The Journey Within [ENHANCED]

Bernie Williams

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 15, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 15, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Grp Records
• ASIN: B00009VGX9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,768 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Baseball player Bernie Williams swings more than a bat! Like the former pro basketball player Wayman Tisdale, Williams is a serious musician--a good acoustic and electric guitarist. Even if the guy is no Pat Metheny, the Puerto Rican-born superstar is classically trained, has a decent tone, and credible technique. Supporting Williams on his debut endeavor is a who's who of contemporary jazz and Latin superstars: from the banjo maestro Bela Fleck and keyboardist David Benoit to the Panamanian salsa singer/songwriter Ruben Blades, and the salsero Gilberto Santa Rosa. Musically, the material includes Latin-tinged, smooth jazz numbers, like the spirited "La Salsa En Mi," the bouncy, "Samba Novo" by the Brazilian guitar king Baden Powell, and reverent readings of Kansas's "Dust in the Wind" and Billy Joel's "And So It Goes." The most heartfelt track on this CD is the wistful "Para Don Berna," an elegy to Williams' late father. Now, we have a good idea of what this outfielder will do when he quits his day job. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth on the Field and in the Studio!, September 20, 2003

By	"cledford2" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

I purchased this CD for no other reason than because I am a Yankees fan. I thought it would be great to have the limited addition cover and perhaps even get it signed someday. But what I ended up with was a true treasure. Being the avid Yankee follower that I am I was well aware that he played the guitar and even that he had gone to a music high school in Puerto Rico, but I really had no idea the extent of his talent. I knew that he was a great ball player, but assumed that he was probably decent at best muscially. Boy was I wrong. I listen to this cd over and over again. It has a soothing quality about it and when the work day is getting rough.... I just slip on my headset and Bernie takes all the pressure away. I bought the cd out of intrigue and now cant wait to see what he comes out with next. Bernie's music is just as smooth as his multiple gold glove fielding performances.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernie Williams Hits Another Home Run, October 22, 2003

By A Customer

My husband was watching some program on TV when I heard this wonderful guitar being played. I asked who the artist was and could not believe it when he said the baseball star Bernie Williams. I immediately went out and purchased the CD and it is THE best CD I own!. The music is so relaxing. He has so much talent both off and on the field. It is a combination of Jazz/Salsa/R&B with one track dedicated to his late father. He wrote much of the music himself and I cannot wait until he comes out with another album. This CD can be background music or music to relax to either way it is a HIT!. I don't think anyone buying this CD will be disapointed.This is not for hip hop fans it is for serious people who can appreciate great music and great talent.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Novelties notwithstanding, this is a great smooth jazz disc., July 21, 2003

By	Daniel R. Martin (Grand Haven, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sure, there's the novelty of an all-star New York Yankee making music. Then there's the novelty of a limited edition cover by celebrated artist LeRoy Neiman (limited to the first 50,000 copies). And don't forget the novelty of an endorsement by Sir Paul McCartney himself. But don't buy this disc just for the novelty of it - buy this disc because it contains truly wonderful musical performances.

Bernie Williams shows his Latin roots (Puerto Rico) on a number of the tracks, as some of the titles suggest, including the up-beat melodic opening piece, "La Salsa En Mi, " which is one of the seven original compositions on this disc. Not only does he write and play well, he also shows that he can cover pop music ballads without falling into the trap of instrumental muzak - both "Dust in the Wind" and "And So it Goes" are beautiful renditions of songs by Kansas and Billy Joel, respectively.

Williams also shows that he has as many friends in the music studio as he does on the baseball field. The first single released to radio is a remix of his "Just Because", which features smooth jazz pianist David Benoit. Other all star quests on this disc include Ruben Blades, salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa, multiple Grammy-winning banjo player Bela Fleck, keyboardist David Sancious, percussionist Luis Conte, bassist Leland Sklar, guitarist Tim Pierce, and drummers Kenny Aronoff and Shawn Pelton, among others.

Finally, Williams allows his true love and passion to show on the last track, which contains his children in the studio singing the contemporary Christian praise song "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." While his children may not yet be ready to start musical careers of their own, Bernie Williams has demonstrated that he has an all-star musical career awaiting him after this delightful debut CD.