Customer Reviews

Passion Dance

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a fun CD. Alpert surrounds himself with some top-rated Afro-Cuban musicians and has the time of his life! Just listen to the opening cut -"TKO" - and I swear you'll be shakin' in your chair. This is some jazzy horn work by Alpert, and by far one of his better efforts. END

It isn't fair to try and compare Passion Dance with Herb's music from the sixties. Passion Dance is an entirely different approach, as if a group of talented musicians got together on a lazy Sunday afternoon and started playing for the sheer joy of making music. What I appreciate about Herb Alpert is his desire to try something new - and it works! The haunting "Until We Meet Again" is tender and soft. Sure, this album would probably not be suited for "cranksters" or those with "ADD" but it offers something that more of us need, music that helps us slow down in a crazy, chaotic world.

This is an example of a great trumpet player doing what he does best--jazz trumpet playing with a latin flavor. The result is listening pleasure for those who have been fans of the Tijuana Brass...including me. I highly recommend this CD!

This fairly recent CD by Herb Alpert is basically good. The mood is definitely right for those moments alone with that special person. Herb mixes some of this trademark trumpet souns with some captivating flugelhorn solos as well.

However, the disc as a whole just does not distinguish iself on a track to track basis. In the background, its very nice music. On a song to song basis nothing really stands out as overly spectacular except for the style. Consistent yes, but not quite at the level of Tijuana Brass releases or his disco flavored Rise CD. Fans will like it but new comers might want to start with the Whipped Cream, The Lonely Bull or A Greatest Hits Compilation.

While not the typical Herb Alpert approach to Top 40 radio,Passion Dance has to be one of Herb's best solo efforts yet. The musicians are all top notch,the arrangements are very well done and the Latin/Cuban influence is very strong. I will warn the average listener that if you are expecting this album to sound like a 1960's Tijuana Brass recording....you may be in for a surprise! This album sounds more like Herb and the Tijuana Brass meet Tito Puente in the recording studio. Overall, another good solid effort for Alpert; the same guy who has said time and time again "I listen to what's not on the radio". Only time will tell what's next for Herb.

This is a warm and sensational Latin/salsa, Spanish project. This time, Alpert is more a team player than an upfront player or solo act. This does not mean his creativeness or sheer talent is muted at all or lost in the pack. To truly appreciate or enjoy this style of music is to realize that the band members must truly work together as a musical family and not have someone upstage the other performers; Alpert is very much humble in his approach at creating this style of music with great ease.

Anyone who disagrees that this is at least a "likeable" album,well...is just entitled to their own opinion. This is a must have for any Alpert collector (or non)...

Among the trumpets, this one stands out. No use comparing it to others. No use comparing Streisand to Spears, or Poverotti to Snoop-Dog. Once again, I tip my hat to Mr. Alpert - SUP-HERB!

I play in a band - Oldies, Classic Rock, Blues, R&B and more - at the end of the night when I begin to drive home and my ears are ringing from the "Cream like solos" I play this CD - every time! It brings me back and calms me down. I go from super-guitarist to passive easy listening. This album is one of my all time favorites. It is so passionate. It is sensual. It is instrumental. There are no screaming solos - its pretty, its nice, its in the vein of Herb Alpert but not the Tijuana Brass - its more like mellow grooves. Its happy. I can't explain how great this CD is. Buy it. Listen - you'll listen over and over and over. The musicianship is impeccable. It is THE BEST CD I OWN (of this style)....

I love all of the old great Herb Alpert songs. I bought this CD thinking I would get an updated version of the same. I was wrong. This CD is total crap. I guess you would like it if you listen to "lite jazz", "smooth jazz", or any radio station that calls its' programming "the quiet storm". I hate all of that pseudo jazz music, I would rather listen to muzak in an elevator than this stuff. What's disappointing is knowing what kind of music Herb is capable of producing and playing, and getting this instead. What a letdown. I played this CD exactly one time and that's the last time I'm ever gonna play it.

I prefer the good old days of the Tijuana Brass. Not that I'm saying it's wrong for an artist to change with the times, and try and do different things. But these "different things" should be a lot better than this ho-hum release. "Passion Dance" is Herb's most passionless recording to date. Give me "Whipped Cream and Other Delights"...let me fight "The Lonely Bull"...let me get a "Rise" again out of his music. Let me feel that "Taste of Honey"....let's put this CD in the closet so no one knows we bought it! Ouch!

Michael Butts