Customer Reviews

It Had To Be You

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

 

 

Peter Nero has been entertaining piano lovers for years and he gets better as we approach the millenium. For those of you that love the piano, this CD is SURE to go to the top of your list. He has produced a great audio CD and his "mix of friends" is excellent. The selections of songs and their arrangements demonstrate his superb talent in providing listening pleasure. Peter's rendition of "My Funny Valentine" is outstanding.

Mr. Nero has been giving us his piano virtuosity for many, many years and in this 1994 recording, he demonstrates just how good a pianist he is. Joined only by bass and drums, Nero gives some new life to some really great songs. Additionally, he has some guests who help out. Not all are great, but the majority of them are: Maureen McGovern's blissful treatment of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile"; Crystal Gayle's whispering rendition of "It Had to be You"; Mel Torme's handling of the beautiful Jerome Kern song, "Long Ago and Far Away"; and Peabo Bryson's soulful Gershwin "All the Things You Are."
A good recording, and a pleasant companion for fireside reflections!

I bought Peter Nero's first commercial LP in about 1964. It was the one where he mixed classical with jazz in his very creative version of "Night and Day."

That was the first in what would become my collection of many of his recordings.

I don't know why this CD was ever produced. Nero has chosen different artists to solo with him accompanying them, along with an orchestra.

First, and foremost, Nero has not mastered the art of accompanying. On top of that, his accompanyments sound all but totally ad libed, although the music for the orchestra is obviously arranged and charted.

Second, and what is the most annoying to me, are the number of times when the solo artists were off-pitch. On one of those, which interestingly is a piece Nero has, himself, soloed for years, "Long Ago and Far Away," just doesn't work at all. And that's primarily because of the guest soloist.

So the bottom line is, I hope that Peter Nero will go back to doing what he does best -- piano solos with orchestra. He doesn't do well productions like this one.

Beautiful piano jazz. I heard in him in Detroit's Baker's Lounge, years ago. He has made a great career and his music still enchants me. This is a must.

I have most of these songs by Nero on other albums -- they are great. However, I don't understand why Screen Scenes is not available on CD. Will it ever be? It has so many wonderful movie scores. I want it so badly! Please help.

Ginny Albert