Customer Reviews

Kenny Ball - Greatest Hits

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

 

 

Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen are a British group and they are very good. They've been playing dixieland music (called "trad" in Britain) for more than 25 years, so they've got a lot of experience with this music despite their foreign roots. Their biggest hit is "Midnight in Moscow" which was a hit in the U.S. back in the 1970s, but most of their other pieces are quite good too. Personally, I prefer this British group to most American groups -- including groups based in New Orleans -- because they play very well together and do more ensemble playing and play shorter solos than is typical in the U.S. Frankly, I generally find the extended solos typically found in New Orleans dixieland boring after a while. If you like good ensemble dixieland with well-played -- but short -- solos give this CD a try.

The original Kapp LP entitled Midnight in Moscow by Kenny Ball and His Jazzman is excellent. Unfortunately it is not available on CD. This recording contains the following selections: High Society, Puttin' on the Ritz, American Patrol, Tin roof Blues, You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, Big Noise from Winnetka, Dark Eyes, Savoy Blues, I'm Satisfied with My Gal, My Mother's Eyes & Midnight in Moscow. Many of these selections are not available on CD's of Ball music which have been released. Perhaps Pye (or MCA), will release this LP on disc in the future.

Bill Harvey

Some of the best of Kenny Ball's music and songs. A good mix for a Jazz party

I couldn't find a downloadable verion of Kenny Ball's rendition of Midnight in Moscow, so I got this CD. Well, I now have a rather costly version of that one piece, since I didn't care much for anything else on the CD. I found that a little of this music is enough.

I expected jazz and although most of the songs are quite good, the VOCALS are entirely unexpected and very disappointing -- if I wanted vocals, I would have looked for a different album. It is my feeling that the vocals completely ruin this CD and I am greatly disappointed in it.