Customer Reviews

Jazz Side of the Moon: Music of Pink Floyd

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

 

 

These are somewhat loose interpretations of this classic record. They take harmonic and melodic liberties with the music that are very much in the spirit of jazz, but it still maintains the atmosphere of the original. The group is made up of premier players, and they have very good chemistry for a one-off band.

For me, the drum work of Ari Hoenig is the highlight of the record. His feel is loose and the groove constantly shifting, but his time is always solid. He is also able to play with great fire and intensity without being too loud or having too much clutter. This is my favorite type of drumming.

Sam Yahel is also great on the Hammond B-3. He often plays hypnotic, repetitive figures that serve the music perfectly. When he takes the lead, there is never a wasted note - everything is always in good taste.

Mike Moreno, who I was not so familiar with before hearing this, is a nice addition to the band. He is a very fluid soloist, and adds nice textures and colorations to the music that often recall David Gilmour's classic work on the original recording.

Seamus Blake is also a great player. However, there are times that he doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the band in my opinion. I think his tone is different here than on his great 2007 session as a leader "Way Out Willy." This may have something to do with the way "Jazz Side" was recorded, but regardless, I prefer his playing on the aforementioned "Willy."

Highly recommended, whether you're a fan of the Floyd or not.

Overview:

Sam Yahel (hammond b3 organ), Seamus Blake (tenor sax), Ari Hoenig (drums), and Mike Moreno (guitar) pay homage to the Pink Floyd classic with an all instrumental version of Dark Side of the Moon. Some of the tunes stray pretty far from the original (in particular - Time), but overall they really captured the mood of the album. It really flows well from start to finish and features some nice noodling guitar, sax and organ solos. The arrangements of the songs while enjoyable, don't really offer anything ground breaking or super clever. There aren't any wow moments where you are floored by a genius adaptation of the song (check out the Bad Plus' cover of Comfortably Numb on 'For All I Care' for an absolutely genius reconstruction of a Pink Floyd tune). That said, all the songs are enjoyable and the playing is at a high level. Fans of Pink Floyd and jazz will surely enjoy this record.

Song Highlights:

Great Gig in the Sky - Stays fairly true to the original. This song features great material for a jazz cover and nice solos abound.

Brain Damage - Played slow. Seamus Blake does a great job playing the vocal lines on his sax.

On the Run (parts 1 and 2) - Without any studio special effects or trickery the band really captures the cacophony of sounds of this classic interlude.

this album blows me away every time I listen to it. If you don't already own a pair of good quality headphones, buy some on amazon along with this CD. The spirit of Pink Floyd is instantaneously apparent, yet the ensemble was able to express their own unique voices and deliver an outstanding, fresh interpretation of this classic record. BUY THIS ALBUM!

The more I listen to this CD the more I appreciate it. It is extremely well done and the musicians play tastefully and with great care and skill. They have great chops and stay out of each others way. One reviewer on another forum criticized the Sax player saying he sounded out of place in some songs. I totally disagree. He plays with great sensitivity, technical ability and tonality. He fits like a glove in this recording.

This is one of the best recordings I have ever heard in a long time, especially on SACD. The musicians are well separated and there is great depth and clarity to the recording. I just never get tired of listening to it. Just like the original.

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is one of my all time favorite rock albums and these guys did great homage to it. They kept to the theme of the music but at the same time tastefully added an incredibly interesting jazz improvisation element to it. The music sounds familiar but at the same time unique.

This CD is a joy to listen to - one of the best recordings of the year.

Highly recommended! Don't hesitate to pick it up - even if you aren't a Pink Floyd fan.

A real daredevil project this, it takes the structure of Pink Floyd's album and then uses this as the departure point for some fluent cool jazz. The musicians are excellent, playing off one another as if in a live jam session, meticulously rhythmical and committed to finding the most adventurous routes out of and into jazz-rock. If you like Weather Report, Miles Davis, The Crusaders and Pat Metheny, this is for you. What can I tell you except be good to yourself and buy this album. I've been playing it nonstop; it's also a great drivetime album.

Sorry but this sounds more like noodling to me than jazz. I listen to some challenging music and enjoy it, but after repeated listening this cd just annoys. Some of the tracks start with 30 or more seconds of silence, Oh Boy! How creative! The organ in particular really grates. If you buy this be prepared for some really loose improvisation and meandering non-musical nonsense that would probably sound much better if you are on serious medication.