Customer Reviews

In the Miller Mood, Volume II

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

 

 

I happened to check this CD out of our local public library after attending a Glen Miller concert at the Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum. As a musician and music critic, I've listened to many Glen Miller recordings and none compare with the highly polished and classy style in Ray Anthony's arrangements of GM (there are two volumes). Unlike some of the authentic Gm recordings, the Ray Anthony Orchestra has produced high quality recordings with various band parts that are detailed and clear (which musicians love!). This particular recording really grows on you; I didn't take it out of my CD changer for two months. It's appropriate for quiet listening but at the same time is jazzy enough to put you in a dancing mood. It's definitely a moral booster and tension relaxer. My sister, who is also a GM fan (and owns many more recordings than I) happened to hear me playing it and demanded to know where to buy it so she could get herself a copy! Enough said!

This CD is a mix of jumpin' swing, ballads and even a waltz. If it's tempo changes you like, this one has it. This is not for sustained easy listening. Of course, Ray's mellow trumpet and his fine musicians shine through again.

I agree with the other reviews. There are only a few good
tracks here. And the reason is the music doesn't fit
the big band sound as stated in another review.

Buy it on sale if you have a CD Burner to combine the
good tracks with other material.

I am a Ray Anthony fan and i have many of his cds. When Ray recorded this cd it looks like he had several ideas in mind. For one, he wanted to use some big band standards that we all have come to love. Secondly, it looks like he wanted to incorporate some fairly new songs that some people liked to hear. The only problem was that these are not really big band material. Out of the 15 songs listed i only liked 6. If someone really wants to hear what a good Ray Anthony cd sounds like i would strongly recommend DREAM DANCING 2.

Has some great cuts on it. Cook's tour is almost identical to Glen Millers version and the sole reason I bought this CD. Anthony's Swing, Drive In, Air Express are excellent kick'n pieces and I was surprised how fun they were to listen to. Darn that Dream, My Foolish Heart, and Pretend are admirably done and very Miller like. But, you can toss the rest of the cuts into the round file, unless you like to hear mushy -- uncrisp music. Good band, don't get me wrong, but the rest of the cuts are no fun to listen to.