Prelude

Deodato | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: September 2, 1997
• Label: Epic/Associated/Legacy
• Copyright: 1972 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. WARNING: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
• Total Length: 33:38
• Genres:
• ASIN: B00138CWB8
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Monolithic Exercise In Jazz- Rock Fusion, March 16, 2002

By 

Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Prelude (Audio CD)

Brazilian jazz keyboardist Eumir Deodato scored one of the great success stories of 70's instrumental rock with this 1972 album that combines the classical orchestral flourishes with jazz and rock. His lush arrangement of Debussy's "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun" is quite top-notch, as are his own trio of originals ("Spirit Of Summer"; "Carly And Carole", "September 13") and the Wright/Forrest "Baubles, Bangles, And Beads" (based on themes of Alexander Borodin.

Of course, the big track on the CD is his nine-minute adaptation of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra", the work that became internationally famous in its original classical form in 1968, when director Stanley Kubrick used it in his sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Using the famous "Dawn" sequence, with its brass fanfare, and then using it to weave a set of jazz-rock permutations, Deodato comes up with one of the great rock instrumentals of all times. It also won him a much-deserved Grammy in 1973 for Best Pop Instrumental, and hit #2 on the American singles chart (#7 in England) in an abridged version.

A very worthy album PRELUDE is. Take a listen.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zarathustra spake Brazilian, December 3, 2001

By 

George Schaefer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prelude (Audio CD)

One of my early exposures to music from Brazil was a jazz musician named Eumir Deodato. Someone recommended that I pick up "Prelude". Trusting this friends advice, I quickly ran out to the store to buy this album. This is a rare album that I have owned on record, cassette and CD at different times.

The highlight of this disc is the opening rendition of Strausss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra". This is the funkiest rendition of classical music I have ever heard. They rock through the number.

This all-star line up features luminaries such as Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Ray Barretto and Airto Moreira among others. This is some classic material.

They also cover the "Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun" and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" from the Broadway show Kismet. There are also three original compositions. The first track is the deepest on this album. It remains one of my all-time favorite tracks. The rest of the album is good but not quite up to this level.

"Prelude" is an album at once excessive and tacky. It is overindulgent but artistically valid. The music was recorded in 1972 and yet nearly three decades later. It's a time piece that still rings true.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgia time, June 7, 2002

By 

M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prelude (Audio CD)

It appears that the reviewers of this album disagree primarily on the issue of which cut is best. I'll put my bet on Prelude To The Afternoon of a Faun although I understand why serveral chose Also Sprach Zarathrustra. The latter is in may ways more inventive but the former has the most emotional punch. What is most fascinating is the Deodato's arrangement in both cases sounds as if it could have been the original.

This is jazz with a Brazilan sense that makes "high art" music accessible to those who would never be caught in an orchestra's concert hall.