Connected to the Unexpected [Original recording remastered]

Misha | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Jvc / Xrcd
• ASIN: B000040OHD
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,355 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Si Kuku Ni Ta Kuja (A Great Day Is Coming)

2. Through the Rain

3. 1 and the 9

4. Black Ballet

5. Poet in the Trash Can

6. Who Are You

7. Electrified

8. Donde Estan Mis Zapatos? (Where Are My Shoes?)

9. Moon Over My Ami

10. Smooth

11. Moonlight Serenade

Editorial Reviews

From Jazziz

It's sad that the disc that offers the best hope for smooth jazz's future comes from an artist most fans of the genre have never heard of (and an album that is currently out-of-print). Nonetheless, the 1996 release of keyboardist Misha Segal's explosive JVC debut, Connected to the Unexpected, marked a bright moment in the history of the music. And the record teaches lessons that must be learned if smooth jazz is going to continue to flourish in the 21st century. Chiefly, smooth jazz needs to reconnect with traditional jazz. Currently, it has drifted too far from its roots. On Connected to the Unexpected, Misha proved he knew his history without being a slave to it. For instance, the album features a very plugged in, very '90s take on Glen Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" and an homage to Duke Ellington called "1 and the 9" that comes complete with a three-piece horn section, jazzy piano, and hip-hop beats. Unlike a lot of smooth-jazz soloists, for whom soloing means basically just playing pretty variations of a song's melody, here, Misha dares to create something real when it's his turn to blow - perhaps, at moments, even getting a little out. Of course, all this was done atop accessible melodies and seductive, urban grooves. The CD also found Misha drawing on authentic Latin (as on "Donde Estan Mis Zapatos?") and African rhythms ("Si Kuku Ni Ta Kuja"). In fact, the recording's eclectic nature is something more smooth-jazz releases need to pick up on in the upcoming millennium. This was a challenging listen in smooth-jazz terms, but in order to survive, the format is going to have to take these sort of chances.

REVIWER: Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Product Description

A powerful combination of sounds. Misha's unprecedented use of acoustic piano, trombone, spoken word and fresh urban rhythms is captured here, not only on XRCD, but through the three dimensional sound of the Spatializer Recording System.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent sonics and packaging [as expected], August 25, 2011

By 

W. Mullins "billm" (Brockton, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Connected to the Unexpected (Audio CD)

This is more of a quick review of the sonics/audio quality and packaging than of the music itself, although, if you are reading this, you are obviously familiar with the artist.

This is definately one of the better sounding silver disks out there, no doubt due to the JVC/K2 processing and tight manufacturing standards utilized by JVC for their Audiophile line of recordings.[which you pay for]

The packaging/case of the disk is top notch also.

So again, if you like Misha, and you have an appreciation for high quality sound [or even if you don't!], this is one incredible recording, especially given the age of the master used to cut the disks. [I.E., original recording technology used for the initial/studio master recording]

Love this CD and highly recommended.

BM

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, April 16, 2008

By 

T. Leong (Greater Baltimore-Washington Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Connected to the Unexpected (Audio CD)

Picked this cd up after reading in some AVS forums about the enhanced digital mastering of this cd to do a blind audio test. Can't say I dig the music, or appreciate the 'better quality' though.
Interesting album coverart.