Customer Reviews

Heart of Gold

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

 

 

This wonderful collection of smooth standards played by a master pianist - who just happens to be the mentor of Harry Connick, Jr., as well as all the Marsalis offspring, is a delight and a pleasure to listen to. This is a great gift item that your recipients will appreciate over and over again, just as you will. Wynton and the boys may get the media play, but Daddy Ellis is the source!

When you listen to it.....you won't wonder why!

It qualifies as some of the best piano jazz trio work that I've ever heard! There's so much to be heard.....several standards, a few originals (Ellis and son Delfeayo), a couple of solo piano cuts, son Jason debuting as the drummer on "This Can't Be Love",
and the fine rhythm work throughout.

The whole set is great but the highlights for me are: "Never Let Me Go", a beautiful ballad recorded by Nat Cole back in 1956; "Chapter 2" which is a lesson on how a good jazz trio should sound (dig Ray Brown and Billy Higgins' comping on this one); Ray Brown's bass on "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"; the best interpretation and improvisation I've heard on "Surrey With The Fringe On Top"; the really nice and unusual intro to "Love For Sale"; the easy walking treatment of "Sweet Georgia Brown"; the original blues by Ellis and Ray Brown, "El-Ray Blues"; and not least of all, the skills of a Master at the keyboards for the whole set.

I don't see how anyone could NOT like this cd!

As an avid fan of traditional trio-style jazz, I cannot recommend this disc highly enough. Every lick will permeate the room, setting the perfect mood for entertaining friends, reading a good book in front of the fire, or hosting a special event. While it is excellent as background music, don't let its smooth sound fool you! First there was Dad (mentor to all of those talented Marsalis children) and his years of talent both as a pianist, as well as song-writer(some tracks are original compositions) are apparent beginning with the very first lick. Confident that they will love it, I have given this disc countless times as a gift to folks of all ages and all musical tastes. It is always well received by all. Happily, it is the one of the discs I play most frequently. It is to be savored. Invest in Ellis Marsalis "Heart of Gold" -- You will be so pleased you did!

Father to you know who, this is a very nice collection of mostly standards that came out in 1992 done by the trio of Marsalis - piano, Ray Brown - bass, and Billy Higgins - drums.

Ellis Marsalis created a beautiful and timeless jazz masterpiece with this album.
You won't be disappointed!!

What is not to like about music that is mellow, with a good beat, easy on the ears, uplifting in a quiet sort of way, nice to have playing any time of day. Ellis is not spectacular, just wonderful.

JBR

THIS IS A GOOD CD, AS ELLIS IS ALWAYS GOOD.BUT TO GET THE REAL STORY, YOU MUST CHECK OUT 12'S IT. THE MUSIC ON 12'S IT WAS RECORDED BY A TRUE BAND THAT HAD BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER FOR SIX YEARS, AND IT SHOWS.