Customer Reviews

It's What I Do

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

 

 

I've waited a while to write this review, as I've needed more time to absorb this disc than his previous "Listen Up" CD. First off, let me just emphatically make this point: Jack's playing is fabulous throughout this disc. But he's also getting into territory made famous by John Coltrane, Monk, and Miles Davis. Nobody can replace those original versions. That said, I've never been crazy Miles' own recorded versions of "Milestones". It seems to me that "cover versions" have often been better, including a really interesting arrangement that the Turtle Island String Quartet put together.

There are a couple of chord substitutions placed in "Milestones" that I don't particularly care for, but Jack's playing goes far beyond anything Miles ever did from a purely technical standpoint. Combined with Jack's signature sound - he uses a wider than normal bell, so that his tone is somewhere between a trumpet and a flugelhorn - and you've got a real winner. Two tracks later, and you get a really beautiful rendition of Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge". Here, J.S. shows the kind of sensitivity he always saves for "The Shadow Of Your Smile" - his signature ballad made famous in the movie "The Sandpipers". This disc ends with two Charlie Parker tunes, "Steeplechase" and "Yardbird Suite". This brings us home to more familiar regions when listening to my trumpet hero, Jack Sheldon. "Yardbird Suite", in particularly, has always been a favorite among left-coasters, and was often covered by the Charlie Parker tribute group out of Los Angeles, Supersax (but sure to check them out too!).

By all means, add "It's What I Do" to your collection of great jazz trumpet CD's. Just be sure to give it a bit more time to sink in than some of Jack's more frivolous sounding, "left coast-y" material (and those differences between "mainstream" and west-coast shouldn't be exaggerated) . I do miss hearing J.S. playing along side a guitarist; his work with Jack Marshall was priceless. However, pianist Joe Bagg is no slouch at all either. Great sound, by the way.

Fantastic Player !

Jach Sheldon have been one of my

big favorite player since about 40 years !.

The CD : It's What I Do, is one of the

best CDs he made.( I have all his recordings !)

About 78 years old and play like this !

This is a Fantastic Player, Outstanding !.

Written by :

Bo Eriksson

Musician, Sweden

"Way Cool" Be Bop jazz classics! I love Jack's "lines," always melodic with a destination in mind and, he always gets there although in ways you might never expect. I loved his work with Kenton and others - brought such a delightful, sophisticated, humorous contrast to all the screaming and shouting, perfect. So, the playing here is along those lines, fun, sophisticated, and, above all, cool! I like the Miles Davis offerings here best - Milestones probably my fav. Check this one out, Jack still has it!