Customer Reviews

Freedom at Midnight

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the first CD that I owned by David Benoit and I absolutely love it. Benoit is an accomplished pianist and he really let's it fly on this CD. I loved Kei's Song so much that I had it as background music on my wedding video. This is a beautifully composed CD from cover to cover and I recommend it to any smooth jazz lover! Especially if you like a smooth pianist. This CD even converted my wife into a smooth jazz fan! That took some doing!!

I got a chance to see David Benoit in October of 2003 in Milwaukee and while I already loved his music for many years but that point, seeing his phenomenal performance was mind-blowing and made me love his music all over again.

This 1987 opus "Freedom At Midnight" remains my favorite albums of his and has been since I first heard the title track and "Kei's Song" off this classic record.

The title track is one of the most brilliant and innovative jazz songs that has ever been recorded. It's a very joyous and uplifting jazz classic and the piano playing is amazing! Seeing him play this in concert was one of the best memories of ever going to a concert. Many may have already heard this track already but seeing him perform this live in concert was one of the best memories of my life. This song still is a great song to listen to and will last for countless years to come.

"Kei's Song" is another well-known classic in this genre. This is a really beautiful and warm song with a very romantic mood and excellent melody. Like the former, many have likely heard this track many times on the radio over the years but this song has also lasted well over the years and will over the countless years to come.

Both of these songs are among the best smooth jazz songs that have ever been written and rank up there with almost any of the best songs written by a lot of classic jazz artists.

My favorite track on this album is "Passion Walk". This song is in fact my favorite song on this album. It's a very autumn sunset atmospheric song and has a somewhat melancholy mood more like that of a sunset late in autumn when it's starts getting cooler and cooler outside. I love the keyboards.

I really enjoy the rest of this album too but these three songs are the best and warrant buying this timeless classic album.

Hi:

I first heard "Kei's Song" while living at home in the Bahamian capital (Nassau) in the late 1980's and fell in love with it. I didn't know the artiste at the time but found out later it was one David Benoit. I searched for the album without much success but eventually found it. Now I have "Freedom at Midnight" on both CD and cassette.

As a lover of modern jazz David Benoit is naturally one of my favorite jazz pianists. As a classical guitarist I have now learnt to play many of his pieces, including "Kei's Song" (in the key of A) on the guitar. As a bassist I am drawn to the bottom line on "Kei's Song" and have learnt to play it on a 3/4 acoustic bass in its entirety (I'm 99% sure it was done on an upright acoustic bass). And as a pianist I am indebted to David Benoit and hold him as a contemporary standard by which I rate others.

"Freedom at Midnight" is, in my opinion, one of modern jazz' finest work with "Kei's Song" the finest and most beautiful cut on the CD. Get it!

Last summer I finally had the priviledge to see David at Navy Pier in concert after being a fan of his since Junior High, when i received "Inner Motion" from my Aunt on my birthday. He gave a flawless performance. One track during that concert that stood out to me was the tremendously upbeat, dancible, well-played song called "Freedom at Midnight" (Great Title) After that concert I went to a local music store and found this CD on sale. I bought it and listen to it constantly. Other standout songs are the poetic "Kei's Song" and "Del Sasser," which is a retort to stuffy jazz critics who say that a jazz musician who makes catchy music cannot be considered seriously. On "Del Sasser" he shows his remarkable facility to play traditional jazz also.

The first time I heard this was on a jazz\new age radio station. Then, I was able to get the tape which I heard many, many times. When I found it on CD it was like meeting an old friend since the melodies were and still are very moving to me. Cheerful and thoughtful at times, this is a wonderful CD I recommend!

This album is a must have for anybody who loves jazz particularly smooth jazz!

I was first introduced to David Benoit with this CD. As oxymoronic as it sounds, his music is lyrical. Even before I knew Kai's Song was a love song for his wife, I found it to be utterly romantic - the first time I had that reaction to an instrumental piece of music.

Benoit keeps getting better and better, but the blend of music on this CD is absolutely sublime!

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

Publisher, All About Romance

Simply, one of the best of David's albums. Each album has a distinctive flavor or attitude. This one hits you in the face from the start with "Freedom at Midnight" and gets you movin' to the beat. Of course "Kei's Song" tugs at your heart and I even learned how to play it on my piano for my wife like David did. I got to see David in Maui and he was awesome! Definitely a must hear CD. Mahalo for all the music Mr. Benoit!!!

Best Piece of Music on this CD

Actually they are all very good. Kei's Song was the first Benoit song I have heard -flying from Australia - Los Angeles on United Airlines. It is inspirational.