Customer Reviews

King Crimson Songbook, Vol. 2

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

 

 

It is both a sad and happy experience listening to this CD. Sad that it is the last one and happy that it is so good. It is more experimental than the first volume and the musicianship is top notch.

The standouts for me were In the Court of the Crimson King and One Time. ItCotCK demonstrates the perfect blending of jazz and the original melody for me. I do not know the original melody for One Time, that comes from an incarnation of KC that I didn't listen to but I loved the song. I will have to check out the original.

Other very good songs were Frame by Frame, The Plank and Lament. The Plank is an original composition by Landers featuring mostly bass that I liked and Lament retained the original melody but layered a building intensity on it.

The rest was good. I heartily recommend this CD to everyone, KC fans or not!

My musical tastes these days would rank classical, then jazz, then rock. That said, KC has always been a favorite for its falling between or blending these genres in many ways. I am also a big consumer of Robert's Soundscapes for the same reason.

I had read that this had been recorded, but I was afraid it would never see the market. I have to admit I was compelled to buy this in large part to support the project, and especially Ian Wallace's family's income now that he is gone, and DGM/Inner Knot for putting it out. I had listened to the samples for Vol. 1, and I was not all that impressed, and expected this to fall somewhere in the Claude Bolling-like area of "Swing Crimson" as it was referred to in the liner notes. But the reviews have been good, so I jumped with kind of low expectations.

However, I am here to say that this is a TERRIFIC ALBUM. The energy and engagement is very high. "Swing Crimson" does indeed sell this short. The style is somewhere in the Brad Mehldau-ish area, modern but poignant or swinging very hard in turn. The playing is just really good, interesting, joyful, and totally satisfying. Good jazz, tunes suited to the style, and a lot of fun. You can tell these guys just loved making this, had something to say, and totally said it.

Ian is history. But this remains and is surely his finest moment in a long distinguished career.I wish I knew of anyone else that is into playing this stuff, it's tremendous. Sadly there will be no more CJ3.

Either King Crimson's music is perfectly suited to be converted to jazz, or the members of the Crimson Jazz Trio were perfectly suited to pull this off. I'm guessing it's both, as like their first CD, this CD is a gem. The performances on Volume 2 are top notch. I find the music enjoyable as a jazz fan and as a longtime fan of King Crimson. The percussion is superb, and comes bittersweet as drummer Ian Wallace has recently passed away.

King Crimson songs makes a good base for jazz. If jazz is your thing and you like King Crimson then this is perfect for you. If there's ever be will Volume 3, I'm definately going to get it!