This Side Up

Jessica Williams (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Max Jazz Records
• ASIN: B000063DIO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,934 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another gem from Jessica Williams, May 28, 2002

By 

Blue Rondo a la Turk (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Side Up (Audio CD)

If you have never heard her live, either solo or with her trio, you are missing an incredible event. While she has her own unique, very creative and melodic stylings they are all wrapped deep in her knowledge of the music of the masters, Ellington, Miles, etc. This Side Up is (I think) the third CD for the Max Jazz "Piano Series" and her first for this label after recording much on her own label. The Max Jazz releases are all immaculately produced and photographed, with Jimmy Katz's great black and white photos. If you like (for example) Keith Jarrett's standards trio and Bill Evans you will enjoy this CD very much.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jazz for HWY 101, March 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: This Side Up (Audio CD)

When I first heard this recording in a record store with great headphones I forgot my surroundings. I sat with my eyes closed, lost in the sublime mix of tempo, rhytm and subtleties, only to be surprised now and then by a funky sound which was never overdone. There are so many incredibly beautiful numbers on this CD , from the lyrical "Blue Tuesday" to the serious Serenata, that I suggest you buy this CD, sit down and listen. Really listen, as to a classical piece. This stuff is not for easy jazz lovers. This is serious jazz and it is wonderful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Preliminary to Greatness, May 10, 2009

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: This Side Up (Audio CD)

This Side Up is the predecessor to the outstanding Live at Yoshi's volumes. While the solo Williams is an inner meditative explorer, she swings outside in trio mode, here with Ray Drummond, bass, and Victor Lewis, drums. As in all well-matched trios, there is synergy and good interplay. Little Bird Song and especially the Theme for the Eulipians are the highlights of the album for me. Obliged to compare this recording with the Grammy-nominated albums that followed, I awarded it 4 stars. The song selection, which I found uninteresting, is also a factor. Overall, I felt that in this album the trio was making adjustments, ironing out the kinks. It is a fine album, surely, but consistency is lacking; it lacks spark. The trio will ignite when they travel to Yoshi's and record before an audience.