Cti: The Master Collection [Original recording remastered]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 5, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000630CC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,781 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Original Smooth Jazz, October 4, 2002

By 

A. Davis "astandavis" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cti: The Master Collection (Audio CD)

This compilation of 19 tracks from the CTI vaults is a nice 70's reflection during the time when Jazz was evolving through the early fusion period. Creed Taylor managed to record a cadre of future stars (Benson, Deodato & Autin) in their developing stages and give seasoned veterans (Hubbard, Jackson, Crawford & Turrentine) an opportunity to express their art during changing times. This double disc captures a great snapshot of Creed's work. It also captures the essence of the "CTI Sound."

It is a joy to hear George Benson perform without the pop singing that has since overshadowed his guitar playing. His playing on "California Dreaming" and "My Latin Brother" is a testament of his mastery of six-strings. I wish he would revisit this approach in his current recordings. Stanley Turrentine manages to stretch out on Marvin Gaye's "Don't Mess With Mister "T"" and "Gibraltar" while laying the roadmap for the saxophone vibe that hundreds of Smooth Jazz artist have since copied. The other standout tracks include the fluid and vibrant "Sky Dive" by Freddie Hubbard, the beautiful "Sunflower" by Milt Jackson and the bouncing "Take Ten" by Paul Desmond. These tracks helped define what the CTI sound was about - mellow & adventuresome with just enough spicy seasoning to stimulate your taste buds. The only thing missing from this collection is a track by Grover Washington, Jr. during his collaboration with a young keybordist named Bob James. That would have put a five-star stamp on this colection.

If your music collection is lacking in "original" smooth jazz and you are tired of the current pop instumental offerings, dig into something really cool and check out "CTI: The Master Collection". Smooth Jazz has never sounded better.