Departure

Dan Siegel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 18, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Native Language Music
• ASIN: B000FUF8JI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,227 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide

"Siegel's piano grace is surrounded by elaborate string complements that sway the listener into a state of relaxation."

"One of the kings of smooth-as-silk piano smooth jazz."

Voted "Critic's Pick" for 2004

Product Description

A culmination of influences from an illustrious career spanning 25+ years, Departure is the latest studio album from pianist Dan Siegel. An album of grace, nobility & reflection, Departure transcends categorizing as it speaks to earlier times of adult instrumental music with classic themes that were influenced by the song, its melodies, and its virtuostic musicians.

Featured performers on the album include co-producer & bassist Brian Bromberg (Michael Buble, Chris Botti, Stan Getz), drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell), & percussionst Lenny Castro (Toto, Boz Scaggs, Barbara Streisand). Special guest performances include saxophonist Bob Sheppard, guitarists Norman Brown and Grant Geissman, and vocalist Bill Cantos.

A refined instrumental album for the discerning listener...

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoothjazz.com Review, August 16, 2006

By 

Sandy Shore (Monterey, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

This is an exceptionally good album from an exceptionally gifted pianist...one that should find its way into discerning Smooth Jazz fans' libraries automatically. Dan Siegel, born in Seattle, raised in Eugene and educated at the University of Oregon, is a treasure in the world of Smooth Jazz, and has been for over 25 years. His seminal 1989 release "Northern Nights" helped set the standard for the early days of this format, and DEPARTURE, his 17th solo album, could very well equal its impact. It's a marvelous collection of organic, live-in-studio performances from Dan and an all-star lineup of players, including bassist Brian Bromberg, sax man Bob Sheppard, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (who also played on "Northern Nights"), and percussionist Lenny Castro. Guitarists Norman Brown ("Street Talk") and Grant Geissman ("Shades of Gray") guest on this compelling disc; Bill Cantos supplies the enchanting vocal textures on the amazing "Across the Sea." DEPARTURE is absolutely first-rate stuff from first note to last, and I find myself hoping that this album will be a model for other Smooth Jazz signature artists in the future. The basic concept is the jazz piano trio, resulting in a clean, pure, uncluttered sound. Mr. Siegel best captures the essence of DEPARTURE when he states, "There is an honesty and purity in creating music in this fashion, and...assembling a group of some of the finest players alive makes this...a joy to be a part of." Dan, listening to your outstanding new project gives us that same feeling of joy! ~SCOTT O'BRIEN

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hidden Gems... and beautiful Sparks... throughout this inspiring CD..., July 27, 2006

By 

Patrick Ergas (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

This is my first exposure to a CD from Dan Siegel. Over all it is a very refreshing CD; I love contemporary Jazz Piano and i have to say this CD is an excellent production of the genre, with top notch famed artists in it performing altogether sensitively & harmoniously, really well, not a flaw anywhere. The Piece 'departure' is marvellous and has become like an instant classic in my ears. But listening to 'street talk' left me in complete awe; to me this is also one of the gems in this album; particularly, Jazz Guitarist Norman Brown featuring in there really got my attention in that he gives a class act performance with a superb and charged solo on his electric guitar... really sublime; and that instantly gave me the desire to check all of his albums. Well, furthermore so, after i read he was pushed at a very young age by his father to study really well all of Wes Montgomery's guitar technique & playing... (I recognized right away how well he had succeeded in doing so...) Norman Brown's electric guitar playing is one of a true Master; richly textured, interesting & captivating; innovative & sparkling; strong & consistent; fluid & seemingly effortless; nothing short of beautiful, solid and extraordinary, and is placed among the top of my list as for guitarists to listen to now, and i have listened to a lot of Jazz players before. N.B. now stands in my eyes as one of them who is sure to impress... But indeed, Dan Siegel has just released here a nice sounding album, fresh, relaxing and contemporary. Great Piano... I was impressed as well with his very tasteful playing on Vibes. I don't particularly favor the Piano play on track 10 though ('castles in the sand'), unoriginal... tasteless & lifeless... has no particular soul to it, surely a stereotype of many other instrumentals which really hold no lasting flavor or special identity... and will undoubtedly be left alone and unremembered. Other than that, this CD throughout is worth a pleasurable listen... even multiple ones; it is definitely listenable way more than once or twice. So... any Contemporary Jazz Lovers, even all true Jazz Addicts as a Whole on Jazz Music out there reading this review... you can confidently get this album 'departure' by Dan Siegel; it will not disappoint your ears, heart and soul. I think... you will... indisputably... surely enjoy it!!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Relaxing with Jazz Tone, February 5, 2010

By 

R. Turner "Dry Martini" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Departure (Audio CD)

I have several Dan Siegel CDs -- this is by far the best. It's beutifully done. Lot's of Smooth Jazz influences.