Customer Reviews

Carmel

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"A spectacular greeting of the land and sea
Erupts into one of the definitive parallels
Of human and environmental life
She reflects the joys and tragedies of life
Through her evolving existence

She's a thousand love songs in one
As beautiful as a thousand women
A thousand infants
And a thousand old folks
She's a symphony of life
Here's a song for Carmel
And her sisters throughout the world" ~ Joe Sample ~ "Carmel-By-The-Sea"

Joe Sample is not only a great jazz pianist and composer but also a creative poet. This is my first Joe Sample album that turned me on to his wonderful music way back in the eighties. I upgraded it to a CD in the nineties when it first came out. This is one of his bestselling recordings and a tribute to the city of Carmel. Listening to this CD makes me want to visit Carmel again. Carmel-By-The-Sea is one of the most beautiful places in California. It has a lot to offer for visitors to enjoy--its pristine and virgin Carmel Beach, its lovely cottages, its parks and trails and there's the Sunset Center Theatre, which is the venue of many jazz, classical and cultural performances.

The seven tracks in this recording are all Mr. Sample's original compositions. To me, all the tracks are highlights and they're all magnificently performed by Mr. Sample and his back-up musicians. You'll love the bubbly melodies of "Carmel" and "Sunrise," the tuneful melodies of "Paintings" and "More Beautiful Each Day," the lovely rhythm of "A Rainy Day In Monterey," and the contemporary grooves in "Midnight And Mist," featuring Hubert Laws on solo flute.

A must-have not only to all Joe Sample fans but also to anyone who enjoys mellow jazz at its very best!

I bought the vinyl in the 80's and fell in love with it... Picked up the CD and was reintroduced to a classic! I hadn't listened to it in almost 10 years (since I put my records in storage) and now feel that I have lost many fine evenings of listening - which I will try to make up for over the next 10 years... enjoy!

This album is of the best ever produced by Joe Sample. I am a big fan of his music and his compositions. This album and "Old Places, Old faces" are Joe Sample at his best. This is a must own.

Joe Sample's most beautiful album.
I have never before and ever since heard anyone create such a vivid picture of the ocean, the sunrise, rainy days, sunrises.
Joe's playing instantly takes you there. You feel the salty water spit into your face, you watch the sunrise, you can even hear the rain tickling the ocean's surface. The mist will enfold you, makes you tell your love that she/he looks more beautiful each day.
What a marvel!
Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes: Joe Sample Drums: Stix Hooper, Robert WIlson Bass: Abraham Laboriel, Byron Miller Guitars: Dean Parks, Paul Milton Jackson Jr. Percussion: Paulinho da Costa Flute: Hubert Laws

If you've ever cruised the California coastline and experienced
the breathtaking Monterey Bay are where Carmel thrives, you will
truly appreciate how Joe has captured its essence and its
spirit. Armed with spikey chord punches, impressionistic
harmonies and storytelling melodies, the listener is taken
on an exhilarating journey with support from backup musicians
that lay down wonderful contemporary grooves while Joe spins
his distinctive piano solo style. I love every tune on
this album, especially the love song quality of "More
Beautiful Each Day" and "Midnight and Mist". Also fun is
the barrelhouse blues quality of "Cannery Row". I only
wish the entire album was re-recorded with the modern
digital technology of today, I believe it would sound
even more remarkable!

I purchased Carmel while living in California in the late '70's. I have listened to it virtually every day for over 20 years. It is my air. It is my water. No other set of music has ever affected me this way. Thank you, Joe Sample.

I purchased this album in while living in Carmel. The music brings to life one of the worlds most beautiful treasures, Carmel and the Monterey peninsula. The upbeat song "Cannery Row" takes the listener back to a time when Cannery Row was a bustling sardine industry capitol. "A Rainy day in Monterey" is a haunting soft melody where Joe sits down at his Fender Rhodes keyboard to express how he feels about Monterey. The electric piano sounds just like the rain drops that so often fall on the Monterey peninsula. It's truly one of the best jazz albums I've ever heard. I listen to it daily.

I first heard this on tape when a friend of mine had me listen to while driving en route to East Texas. I loved it! 3 years later, I bought the CD. It's amazing how ahead of its time Carmel must have sounded in 1979. Its bold and catchy title track still sounds like it could be a hit today! Other favorites include the ragtime inspired "Cannery Row", the cheerful and placid "A Rainy Day In Monterey", and the romantic "More Beautiful Each Day".

Carmel is fantastic! A nice mix of upbeat and mellow tunes. Great jazz piano and cool bass. Perfect background music for a party or while reading a book next to the fire! "Midnight and Mist" is my favorite. Buy this CD!

Joe's playing has always been an inspiration to me and when I finally got hold of this album, my admiration for him doubled. His playing on this album exceeds any of my expectations and the fantastic arrangements make the tracks that much better. His intricate and explosive use of harmony really comes alive in this album and his lyrical playing continues to amaze me. I only wish he'd record more albums like this. This album is, in my view, the perfect album for all occasions. I highly, highly recommend it.