Customer Reviews

James Newton Howard & Friends

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's a collaborative effort between James Newton Howard on the keyboard and Jeff Porcaro on drums. The album was originally recorded directly to disk with only one break.

I discovered "James Newton Howard and Friends" at a stereo store. I used it to buy my first pair of really good speakers. Now, I take this CD with me every single time I buy any audio equipment. It's still one of the gold standards of jazz for me.

This is a must have for all TOTO-fans. Especially those who dig instrumental music and ofcourse when you like the interaction between keyboards and drums (drums by the immortal Jeffrey Porcaro)! Thanks JNH.

5492

I found this music by accident on cassette tape in a car that was given to my father to use as a loaner while his company car was in the shop. I popped it in the tape deck, and was very pleased with what I heard. There are a couple of short introductions that make you curious, and then it totally starts to rock! Regardless of one's musical tastes, there is something for everyone. Each of the songs are intricate and appealing on several levels. The recording quality is fantastic, and sounds great on any system! this was back in 1986, and is still some of my favorite music today! It was later that I found James Newton Howard behind many of the popular sound tracks for movies and television shows!

I actually discovered this album while working at an electronics store back in the mid-80's. It WAS VERY GOOD at testing stereo gear! Also this album (though short) is well-worth the price-tag. I think I paid $25 for mine in 1986. :)

Those of you who know Toto will know the musicians on this album. But the music will surprise you. A deft mix of jazzy rock instrumentals, performed entirely on electronic keyboards while the legendary Jeffery Porcaro plays drums.

I was first introduced to this music by, of all things, one of those freebie giveaway vinyl things that you used to find inside magazines, and could put on your turntable and play. Yamaha was promoting their new line of DX-7 musical instruments. I was so startled and captivated by the music that I hunted for the album. The liner notes alone are worth the price of admission, as they tell the story of how Sheffield Labs managed to corral these talented artists for TWO DAYS! to record the album.

The original vinyl album is a direct to disk recording, which means that the music was played, from beginning to end, without interruption (except one break between vinyl sides one and two). No retakes for these guys. The recording is sublime.

If you are adventurous and like Toto and jazz fusion, you will like this album. Especially if you a looking for something a little different.

Possessing the original vinyl in 1984, the wait for the CD release was heaven. This is the best James Newton Howard has produced. The synthesis of rhythm with Toto is beyond words. A must in any collection of classics!

You had better have a good audio system for this one........if you do you are in for a treat

As a co-founder of TOTO it can be said the band was never the same after the death of this very talented drummer. He died of heart seizure that was triggered by taking a hot bath after using pesticide. The music community was in shock upon hearing the news. His funeral was attended by an estimated crowd of 1500. He wrote some of the most memorable songs such as Boz Scaggs' "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle". The artistes whom he performed with are too numerous to name but a partial list includes, Bonnie Raitt, the Bee Gees, Jackson Browne, Michael McDonald, Lowell George, Hall & Oates, Etta James, Joe Cocker, Nils Lofgren, Manhattan Transfer, Greg Lake, George Benson, Larry Carlton, Paul McCartney, Pink Flyod, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Peter Frampton, Airplay, Peter Allen, America, and Stanley Clarke. Among the hundreds of albums he played on were Boz Scaggs' "Silk Degrees", Dire Straits" "On Every Street", Michael Jackson's "Thriller", Elton John's "Jump Up", Don Henley's "End Of The Innocence", Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy", Rickie Lee Jones' debut, Bruce Springsteen's "Human Touch", etc. He was also well-known for his collaboration with Boz Scaggs and Steely Dan. Porcaro Sr. helped to set up the drums for this Sheffield Lab release. Top notch all the way, two thumbs up!

Despite the fine musicianship and truly superb acoustic characteristics, this album is inexcusable dull. I know teenage amateurs who compose music that is more sophisticated and engaging in every way... musically, emotionally, intellectually, you name it.

Those expecting the haunting ambiance of Howard's film scores will be greatly disappointed in this pseudo-jazz endeavor. Though not worth the price tag, the cd's fidelity is noteworthy, however, and perhaps useful for checking one's stereo settings.