Customer Reviews

Jazzmasters 3

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Jazzmasters III" was the CD that turned me into a diehard Paul Hardcastle fan. I'd always liked Paul's hit song from the 80's about Vietnam veterans, "19," but "Jazzmasters III" really made me sit up and take notice of the man's music. I was shopping in a music store back in '99, when I heard this album on the overhead speakers, and I was so taken with the dreamy, cool-breeze quality of the music, that I bought the album right then and there, and I've been listening to Mr. Hardcastle's catalog ever since.With Hardcastle brilliantly playing every instrument except saxophone (Snake Davis handles the sax), and featuring the lovely, soulful vocals of Helen Rogers, "Jazzmasters III" is a very cool, very smooth, very *groovy* disc to play. Songs like the dreamy "London In Springtime," the so-very-catchy "Don't Let It Get You Down," the acoustic charmer "Down So Low," and the light grooves of "Still Thinking" are just marvelous. Hardcastle also delivers some incredible, atmospheric instrumentals throughout, like the appropriately-titled "Lost In Space," "Nightcrawler," "Starchild," the super-funky "Trippin' Rhythm," "New Dawn," and "Red Zone." And for the cherry on top, there's a pair of wonderful, breezy covers of America's hit song, "Ventura Highway," and Fleetwood Mac's classic, "Dreams." Fabulous, both of them.Quite simply, Paul Hardcastle is the undisputed King Of Smooth Jazz, with Helen Rogers the perfect vocalist for Hardcastle's tasty tunes, and Snake Davis contributes some fine sax-blowing throughout. This album is just so good! I strongly recommend ALL of Paul's albums, but "Jazzmasters III" was the one that started it all for me as a Hardcastle fan. It's a great place for you to start, too. Pick it up!

PAUL HARDCASTLE HAS DONE IT AGAIN.THIS CD IS PURE JAZZ PLEASURE WITH ALOT OF CLASS.IT HAS ALOT OF VARIETY FROM EASY LISTENING TO FUNKY JAZZ.HELEN RODGERS VOCALS GLIDES ON THIS SMOOTH JAZZ.THIS IS THE FIRST CD I'VE BOUGHT IN A WHILE THAT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY . IF YOU BUY IT YOU WILL LOVE IT.

Jazz is a compliation of instruments used to sing a melody of song to ones pleasures. Helen Rogers voice is the perfect intrument to compliment the fantastic sounds of Paul Hardcastle. Her voice is so smooth and mellow, soft yet powerful. I play this CD at work for my own enjoyment and just about anyone within ear shot asks who it is and really enjoys her voice. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys more of an upbeat vocal jazz sound.

If you are new to jazz or have not heard of many Jazz musicians Paul Hardcastle will truly make you a fan of jazz and also of his works. The combitation of vocals and instrumentials in this album are outstanding,what i consider a great piece of work and music. Paul Hardcastle can take you away from the stress of everyday living and let you relax and enjoy. I am truly thankful for Paul Hardcastle and his music it has made me a person that can appreciate and enjoy good music. Keep them coming Paul...

I don't like vocals.

Never have, at least not in light jazz. They muddy things up; they keep you from hearing what the songwriter and the musician have to say. So I was naturally disappointed at first with Jazzmasters III as I listened to the samples; every other song has vocals on it.

But for every rule, there is of course an exception, and for me this is it. Helen Rogers has a gorgeous voice, and Paul Hardcastle, the arranger and producer, found a way to use Helen's voice truly as an instrument unto itself.

In fact, Helen's vocals seem to act as a cohesive element to the songs, binding with the fantastic instrumental work to give the audience a polished, refined end product. Even the most well-intentioned of vocals usually have a way of making a given light jazz song sound poppish or, in the case of slow songs, whiney (I'm sure you've all heard of Whiney Houston!), but again, not so with Helen, Paul and company. I'm confident you'll come away asking yourself, "Why can't ALL vocal songs sound that good?"

The instrumentals are beyond reproach, and Paul Hardcastle seems to know exactly how to arrange them and compose for them. The sax in particular is peppered with just the right amount of reverb to produce a fat, soulful feel to the sound.

I also have Jazzmasters I, and the review will be exactly the same as for this one. Give it a listen, folks! You'll be glad you did!

Every track speaks to some part of my soul. Thank you Mr. Hardcastle. I'm glad we're on the planet at the same time!

I bought this CD to add to my Hardcastle collection. I am never disappointed in his ability to entertain. Many of the creations in this cd, like all the others, take on a feeling of reverie that only a true jazz lover can appreciate. Helen Rogers is a regular featured vocalist on his cds. Her voice adds a pinch of the right spice to culminate into music that one can really relate to emotionally. Their version of the Stevie Nicks mega-hit "Dreams" is one of the examples of Pauls unwavering ability to mesmerize his audience with his music. Check out this CD. You won't be disappointed.

This is the Third JAZZMASTERS' CD that I have purchased (the other CDs by Paul Hardcastle that I had purchased were HARDCASTLE and COVER TO COVER; terrific CDs, by the way); I must say, Paul Hardcastle surprised me with this JAZZMASTERS' compilation - unlike its two JAZZMASTERS'recordings, Paul Hardcastle has managed to tie in his trademark Jazz/R&B sound (i.e. LOST IN SPACE, NIGHTCRAWLER, NEW DAWN, and RED ZONE) with sensual, tender music and vocals (i.e. DOWN SO LOW, STILL THINKING, LONDON IN SPRINGTIME, AND LONDON CHIMES). For all of my fellow listeners of 70s AM radio, I urge you to check out Paul Hardcastle's versions of America's VENTURA HIGHWAY and Fleetwood Mac's DREAMS - two pleasantly re-created covers of the originals that are truly Paul Hardcastle trademarks but still keep the tradition of these two songs.

Paul Hardcastle has once again shown that he can even do better than he did on his previous series. i think that the voice of Helen Rogers just seems to flow very well all through the tracks. If you are a lover of smooth jazz, this is a MUST BUY!!!

Oh, please!! It starts out promising... the first cut does capture your interest. However. EVERY OTHER SONG HAS SINGING FROM THAT POINT ON! This drove me crazy. Just as the listener gets into the groove (as much as you can with what sounds like synthesized music)the next track has that nauseating woman singing. Don't bother with this one.