The Willow

James Horner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: OmniTone
• ASIN: B0000695QX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...perceptive interplay and majestically enacted arrangements ... a myriad of atmospheric passages featuring implied rhythms and multicolored pastiches of sound ... a remarkable duo ... extraordinary synergy....  Here, the music tells a story that emanates from the heart, as though the artists were overcome with some inexplicable spiritual aura.  Simply stated, Kimbrough and Locke have produced a luminous gem that should easily rank among the top two or three releases of 2002, or any year for that matter." --AllMusicGuide.com

Product Description

More mellow-yet-profound piano/vibes jazz — even for people who don't really care for "jazz."  The triumphal follow-up to Frank and Joe's debut Saturn's Child, hailed internationally as "crystalline," "sublime," and 'a worthy successor to Chick Corea and Gary Burton's ECM classic, Crystal Silence.'

The duo expands to a quartet on some tracks with guests saxophonist Tim Ries (a member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra) and percussionist Jeff Ballard (Chick Corea's drummer) on tastefully-chosen hand percussion.  From the sumptuous title track (by Maria Schneider) through originals ranging from shimmering and glimmering to gently world beat to cordially funky, this is deliciously rich and beautiful music that both sophisticated listener and good music lover will enjoy time and again.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars W-I-L-L-O-W is not so little., March 18, 2000

By 

Matt Johnson (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Willow (Audio CD)

Boy, was I happy this soundtrack was available on CD. As with so many 1980's movies W-I-L-L-O-W has an excellent musical score. I had not really been a big James Horner fan until I remembered it was him that wrote this great score. Its better than COCOON. The first track "Elora Danan" is my favourite because it contains the main title theme and I so love that panflute which plays so strong there and throughout the CD. The soundtrack has wonderful celtic overtones mainly because of the use of instruments like the panflute and the celtic bagpipes. I also love the part in track 7 "Bavmorda's Spell is Cast" near the end which is the part where Madmartigan defeats General Kael, a memorable villain. Track 8 "Willow the Sorcerer" is magical too containing all the themes along with the excellent Nelwyn music. I don't think there is any of the score not on the CD, which is great. W-I-L-L-O-W is a brilliant soundtrack to have in any collection. I am now collecting more James Horner film scores.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired and Inspiring, June 3, 2004

By 

"j_poplar" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Willow (Audio CD)

Frank Kimbrough's piano and Joe Locke's vibes mesh together exquisitely in this achingly beautiful musical offering. The interplay -- mostly the two of them but occasionally supplemented by reedman Tim Ries and percussionist Jeff Ballard -- is richly textured and inspired. Kimbrough's and Locke's original compositions are sublime in their range of expression. This is an album you will never hear the same way twice.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James Horner at his absolute BEST!, May 24, 2000

By 

Josh (Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Willow (Audio CD)

If you thought the Braveheart score was good, think again! James Horner's score to Willow is classic movie music! It contains one of the greatest main movie themes I have ever heard! I just love Horner's choice to use a pan flute! It sounds beautiful beyond words! I was so relieved to find this soundtrack on CD! Mr. Horner, I want to congratulate you on a job VERY well done! I will be listening to this score for many, many years down the road!