Customer Reviews

What's Going On: Songs of Marvin Gaye

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This project is a journey with the songs of a legend, featuring the versatility of a producer, jazz composer, arranger, synthesizer programmer and keyboardist. The journey begins with Jason Miles a talented Jazz musician who surrounds himself with an outstanding mix of musical and vocal talent, morphing the hits of Marvin Gaye. What makes this project good is the fact that Jason gives the songs some elements of funk, and Bossa Nova in a jazz tempo. The JazzeOne calls it `Miles of Marvin', because in a sense you travel to the 21st century with Jason on this project. He has taken Marvin's songs on a journey from 20th century R&B to a Downtempo form of Jazz. I took the journey and it was worth the trip! ~the JazzeOne

This is a really excellent CD.I've been a Marvin Gaye fan for many years.I just loved the way Jason Miles presented these songs.You can hear that a lot of care went into making this CD.all of the musicians and artists gave superb performances.I just loved What's Going On.I never heard of Mike Mattison,but he has got a great voice.I heard Sexual Healing on the radio and loved the way it was presented so I bought this CD. Marcus Miller,Herb Alpert,Chiara Civelloand Bobby Caldwell just shine throught.Grapevine with Nick Colionne is a real burner.I gave it 5 stars because it's fresh,interesting and really represents Marvin's spirit.Jason Miles nailed this-he is a real musical inovator

I can't say enough how much I enjoy this CD.I love Marvin Gaye but these versions of his songs BY Jason Miles take his music to a whole new level.I've still be enjoying Jasons last CD Miles to MIles and then this one hits and it's just brilliant.The songs are given a fresh makeover.It's not a warmed over Tribute CD.What's Going On (the Song) Features a vocalist I've never heard of before named Mike Mattison and this guy gives a star performance.An amazing voice.It doesn't hurt either that Marcus Miller plays bass on the track.Bobby Caldwell does just a killer performance of Distant Lover.Herb Alpert just cools out Lets Get It On and Marcus Miller and James D Train Williams with DJ Logic just rock Heavy Love Affair. Sexual Healing has got a chill Reggae feel to it with a great performance by Dean Brown.
I'm just incredibly surprised that not more people know about Jason Miles-I think this CD might get him the recognition-it's that good

This is a great jazz tribute to the music of Marvin Gaye and Motown. The album features a multitude of artists such as Jason Miles, Bobby Caldwell, Peter White, Kevin Mahogany, Candy Dulfer, Guida De Palma, Mike Mattison, Nick Colionne, Jay Beckenstein, Sharrod Barnes, Gene Lake, Jonathan Maron, Dominick Farinacci, DJ Logic, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Bashiri Johnson & more! I was very impressed and would recommend it to all.

What's Going On? I was pleased after receiving the CD in the mail. I've always enjoyed Marvin Gaye and Jason Miles put a jazzy spin on a already great contribution to music. I heard Marvin humming along from heaven.

this is an ultimately unsatisfying release. Smmoth jazz grooves replace the fiery and sultry R&B passion of Marvin Gaye's music. If Marvin Gaye had been this bland and lacking in soul, he never would have had a career to celebrate to begin with.

I have found that most tribute albums are lame and why not just listen to the original. This one is OK.
But there are exceptions.
So when I first heard about the project of a tribute to Grover Washington , I thought how do you cover God, because Grover was like a God to contemporary jazz.
WOW! What an album! OK, nobody had to write any songs on this, but they all put their own spin on each song and did a fabulous job.
Jason Miles produced this fresh off two grammy nominees for his 2000 release tribute CD to Ivan Lins ( Sting won for his version of "She Walks This Earth" while Grover was nominateed for "Cameleo " ).
First the lineup is just stellar: Regina Belle , Gerald Albright, Russ Freeman, Ronnie Laws with Sounds Of Blackness, Herbie Mann, Tom Schuman and Jeff Mironov, Dave Koz, Everette Harp, Steve Cole, George Duke, Mark Whitfield, Richard Elliot, Jay Beckenstein with Dean Brown, Paul Taylor with Peter White, Chuck Loeb with Dave Mann, Chaka Khan, Greg Philinganes with the New York Philharmonic String Section, and Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Joe Sample with Joey Defrancesco.
If you'd pick up an album with all of these guys on it and it wasn't all Grover tunes you'd buy it! In fact you'd probably have a huge grin on your face and tell half the store about your lucky find on the way to the cash register. So now imagine all these guys playing their version of all these great Grover tunes like: "Just The Two Of Us" , "Winelight", " East River Drive" , "Inner City Blues ", " Come Morning " , " Let It Flow" and more.
I can see you smiling and saying yeah I'd buy it and you should. " To Grover , with Love " is magnificent ! It's good. It's great.
It's deadly gorgeous !!

I love it. What a lovely tribute to Marvin and his music. My boss even likes it.

V