Customer Reviews

This Girl's Got to Play

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered Joyce C. by acciden't and it's been a big surprise. On the surface you could say it's like a mix of Larry Carlton meets Candy Dulfer, but after you get in it's a whole different thing. All tracks are good and intelligent compositions. Joyce's playing is superb. But maybe the reason why I liked the album is the reason why some didn't like it as much, and it's that the album sounds "amateurish", that "she is not there yet"... so great!, because that makes the music fresh, new and upbeat. Highly recommended.

i first heard joyce cooling on a contemporary jazz station on xm radio and really liked her so i got this cd--this girl's got to play. i really like the instrumental songs but the vocals are pretty weak--and there are four of them. she plays the guitar so well i don't know why she would want to cover up or detract from her great guitar playing. the other issue i had with this cd was there was nowhere on the outside that told you there were all these vocals. all i every heard on the radio was instrumentals and that is what i expected to get. if you like female vocalists you might like this one better than i did but i really prefer instrumental pieces.

"This Girl's Got to Play" is one of those CDs I have been looking for to put in my collection. It's not the greatest CD I have ever heard, nor does it do anything groundbreaking in terms of smooth jazz, but it does an excellent job of making me want to listen to the CD over and over again. Songs such as "Expression", "Camelback", "Green Impala", and "Toast and Jam" is the typical Cooling guitar flair, which is a good thing. Cooling's vocal tracks ("No More Blues", "This Girls Got to Play", and "Talk") do not provide the dynamic effect on the smooth jazz genre as say, Anita Baker, Diana Krall, or Sade, but she does manage to keep the tunes going and make it a pleasant listening experience.

Give this CD a try, chances are there is something you'll like on this CD.

I have all of Joyce's albums and I think "This Girl's Got to Play" is right up there with "Third Wish". I especially enjoyed "Wizard", "Green Impala" and "Expression". I was disappointed that she did not really show her guitar acumen on more of the tracks. However, I think most Cooling fans will appreciate this CD. Joyce, please on future albums, do what you do so well in concert, scat and play. Enjoy!!

Yes indeed, what a GREAT CD. I too heard Ms. Cooling on the radio and gave this CD a buy, and MAN was it the BEST! She really is one of the most amazing guitar players ANYWHERE. I was also VERY moved by the vocal tracks. I think that one reviewer who had a problem with there even being vocal tracks just DOESN'T GET IT! Plus, when he said "those of you into female vocalists might like it" ... yikes! That said enough. I found the vocals unique and cool -- just like Joyce!! Oh well. HIGHLY SUGGEST this CD and this artist!!

I saw Ms. Cooling at the WAVE Fest at the Greek Theatre in LA a week ago (October, 2005). What an amazing guitarist she is, and oh my what a band. So I bought this CD here a few days later and holy cow, am I forever into this girl and her "gotta play" skills. I fully intend to dive deep into her previous stuff as well. This, folks, is one talented musician. Treat yourself, get this CD and get into Joyce Cooling. And, PS ... her keyboard player, producer, Jay Wagner may be the most amazing player I have seen live.

Here she is again, after her last cd "Third wish". A very nice work, with her particular own style at guitar, fine vocals in some tracks.
First track, Expressions, seems to be climbing very soon, also have a look to Camelback. However, the whole cd brings back the finest female guitar player into the contemporary jazz scene with an excellent work.

Upon listening to her music and voice... i fell in love.
Nice guitar rhythms and melodic too. Just looking on her cd cover, you can tell that she's oozing with sex appeal and she can play.

I just started getting into smooth jazz about 2 months ago and "This Girl's Got to Play" was only the sixth or seventh album I purchased of the genre. This album is solid, no doubt. My biggest complaint, however, is that I have never been a fan of vocals on an instrumental album. Satriani did it back in his "Flying in a Blue Dream" days and it didn't go over so well. Neither do they here. I can deal with one vocal track but three ("No More Blues", "This Girls Got to Play", and "Talk") is two too many. To be quite honest, she's not that great a singer. And while her ability to write music appears to be quite solid, her lyrical writing is not. While I have yet to purchase other albums by Cooling, my understanding is that this is not the best one to start a collection with. Now, having said all of that, songs like "Expression", "Green Impala", and "Toast and Jam" are very well done. An overall solid album but not great.

At first when I saw the plain cover, I thought it wouldn't be anything. But when I listened to the entire CD, I said "MAN THIS IS GOOD!!!!! This CD is upbeat and has a jazzy beat in "No More Blues". Green Impala is off the wall and to top it off this Girl can SING, and you can understand what she's saying. The first song, Expression is a great opener. If you want something upbeat, jazzy and just good, try Joyce Cooling, This Girl's Got To Play.

very, very satisfied