Miles or just another chump blowing on a trumpet, Mark Isham has captured something very special on this CD. It isn't on his earlier ones, and I haven't heard it on his more recent ones, although I love those, as well. He is garnering some attention as a film scorer, which is great--his scores are excellent--but he can't capture this . . . essence . . . in a film score. This is a very intimate, personal, understated, and reflective effort from Isham. Everyone deserves to experience this hour. . . .

This is the first time I have felt moved to take up the "write a review" invitation. But I want to repay the artists and pass on the good news. This CD has brought, and continues to bring, me enormous pleasure. It appeals to the mind, the feelings, and the body - there's times when you just HAVE to move to the rhythm. We have a pretty extensive collection of music, but I've listened to Blue Sun so often I can almost anticipate every note as it arrives. And this music is so good the inevitability is still satisfying. It's years since I listened so much to a single album - the Dead's Europe 72, Big Fun by Miles, Future Games by Spirit, Astral Weeks, After Bathing At Baxter's, Tim Buckley's Blue Afternoon. Not a duff track, not a weak link and the arrangement on the Duke Ellington cover just may be one of the best covers of any tune ever. If you made it to this review I guess you are contemplating buying this anyway??? Hesitate no more.

One of my all time favorites.

Mark Isham's music straddles that no-man's land between Jazz, New Age and filmscores, which is a shame because record companies often don't know which area to put his albums in! This album is all Jazz, not New Age or Jazz-lite.

It's is an overlooked classic! Great lyrical, meditative music, warm and laid back. There is a warm tone to it, I would call it "Red Sun" or "Orange Sun" I think if I had named it, the name "Blue Sun" sounds a little too cool, unless it's an oblique reference to Miles Davis "Kind of Blue".

Usually this music sounds improvisational, but occasionally it sounds a tad scripted, but that's a minor criticism, the overall effect is smooth, pleasant and laid back, without sounding like vacuous Smooth Jazz. He has the paid particular attention to tone, perfectly, with the Harmon mute. A quality so often missing in Jazz today. As is stated below, the sound is often quite reminiscent of Miles Davis pre-1965 period. Listen to "Round Midnight" by Davis, then listen to this!

I consider this a great find, I find myself returning to listen over and over late at night. Don't miss this one.

Well recorded. Five stars for recording, 4 1/2 for performance, if it were a better seller, it would deserve 5 stars under my tough grading system!

Improves with repeated listening. Highly recommended. Buy this album. I wish Mark Isham would do another album like this one

I usually do not review profound jazz albums because the quality of analysis of other more qualified reviewers prevents me from adding anything more substantial, so i would just like to share my first impression.

Im 42 yo and this is the first time I hear an album of Mark Isham, this is music to relax and to think, not the type of relax you expect from new-age or that type of music..this is the music to watch Edward Hopper paintings and ponder on the subtle levity of existence

Mark Isham's "Blue Sun" is infused with a sensibility that is refined and cool-cool in the jazz idiom. Mr. Isham wrote seven of the songs here, and he plays these modern jazz arrangements with confidence and skill. I suppose that any discussion of a trumpet-led jazz ensemble has to acknowledge Miles Davis, so let it be said that Mr. Isham does not imbue his music with the sneer that marred some of Mr. Davis' later works and that this session echoes his work form the latter part of the 1950s.

Mr. Isham moves through the jazz landscape deftly, adding some flourishes here and there that are clearly modern, but the overall sound is that of a classic jazz quintet drawing on electric bass, acoustic and electric piano, drums, and tenor sax to coax and compel listeners to keep their ears open. It would be a mistake to relegate this recording to the role of background music, for it should not be considered part of the "lite" or triple-z jazz (as in snoozzze) that infests FM radio and department stores. "Blue Sun" rewards the attention to details that comes from really listening.

Jazz Album of the Day:"Blue Sun" - Mark Isham. One of Mark's best recordings. It is said he was influenced by "Kind of Blues"/"Sketches of Spain" era of Miles Davis' recording career in this recording but I also here some Electric Miles as well. It has the pacing of "Kind of Blue" along with the a beautifully done Spanish influenced piece entitled: "Barcelona". Mark Isham has had a diverse career. Largely known for his film scores. He is a talented composer/multi-instrumental who plays keyboards/synthesizers, trumpet/flugelhorn/cornet. He put together a good group of musicians for this recording. In addition to Mark there is" David Goldblatt on piano/electric piano. He is the unsung here of this recording. Very creative when ever he solos. Very sensitive accompanist. Steve Tavaglione on sax. Big bodied Tenor sound. With a dark blues inflected sound reminicent of Dexter Gordon, but his sensibilities are equal parts Dexter and Wayne Shorter. Doesn't play alot of notes, but he makes them count. Doug Linn: Electric Bass (solid, steady and melodic in spots), Kurt Wortman on Drums, very good drummer with all the styles played here. Nice symbol work, drives the band well. There is a sense of group here. The concept is the thing. They cohesion is there, the symbiosis is there. I highly recommend this one. Very Nice handling of two standards "Lazy Afternoon" and "In A Semtimental Mood" Miles would be proud

I am a huge jazz fan. This album ranks among my favorites. Easy listening, yet sophisticated. Great sound for you audiophiles as well

I had never knowingly heard Mark Isham before. I got this CD on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised. This is one of those few CD's that I can put on "repeat" and listen to all day. It is smooth but not "Kenny G"esque. Isham seems to know how to use silence in music as pioneered by Miles Davis. Very much worth your while.

When I think of Mark Isham, I think of his Windham Hill new age works which were not bad if you like that genre. I first heard this album on Napser just poking around and I was impressed. I've never been a Miles Davis fan since he (and may of his era) tend to get very "experimental", however, Isham managed to capture the essence of the era without going overboard which I know he probably could have. Highly recommended for those new to the late 50s-early 60 jazz sound.

I've listed to this album many times. It is beyond good and really hard to express in words.

I have a very nice high-end sound system and have been recently testing a few different models of sub-woofers made by Rel, one of the finest sub-woofer manufacturers in the world. This album has incredibly deep bass and if there is justification to have a good sub-woofer in a two channel system, this album is it. There are layers of sound that come out with a great system that only serve to highlight how great an achievement of music this album is.

The quality of the recording session itself is without fault. But beyond the sound quality, beyond the arrangements, beyond the talent and expressiveness of these musicians, is something that needs to be heard to be appreciated. You need to listen for yourself and you will understand.