Two Men With The Blues

Willie Nelson, Wynton Marsalis, wynton Marsalis Willie Nelson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 8, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0016NF06O
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,469 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two Men with the Blues is no more a jazz album than a blues album. It's neither jazz returning home, nor blues wandering out. What Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis have created is a compilation of jump-blues standards with arrangements that compliment both genres. While most of the album is careful not to take itself too seriously, there are a few tracks that seem to plod on for ages. The live set kicks off with the upbeat "Bright Lights, Big City," on which Marsalis' horn is crisp and full. "Ain't Nobody's Business" and "Basin Street Blues" are arranged slower than better known versions but still fit the album's context. Nelson and Marsalis's take on "Stardust" comes off as a bit too "Sinatra" for Nelson's thin vocal, while "Georgia on My Mind" just doesn't work at all. Still, the things that work, work well. "Night Life" and "Rainy Day Blues" are particular stand-outs, and "Caldonia" is a faithful homage to the Louis Jordan original (minus Jordan's screaming punch line, of course). The album ends riding high on closer "That's All," with its straight-out-of-a-New-Orleans-Baptist-church feel. Both Nelson and Marsalis are notorious for collaborating with other artists. Therefore, it seems only natural that they've found themselves on a project together. Overall, this set is well worth the wait. --Eric C.P. Martin

Product Description

The event was simply billed as "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues," but the historic two-night stand on January 12 and 13, 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center was far more than that. Call it a summit meeting between two American icons, Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, two of the most significant figures in modern-day country and jazz, who discovered common ground in their love for jazz standards and the blues. Their performance stirred the sounds of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and New York City into a brilliantly programmed mix that was equal parts down-home and cosmopolitan, with plenty of swing and just a touch of melancholy. To say that these shows were a hot ticket would be an understatement. Luckily, the tapes were rolling and the results of this unique collaboration now constitute the Blue Note album Two Men With The Blues for everyone who couldn't cram into The Allen Room. Featuring great playing from one of the hottest bands around these classic tracks are given new life by the extraordinary dual talents of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. At a time when most people are thinking of retirement, Willie has never been busier. His profile has been high in recent weeks with his various career retrospective releases and sold out tour and this album can rightly stake it's place alongside anything else he has done. Wynton rarely sounds so relaxed and both of these musical giants are clearly having the time of their lives together on these new interpretations of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Historic: American Masters at Play July 9, 2008

By Dr. Debra Jan Bibel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Everyone knew that this summit of master musicians would be special. The session was recently broadcast on National Public Radio's Jazz at Lincoln Center, and as we already have an Amazon video excerpt of the event, we can expect to see the entire meeting on PBS, with DVD as pledge gift. The CD, however, has had the opportunity for further electronic mixing and improvements by Delfeayo Marsalis and Jeff Jones. So what can we say about the quality of the music and the personalities? How many superlatives are there? But you first must be a Willie Nelson fan and you must be a jazz enthusiast who honors Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Jazz folk for their precision and urban sophisticated development of New Orleans roots. Thus if you are among that very large number of music lovers, you must own this recording. Even the insert notes and photos are nicely done. As for the selections, we have Nelson's own oft recorded theme song, Georgia on My Mind, and we also have Stardust, which was included in the album of the same title that demonstrated that Nelson was more than a country singer; indeed that album is his all-time best seller. I, however, enjoyed Rainy Day Blues and the other tunes that follow, which are what the album is supposed to be about: the blues. This album is simply fun. You will love it.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Somewhere Between Austin & New Orleans July 8, 2008

By John J. Petersen

Format:Audio CD

There is a happy medium between Willie and Wynton, and it is on the dusty bayou roads that link these two icons. The delta Blues Sound is unmistakable. Miles Davis once said that he enjoyed listening to Willie Nelson because he had a jazz sense to his music. Wynton Marsalis must have heard this because he has proven that theory is correct. Nonetheless this is enjoyable music, I can't stop listening to this CD. Think Billie Holliday replaced by Willie's Texas twang. Songs like "Basin Street Blues" and "Rainy Day Blues" are awesome.

Joining the 2 Men' are Willie's harmonica player Mickey Raphael, and Wynton's band Walter Blanding on sax, Dan Nimmer on piano, Carlos Henriquez on bass & Ali Jackson on drums.

Buy this CD now! A must have for not only fans of these 2 men, but those who want to further their history of American music!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars not the "historic ... summit" the product description would lead you to believe October 6, 2008

By D. Johnston

Format:Audio CD

You can probably figure out what this album might sound like. It's sensible and relatively enjoyable at times, but hardly earth shattering. If you're looking for dinner jazz that might make your guests ask, "Is that Willie Nelson?" This is it.

22 of 32 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Where Two Great Talents Went Wrong August 9, 2008

By Otto Bingo

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

What a disappointment! Winton Marsallis is a superb musician, a virtuoso without peer who hits all the right notes and has smart charts. But he has no heart. His playing his formal, cold, and uninvolved. I should have expected that. But Willy Nelson? We know he's got heart and soul and humor. But here he appears so fearful of losing his supercool persona that he's just casually phoning in the performance. Willy, there's a difference between subtle understatement, and just barely getting the words out. Reviewers have compared this pairing to the incredible sessions of Louis Armstrong and Jimmy Rodgers 70 years ago-- the ultimate summit where jazz and blues met "country and Western". That unwarranted comparison got my hopes up. But Rodgers and Armstrong had more than musical skill --they had electricity, magic, and heart. Winton, you're no Satchmo and never will be. And WIllie, please try staying awake next time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful vinyl October 1, 2012

By David J. Kaye

Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase

This new formulation of vinyl has dead Quiet surfaces, meticulous detail and an amazing performance. If you like either performer you'll love this album

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely pleasing ! November 18, 2010

By Huguette

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great CD ! Nothing instrumentally or vocally outstanding but it just works. Very easy and pleasant to listen to with both blues and jazz overtones that complement each other beautifully. Love it and would recommend to any blues/jazz fan !

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wish other musicians were as talented as Marsalis and Nelson October 17, 2008

By P. Costello VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This is a CD you have to work to love. Not that it isn't worth loving. It is. Marsalis plays the trumpet sparingly and with a kind of precision that can sound as much like soul as the blues. Nelson matches the trumpet with his voice--he isn't trying too hard, he's not laying off because of his age, he's entering the song when he has to, when he should, and offering his voice as one of the instruments. It's hard not to like both of these guys. The backing, though, is not something I enjoy. When Marsalis is comped by the saxophonist, I find it annoying. The piano is tinny. I sort of wish they had Marsalis, Nelso, a trumpet, a guitar, a set of drums, and that's it. Caldonia is my favorite on the whole album. It's a kind of set-your-feet-back and think of times when New Orleans wasn't forsaken tune. Make no mistake, there is mourning here. That's what drives the blues of this album. It is of a piece with NOLA by Connick and other albums from those who call that unfairly besmirched city home. Thanks for this album, guys. I hope it motivates people to do right by others.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Blues September 1, 2008

By Sandra Kreitner

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Really love Wllie Nelson--these 2 aren't good together--this CD is more Dixie land--if you're expecting the Blues--you will be disappointed