A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.

This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader", Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant


Love it, 04 Apr 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

Fantastic chill out for xmas, 05 Dec 2007
Simply brilliant....perfect for wrapping pressies, stressed cooking & cleaning and general xmas prep, just the best chill out & put a smile on your face album I've listened to in ages. Love it love it love it. Just the best compilation.

Did I mention that I love it!


A good place to start, 27 Aug 2007
This is a great album to start if you're new to Nina Simone. It provides a good selection of her music and shows how eclectic she could be. Her voice is amazingly smooth and will give you goosebumps. Perfect for late at night and those times when you want to kick back and chill out. There are some tracks missing which I'd say were essential Nina, but for a first dip into her music you could do a lot worse than this fine collection.

If I could give this 10 stars I would, 02 Aug 2007
There is nothing not to like in this compilation of very well known hits by the great Nina Simone. Fabulous 'Mr Bojangles' is one of my all time favourates, but they are all fantastic anyway and will have you joining in in no time. Nina was a complex character and it shows in her amazingly emotional and quite unusual voice. If you haven't started a collection yet this one is a good begining.

Excellent, 11 Apr 2007
A fabulous example of the brilliant vocal gymnist that is Nina Simone. Accompanied by some marvellous piano, she brings to life her gift and her incredible improvisation piano solos, particularly in "My Baby just Cares for Me".
This CD is certainly a magnificent piece of work, an if your'e a first time listener to Nina Simone, or an all-time fan, this album is surely going to either spurge off a love for her or to merely extent your knowledge of her musical genius.

C Maguire Age:13

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant


Love it, 04 Apr 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

Fantastic chill out for xmas, 05 Dec 2007
Simply brilliant....perfect for wrapping pressies, stressed cooking & cleaning and general xmas prep, just the best chill out & put a smile on your face album I've listened to in ages. Love it love it love it. Just the best compilation.

Did I mention that I love it!


A good place to start, 27 Aug 2007
This is a great album to start if you're new to Nina Simone. It provides a good selection of her music and shows how eclectic she could be. Her voice is amazingly smooth and will give you goosebumps. Perfect for late at night and those times when you want to kick back and chill out. There are some tracks missing which I'd say were essential Nina, but for a first dip into her music you could do a lot worse than this fine collection.

If I could give this 10 stars I would, 02 Aug 2007
There is nothing not to like in this compilation of very well known hits by the great Nina Simone. Fabulous 'Mr Bojangles' is one of my all time favourates, but they are all fantastic anyway and will have you joining in in no time. Nina was a complex character and it shows in her amazingly emotional and quite unusual voice. If you haven't started a collection yet this one is a good begining.

Excellent, 11 Apr 2007
A fabulous example of the brilliant vocal gymnist that is Nina Simone. Accompanied by some marvellous piano, she brings to life her gift and her incredible improvisation piano solos, particularly in "My Baby just Cares for Me".
This CD is certainly a magnificent piece of work, an if your'e a first time listener to Nina Simone, or an all-time fan, this album is surely going to either spurge off a love for her or to merely extent your knowledge of her musical genius.

C Maguire Age:13

If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs..., 05 Sep 2007
If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but no one has ever matched her performance (even my hot favourite Stacey Kent...I hate to admit this). You can sense Ella's love for New York, and her soft voice makes you long to be there.

Open your fridge and pour yourself a glass of nice cold beer. Open the window, and sit by the window. Close your eyes, and flow with the music. All the troubles you have in your mind will be washed away. Be content for now.

'S Wonderful, Magical and Elegant, 24 Oct 2005
It doesn't get any more elegant than this in the world of music. Everything about this album is so beautiful and magical you'll fall in love with it instantly. Ella's vocals are easily some of the most beautiful, distinctive and memorable ever heard in the 20th Century. There is plenty of variety here too - from the upbeat to the moving, this Double CD has it all. This is definatley the best Ella compilation you can buy, and she is such an all time great that any music lover should treat themselves with this rare gem.

Ella is just so amazing, 15 Aug 2005
I have been putting my CDs onto my iPod - have been listening to Heifitz - Bach on Violin and Cello - Bob Dylan Albums and Dire Straits and loads of others - but the only album that stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to listen - and brought me to tears was this one.

Ella's voice is like gold - the greatest of songs she sings and she makes each and everyone hers.

Any person who loves music just must buy and own this album - it is just amazing.

Musical magic, 25 Feb 2005
This is a fantastic double album featuring 39 tracks sung by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. From the upbeat 'Get Happy' and 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to the hauntingly lovely 'Summertime' sang with the equally talented Louis Armstrong.
There's something here for every taste and every mood. This is a 'must have' for any lover of Jazz/Blues or indeed anyone who just loves music. Lay back, close your eyes and enjoy.

The best Ella compilation, 05 Oct 2004
Ella's career was slow to get going but she long ago became a legend. This compilation of some of her best music contains some of her finest music from her peak years. Most of Ella's songs were not originals, but were covers of classics written by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and other famous songwriters of their generation.

The set includes two classic duets with Louis Armstrong (Summertime, They can't take that away from me) and many other songs that Ella is remembered for, among them being Let's fall in love, Every time we say goodbye and Manhattan.

I only have eyes for you, originally written in the thirties, later became a rock'n'roll hit for the Flamingos in the fifties and a pop hit for Art Garfunkel in the seventies. Georgia on my mind, written by Hoagy Carmichael in the thirties, became much more popular when Ray Charles revived it in the sixties. Blue moon was revived by Elvis Presley in the fifties and again by the Marcels in the sixties.

Other famous songs include A fine romance, The very thought of you, Cheek to cheek, Lady is a tramp, I get a kick out of you, I love Paris, But not for me, Blue skies, Someone to watch over me, I've got you under my skin, Stormy weather, Bewitched, Night and day, Let's face the music and dance and many others.

Ella's versions of all these songs are brilliant. I'm sure that the compilers of this set must have had a difficult job deciding what to leave out but all the essentials are here. As an introduction to Ella's music, this is outstanding.

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant


Love it, 04 Apr 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

Fantastic chill out for xmas, 05 Dec 2007
Simply brilliant....perfect for wrapping pressies, stressed cooking & cleaning and general xmas prep, just the best chill out & put a smile on your face album I've listened to in ages. Love it love it love it. Just the best compilation.

Did I mention that I love it!


A good place to start, 27 Aug 2007
This is a great album to start if you're new to Nina Simone. It provides a good selection of her music and shows how eclectic she could be. Her voice is amazingly smooth and will give you goosebumps. Perfect for late at night and those times when you want to kick back and chill out. There are some tracks missing which I'd say were essential Nina, but for a first dip into her music you could do a lot worse than this fine collection.

If I could give this 10 stars I would, 02 Aug 2007
There is nothing not to like in this compilation of very well known hits by the great Nina Simone. Fabulous 'Mr Bojangles' is one of my all time favourates, but they are all fantastic anyway and will have you joining in in no time. Nina was a complex character and it shows in her amazingly emotional and quite unusual voice. If you haven't started a collection yet this one is a good begining.

Excellent, 11 Apr 2007
A fabulous example of the brilliant vocal gymnist that is Nina Simone. Accompanied by some marvellous piano, she brings to life her gift and her incredible improvisation piano solos, particularly in "My Baby just Cares for Me".
This CD is certainly a magnificent piece of work, an if your'e a first time listener to Nina Simone, or an all-time fan, this album is surely going to either spurge off a love for her or to merely extent your knowledge of her musical genius.

C Maguire Age:13

If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs..., 05 Sep 2007
If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but no one has ever matched her performance (even my hot favourite Stacey Kent...I hate to admit this). You can sense Ella's love for New York, and her soft voice makes you long to be there.

Open your fridge and pour yourself a glass of nice cold beer. Open the window, and sit by the window. Close your eyes, and flow with the music. All the troubles you have in your mind will be washed away. Be content for now.

'S Wonderful, Magical and Elegant, 24 Oct 2005
It doesn't get any more elegant than this in the world of music. Everything about this album is so beautiful and magical you'll fall in love with it instantly. Ella's vocals are easily some of the most beautiful, distinctive and memorable ever heard in the 20th Century. There is plenty of variety here too - from the upbeat to the moving, this Double CD has it all. This is definatley the best Ella compilation you can buy, and she is such an all time great that any music lover should treat themselves with this rare gem.

Ella is just so amazing, 15 Aug 2005
I have been putting my CDs onto my iPod - have been listening to Heifitz - Bach on Violin and Cello - Bob Dylan Albums and Dire Straits and loads of others - but the only album that stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to listen - and brought me to tears was this one.

Ella's voice is like gold - the greatest of songs she sings and she makes each and everyone hers.

Any person who loves music just must buy and own this album - it is just amazing.

Musical magic, 25 Feb 2005
This is a fantastic double album featuring 39 tracks sung by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. From the upbeat 'Get Happy' and 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to the hauntingly lovely 'Summertime' sang with the equally talented Louis Armstrong.
There's something here for every taste and every mood. This is a 'must have' for any lover of Jazz/Blues or indeed anyone who just loves music. Lay back, close your eyes and enjoy.

The best Ella compilation, 05 Oct 2004
Ella's career was slow to get going but she long ago became a legend. This compilation of some of her best music contains some of her finest music from her peak years. Most of Ella's songs were not originals, but were covers of classics written by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and other famous songwriters of their generation.

The set includes two classic duets with Louis Armstrong (Summertime, They can't take that away from me) and many other songs that Ella is remembered for, among them being Let's fall in love, Every time we say goodbye and Manhattan.

I only have eyes for you, originally written in the thirties, later became a rock'n'roll hit for the Flamingos in the fifties and a pop hit for Art Garfunkel in the seventies. Georgia on my mind, written by Hoagy Carmichael in the thirties, became much more popular when Ray Charles revived it in the sixties. Blue moon was revived by Elvis Presley in the fifties and again by the Marcels in the sixties.

Other famous songs include A fine romance, The very thought of you, Cheek to cheek, Lady is a tramp, I get a kick out of you, I love Paris, But not for me, Blue skies, Someone to watch over me, I've got you under my skin, Stormy weather, Bewitched, Night and day, Let's face the music and dance and many others.

Ella's versions of all these songs are brilliant. I'm sure that the compilers of this set must have had a difficult job deciding what to leave out but all the essentials are here. As an introduction to Ella's music, this is outstanding.

EST - the last post, 13 Oct 2008
Just magnificent! A wonderful tribute to the work of a trio who pushed the boundaries of jazz. A wall of sound for the 21st century.

A new era stopped abruptly, 11 Oct 2008
And to think I was getting a bit worried after the repetition and creative stagnation of the more pop oriented "Viaticum" and "Tuesday Wonderland". Thank God , this is a brilliant work and was definately going to lead the most important piano trio , into new uncharted territory , where different styles ,various influences would blend the future with the bop tradition into a new language . A legacy indeed and one of the most important jazz records of our times.

A Masterpiece, 23 Sep 2008
Sometimes it is necessary for musicians to push the boat out as on this album. Its radically different from anything est have done before and unfortunately and sadly will never be doing again. However, what a legacy. To me its a mixture of jazz and heavy rock with some abstract electronica throuwn in. The rhythms are powerful, dark and foreboding, yet the piano soars above the nocturnal bass and drums whether creating passages of melody or simple repetitive intonations. There are extraordinarily beautiful moments coupled with downright uncomfortable edgy passages. The overall effect is stunning and mindblowing but its not going to be to everyone's taste. People who like MoR jazz or pop are not going to dig this. But hey, without musicians willing to take risks there would be no progress in music as in anything else. A fitting epitaph for a maestro and a legend

Creative musicians at work......., 22 Sep 2008
How should we think of this album? It's clearly impossible for us now to see it outside the context of the band's last release before the untimely death of Esbjorn Svensson. However, it must also be clear that the band themselves weren't thinking of it in anything like that context when they recorded it. Is there anything here that we haven't heard them do before? My personal view is that I don't think so. It's just that there's more of some of the things they're good at and less of some of the others, so how you view the album will depend on how you view these different aspects of their creativity. If you're looking for their marvellous touch with a melody then you may end up dissatisfied but if you like the way they can mix electronics with a piano trio to make a real heavy-metal sound then you'll love it. And that's been a part of their playing for ages. This is them just getting together to play and recording what happens, and that seems to me to be in the best spirit of jazz - somewhere between the carefully-rehearsed studio recording and the spontaneity of a live performance. We don't get to know what the band could have given us to follow this album, but I for one am glad they gave us this.

Leucocyte, 21 Sep 2008
I am a thoroughgoing fan of e.s.t. but for me it stopped with Tuesday Wonderland.

Whatever happened to the melody? This is a very disappointing album, weighed down with SFX, and not very inspiring. It's relatively unimportant, however, as we are left with an overall superb legacy of material. You win some, you lose some.

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant


Love it, 04 Apr 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

Fantastic chill out for xmas, 05 Dec 2007
Simply brilliant....perfect for wrapping pressies, stressed cooking & cleaning and general xmas prep, just the best chill out & put a smile on your face album I've listened to in ages. Love it love it love it. Just the best compilation.

Did I mention that I love it!


A good place to start, 27 Aug 2007
This is a great album to start if you're new to Nina Simone. It provides a good selection of her music and shows how eclectic she could be. Her voice is amazingly smooth and will give you goosebumps. Perfect for late at night and those times when you want to kick back and chill out. There are some tracks missing which I'd say were essential Nina, but for a first dip into her music you could do a lot worse than this fine collection.

If I could give this 10 stars I would, 02 Aug 2007
There is nothing not to like in this compilation of very well known hits by the great Nina Simone. Fabulous 'Mr Bojangles' is one of my all time favourates, but they are all fantastic anyway and will have you joining in in no time. Nina was a complex character and it shows in her amazingly emotional and quite unusual voice. If you haven't started a collection yet this one is a good begining.

Excellent, 11 Apr 2007
A fabulous example of the brilliant vocal gymnist that is Nina Simone. Accompanied by some marvellous piano, she brings to life her gift and her incredible improvisation piano solos, particularly in "My Baby just Cares for Me".
This CD is certainly a magnificent piece of work, an if your'e a first time listener to Nina Simone, or an all-time fan, this album is surely going to either spurge off a love for her or to merely extent your knowledge of her musical genius.

C Maguire Age:13

If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs..., 05 Sep 2007
If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but no one has ever matched her performance (even my hot favourite Stacey Kent...I hate to admit this). You can sense Ella's love for New York, and her soft voice makes you long to be there.

Open your fridge and pour yourself a glass of nice cold beer. Open the window, and sit by the window. Close your eyes, and flow with the music. All the troubles you have in your mind will be washed away. Be content for now.

'S Wonderful, Magical and Elegant, 24 Oct 2005
It doesn't get any more elegant than this in the world of music. Everything about this album is so beautiful and magical you'll fall in love with it instantly. Ella's vocals are easily some of the most beautiful, distinctive and memorable ever heard in the 20th Century. There is plenty of variety here too - from the upbeat to the moving, this Double CD has it all. This is definatley the best Ella compilation you can buy, and she is such an all time great that any music lover should treat themselves with this rare gem.

Ella is just so amazing, 15 Aug 2005
I have been putting my CDs onto my iPod - have been listening to Heifitz - Bach on Violin and Cello - Bob Dylan Albums and Dire Straits and loads of others - but the only album that stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to listen - and brought me to tears was this one.

Ella's voice is like gold - the greatest of songs she sings and she makes each and everyone hers.

Any person who loves music just must buy and own this album - it is just amazing.

Musical magic, 25 Feb 2005
This is a fantastic double album featuring 39 tracks sung by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. From the upbeat 'Get Happy' and 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to the hauntingly lovely 'Summertime' sang with the equally talented Louis Armstrong.
There's something here for every taste and every mood. This is a 'must have' for any lover of Jazz/Blues or indeed anyone who just loves music. Lay back, close your eyes and enjoy.

The best Ella compilation, 05 Oct 2004
Ella's career was slow to get going but she long ago became a legend. This compilation of some of her best music contains some of her finest music from her peak years. Most of Ella's songs were not originals, but were covers of classics written by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and other famous songwriters of their generation.

The set includes two classic duets with Louis Armstrong (Summertime, They can't take that away from me) and many other songs that Ella is remembered for, among them being Let's fall in love, Every time we say goodbye and Manhattan.

I only have eyes for you, originally written in the thirties, later became a rock'n'roll hit for the Flamingos in the fifties and a pop hit for Art Garfunkel in the seventies. Georgia on my mind, written by Hoagy Carmichael in the thirties, became much more popular when Ray Charles revived it in the sixties. Blue moon was revived by Elvis Presley in the fifties and again by the Marcels in the sixties.

Other famous songs include A fine romance, The very thought of you, Cheek to cheek, Lady is a tramp, I get a kick out of you, I love Paris, But not for me, Blue skies, Someone to watch over me, I've got you under my skin, Stormy weather, Bewitched, Night and day, Let's face the music and dance and many others.

Ella's versions of all these songs are brilliant. I'm sure that the compilers of this set must have had a difficult job deciding what to leave out but all the essentials are here. As an introduction to Ella's music, this is outstanding.

EST - the last post, 13 Oct 2008
Just magnificent! A wonderful tribute to the work of a trio who pushed the boundaries of jazz. A wall of sound for the 21st century.

A new era stopped abruptly, 11 Oct 2008
And to think I was getting a bit worried after the repetition and creative stagnation of the more pop oriented "Viaticum" and "Tuesday Wonderland". Thank God , this is a brilliant work and was definately going to lead the most important piano trio , into new uncharted territory , where different styles ,various influences would blend the future with the bop tradition into a new language . A legacy indeed and one of the most important jazz records of our times.

A Masterpiece, 23 Sep 2008
Sometimes it is necessary for musicians to push the boat out as on this album. Its radically different from anything est have done before and unfortunately and sadly will never be doing again. However, what a legacy. To me its a mixture of jazz and heavy rock with some abstract electronica throuwn in. The rhythms are powerful, dark and foreboding, yet the piano soars above the nocturnal bass and drums whether creating passages of melody or simple repetitive intonations. There are extraordinarily beautiful moments coupled with downright uncomfortable edgy passages. The overall effect is stunning and mindblowing but its not going to be to everyone's taste. People who like MoR jazz or pop are not going to dig this. But hey, without musicians willing to take risks there would be no progress in music as in anything else. A fitting epitaph for a maestro and a legend

Creative musicians at work......., 22 Sep 2008
How should we think of this album? It's clearly impossible for us now to see it outside the context of the band's last release before the untimely death of Esbjorn Svensson. However, it must also be clear that the band themselves weren't thinking of it in anything like that context when they recorded it. Is there anything here that we haven't heard them do before? My personal view is that I don't think so. It's just that there's more of some of the things they're good at and less of some of the others, so how you view the album will depend on how you view these different aspects of their creativity. If you're looking for their marvellous touch with a melody then you may end up dissatisfied but if you like the way they can mix electronics with a piano trio to make a real heavy-metal sound then you'll love it. And that's been a part of their playing for ages. This is them just getting together to play and recording what happens, and that seems to me to be in the best spirit of jazz - somewhere between the carefully-rehearsed studio recording and the spontaneity of a live performance. We don't get to know what the band could have given us to follow this album, but I for one am glad they gave us this.

Leucocyte, 21 Sep 2008
I am a thoroughgoing fan of e.s.t. but for me it stopped with Tuesday Wonderland.

Whatever happened to the melody? This is a very disappointing album, weighed down with SFX, and not very inspiring. It's relatively unimportant, however, as we are left with an overall superb legacy of material. You win some, you lose some.

My first desert island selection, 17 Aug 2008
My first Humphrey Lyttelton 10 inch LP aquired in the mid fifties contained the tune Trouble in Mind and I still consider this the best rendition I've ever heard. I stil get goose pimples when I hear Humphs muted trumpet; he was a master and the 3 CD's just confirm the fact. Highly recommended as a memory of a great trumpeter.


Great value, 26 Apr 2008
Have just been reminded that i bought this by the sad news that Lyttleton has passed away.
I first heard about Humph from a documentary on the Brecon Jazz festival and i ended up wanting to hear more. This is a good box set with a hell of alot of tracks making it great value and a fine introduction to British post war jazz.

Further thoughts on 'Dennis', 08 Jun 2007
I agree the music represents an excellent snapshot of Humph from
an earlier era. Bad Penny... has always been a particular favourite
of mine. My 78 became a little 'Warped' and I tried to heat it slightly,
in the oven and then put the bread-board on it to flatten it out.
It was an experiment that was partially successful except that the
disc became a little more noisy, as a result.
This became a big hit - possibly Humph's biggest, which
was not surprising! I think the Producer reference should read = 'Dennis Preston' = who later ran his own label 'Lansdowne Records', which EMI released.
later produced Albums under his own label 'Lansdowne' - these were
released via EMI.

Into the Music, 19 Nov 2006
First off I'm no jazz fan anymore than John Lennon was-yet he once named Bad Penny Blues as the only jazz he could listen to.In 1968 this 1956 instrumental was the main influence behind Lady Madonna.
Me I like instrumentals from the Golden Age-Duane Eddy,Sandy Nelson,Link Wray,the Ventures etc. And Bad Penny Blues is to my mind the greatest instrumental EVER.
Hrearing this at the time you never wanted it to end-that beautifully dry percussion sound,the muted trumpet,the piano riff-you could fall into it.
The disc was produced by somebody called Dennis Lansdowne who had a studio and it was engineered by a young Joe Meek a few years away from his own take on pop music.In his biog it mentions things he added to it which were not to the jazzmans liking but it went out anyway as it was thank God
Lyttleton is a British institution-a very clever guy who was once a cartoonist and managed to keep the same wife.Makes a guy feel inferior but there you go.
He should have been knighted long ago

Incredible Stuff, 11 Dec 2004
I grew up with this music in England in the late 40's, 50's and 60's before emigrating to Canada in 1967. I brought most of it with me (on 78's, 10 and 12 inch LP's, EP's and singles.) Some I left behind for fear of breakage (78's) and limited space. This is the essence of the greatest traditional Jazz coming out of Britain...ever! In fact, during the late 40's and early 50's, Jazz in the US was losing popularity to some degree. It is thought that Britain's growing entheusiasm for Trad Jazz, and the upcoming young players like Humph, actually, and fortunately kept it alive. Humphrey Lyttleton in my book (And Louis Armstrong's book by the way) was, and still is the best trumpet player that Britain has ever produced. The rest of the globe would also be hard pressed to equal or better it. This CD covers nearly all of the great tracks (that I still have on records,) and will enable me to still listen to them without worrying about damage to the originals. My favourite??? "Cake Walkin' Babies"... Don't think I have heard of anything that has the cristpness, drive, and back-ground rythme as this one..It lifts the soul. Play it when you feel down and you will be on top of the world.
I first heard it at Humph's Jazz club in the basement of 100 Oxford street..(you remeber!)....and so glad that it was cut on record, and now remastered on CD..... Oh, I haven't bought it yet, but will when I sort out some of the other ones to go with it. (like Parlaphone Vol I....)I've just discovered this website I'm glad to say....... Enjoy.

In Come Away with Me, it is not just the timbre of Norah Jones's voice that is mature beyond her years. Her assured phrasing and precise time are more often found in older singers as well. She is instantly recognisable, blending intimations of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone without sounding like anyone but herself. Any way you slice it, she is a singer to be reckoned with. Her readings of the Hank Williams classic, "Cold Cold Heart" and Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You" are worth the price of the CD. Jones's own material, while not bad, pales a bit next to masterpieces such as these. They might have fared better had she and producer Arif Mardin opted for some livelier arrangements, taking better advantage of brilliant sidemen such as Bill Frisell, Kevin Breit and Brian Blade; or if the tunes had simply been given less laconic performances. Jones has all the tools; what will come with experience, and some careful listening to artists like JJ Cale and Shirley Horn, is the knack of remaining low-key without being sleepy--sometimes less is not, in fact, more. --Michael Ross

A great Nitin album, 11 Nov 2008
I saw Nitin play in Bristol in early November 2008 and he gave the best performance of the 5 times I have seen him. A delicate and sensitive gig, with Nitin mainly playing acoustic guitar, accompanied by some sublime cello playing and indian flute and tabla playing - all mixed with dreamy singing. This album reflects all that. A true concept album - a 45 minute journey through life today. Such a wide variety of influnces - how wrong the last reviewer is! This is a great Nitin album,and I've loved him from the start. Turn it on, lie back on the sofa and let yourself drift away.

Pure rubbish, 02 Nov 2008
Its been coming for some time and finally Nitin has done it. I felt that the last two Nitin CDs lacked some imagination and this CD is by far the worst he has produced. The pop songs which start the album are derivative and when he finally gets to doing what he does best- the Indian influenced music towards the end- its all been heard before. Added to that the worst piece of music he has ever produced- 'My Soul'- 'sung' by Paul McCartney and I found myself sitting there shaking my head in disbelief. Come on Nitin- you had such promise in your early CDs- lets see a return of that spark!

Sounds like heaven., 21 Oct 2008
Days Of Fire is performed by Natty, an artist starting to get recognition and critical acclaim with his own album Man Like I. This was actually inspired by Natty's own experience of the July bombings in London in 2005. It's a good track, very easy to listen to, and catchy. It sounds like London and it's upbeat and a little bit gritty. A great opener.

October Daze features Tina Grace, who I admit I had not heard of prior to this release. She has a good, dulcet voice. The track reminds me of Portishead in its sound.

Bring It Home includes vocals from the talented Imogen Heap, and starts off very dreamy, slow and ambient but then changes tempo and becomes upbeat and funky, like a track you'd hear in a funky, upmarket wine bar in the city.

Interlude 1 includes spoken vocals by Paul McCartney and it's overall a great introduction to the following track, My Soul which features Paul McCartney himself.

My Soul was written as Paul's first real public expression of emotions regarding what transpired with his ex wife. Very moving and poignant piece with beautiful, subtle female vocals in the background which sound very classical Indian.

Interlude II is comprised of spoken Spanish in a sensual tone, speaking of the mountains. The wood instrument at the end is haunting and again, flows effortlessly into the next track.

Distant Dreams has gorgeous jazz instrumentals and the vocallist sounds very familiar, despite me not being familiar with her by name (Roxanne Tataei).

Interlude III is the most Nitin-Sawhney-esque piece so far; classic funky Indian music and vocals.

Shadowland is much the same as Interlude, although the female vocallist there has been replaced in this track by a male.

Daybreak....The song would not be out of place in some fancy Indian restaurant or on Brick Lane. Gorgeous.

Ek Taan contains mind-blowingly beautiful female vocals and a very relaxing piano instrumental, and it melds into an easy, relaxed next track.

Transmission is relaxed but for me not a track I like because it sounds a bit too monotonous in terms of the vocal register used.

Last Train To Midnight is much the same as Transmission.

Firmament is a gorgeous instrumental, classic Nitin Sawhney. Simple, moving, understated and beautiful.

The album closes with Charu Keshi Rain in collaboration with Anoushkar Shankar, and this, along with My Soul, is my favourite track on the album. Beautiful sitars and relaxing, effortless grace.




Before he went funny, 07 Nov 2008
I can understand why fans of Davis' jazz fusion, jazz rock and electric stuff may find this bland since it was recorded before he decided to explore that newer territory (which I find weird and disappointing). It represents just one part of his journey from the Rhumboogie Orchestra in 1944, via bop and Gill Evans, to the synthesizer-enhanced(?) din he was making towards the end of his career. Only a few days after this session was recorded Coltrane cut "Giant Steps", which is a fair indication of the direction he was a taking.

However, for me and thousands of others this is a beautiful record, with all the musicians performing at their (then) peak. Even Coltrane makes a beautiful sound and they all swing mightily when that is appropriate to the mood of the number. Yes, it is cool (although there is warmth, too) but that was what the mood required. Incidentally, in his autobiography, Davis denies that Bill Evans composed (or co-composed) any of the pieces in "Kind of Blue" although he admits Evans' influence on his approach to the work.

Whether it is "the best jazz record ever" I am not qualified to judge although it is surely among the best. But how do you compare it with King Oliver, Bechet's "Out of the Galleon" or with Bird at his best?
Such comparisons are pointless as well as impossible. Just enjoy it for what it is.


Modal Jazz begginings, 29 Sep 2008
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

The Master, 12 Sep 2008
Don't waste your time reading anymore reviews -just buy the album. Better jazz than this is hard to imagine! Put it on, listen and relax.

this is a superb jazz album classic!!, 28 Aug 2008
im open to all music mainly eccept rap hip hop dance not my kind of thing each to there own!! but this is a classic jazz album its fab im not a massive jazz lover but love some jazz charles mingus,countbasie,frank sinatra,nat king cole,ray charles,duke ellington i like jazz thats simple not too all over the place eg john coultrane a love supreme its good in parts but goes off in places its awfull in parts i like this album more simple buy it!! classic!!

music lover, 13 Aug 2008
jazz lover? non jazz lover? rock fan? indie?? metal??
whatever ... labels i laugh at them.
i love music and no music ive ever heard conveys melancholy quite like 'blue in green'...heartbreaking beautiful brilliant


Love it, 04 Apr 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

Fantastic chill out for xmas, 05 Dec 2007
Simply brilliant....perfect for wrapping pressies, stressed cooking & cleaning and general xmas prep, just the best chill out & put a smile on your face album I've listened to in ages. Love it love it love it. Just the best compilation.

Did I mention that I love it!


A good place to start, 27 Aug 2007
This is a great album to start if you're new to Nina Simone. It provides a good selection of her music and shows how eclectic she could be. Her voice is amazingly smooth and will give you goosebumps. Perfect for late at night and those times when you want to kick back and chill out. There are some tracks missing which I'd say were essential Nina, but for a first dip into her music you could do a lot worse than this fine collection.

If I could give this 10 stars I would, 02 Aug 2007
There is nothing not to like in this compilation of very well known hits by the great Nina Simone. Fabulous 'Mr Bojangles' is one of my all time favourates, but they are all fantastic anyway and will have you joining in in no time. Nina was a complex character and it shows in her amazingly emotional and quite unusual voice. If you haven't started a collection yet this one is a good begining.

Excellent, 11 Apr 2007
A fabulous example of the brilliant vocal gymnist that is Nina Simone. Accompanied by some marvellous piano, she brings to life her gift and her incredible improvisation piano solos, particularly in "My Baby just Cares for Me".
This CD is certainly a magnificent piece of work, an if your'e a first time listener to Nina Simone, or an all-time fan, this album is surely going to either spurge off a love for her or to merely extent your knowledge of her musical genius.

C Maguire Age:13

If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs..., 05 Sep 2007
If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but no one has ever matched her performance (even my hot favourite Stacey Kent...I hate to admit this). You can sense Ella's love for New York, and her soft voice makes you long to be there.

Open your fridge and pour yourself a glass of nice cold beer. Open the window, and sit by the window. Close your eyes, and flow with the music. All the troubles you have in your mind will be washed away. Be content for now.

'S Wonderful, Magical and Elegant, 24 Oct 2005
It doesn't get any more elegant than this in the world of music. Everything about this album is so beautiful and magical you'll fall in love with it instantly. Ella's vocals are easily some of the most beautiful, distinctive and memorable ever heard in the 20th Century. There is plenty of variety here too - from the upbeat to the moving, this Double CD has it all. This is definatley the best Ella compilation you can buy, and she is such an all time great that any music lover should treat themselves with this rare gem.

Ella is just so amazing, 15 Aug 2005
I have been putting my CDs onto my iPod - have been listening to Heifitz - Bach on Violin and Cello - Bob Dylan Albums and Dire Straits and loads of others - but the only album that stopped me dead in my tracks and forced me to listen - and brought me to tears was this one.

Ella's voice is like gold - the greatest of songs she sings and she makes each and everyone hers.

Any person who loves music just must buy and own this album - it is just amazing.

Musical magic, 25 Feb 2005
This is a fantastic double album featuring 39 tracks sung by the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. From the upbeat 'Get Happy' and 'Puttin' on the Ritz' to the hauntingly lovely 'Summertime' sang with the equally talented Louis Armstrong.
There's something here for every taste and every mood. This is a 'must have' for any lover of Jazz/Blues or indeed anyone who just loves music. Lay back, close your eyes and enjoy.

The best Ella compilation, 05 Oct 2004
Ella's career was slow to get going but she long ago became a legend. This compilation of some of her best music contains some of her finest music from her peak years. Most of Ella's songs were not originals, but were covers of classics written by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and other famous songwriters of their generation.

The set includes two classic duets with Louis Armstrong (Summertime, They can't take that away from me) and many other songs that Ella is remembered for, among them being Let's fall in love, Every time we say goodbye and Manhattan.

I only have eyes for you, originally written in the thirties, later became a rock'n'roll hit for the Flamingos in the fifties and a pop hit for Art Garfunkel in the seventies. Georgia on my mind, written by Hoagy Carmichael in the thirties, became much more popular when Ray Charles revived it in the sixties. Blue moon was revived by Elvis Presley in the fifties and again by the Marcels in the sixties.

Other famous songs include A fine romance, The very thought of you, Cheek to cheek, Lady is a tramp, I get a kick out of you, I love Paris, But not for me, Blue skies, Someone to watch over me, I've got you under my skin, Stormy weather, Bewitched, Night and day, Let's face the music and dance and many others.

Ella's versions of all these songs are brilliant. I'm sure that the compilers of this set must have had a difficult job deciding what to leave out but all the essentials are here. As an introduction to Ella's music, this is outstanding.

EST - the last post, 13 Oct 2008
Just magnificent! A wonderful tribute to the work of a trio who pushed the boundaries of jazz. A wall of sound for the 21st century.

A new era stopped abruptly, 11 Oct 2008
And to think I was getting a bit worried after the repetition and creative stagnation of the more pop oriented "Viaticum" and "Tuesday Wonderland". Thank God , this is a brilliant work and was definately going to lead the most important piano trio , into new uncharted territory , where different styles ,various influences would blend the future with the bop tradition into a new language . A legacy indeed and one of the most important jazz records of our times.

A Masterpiece, 23 Sep 2008
Sometimes it is necessary for musicians to push the boat out as on this album. Its radically different from anything est have done before and unfortunately and sadly will never be doing again. However, what a legacy. To me its a mixture of jazz and heavy rock with some abstract electronica throuwn in. The rhythms are powerful, dark and foreboding, yet the piano soars above the nocturnal bass and drums whether creating passages of melody or simple repetitive intonations. There are extraordinarily beautiful moments coupled with downright uncomfortable edgy passages. The overall effect is stunning and mindblowing but its not going to be to everyone's taste. People who like MoR jazz or pop are not going to dig this. But hey, without musicians willing to take risks there would be no progress in music as in anything else. A fitting epitaph for a maestro and a legend

Creative musicians at work......., 22 Sep 2008
How should we think of this album? It's clearly impossible for us now to see it outside the context of the band's last release before the untimely death of Esbjorn Svensson. However, it must also be clear that the band themselves weren't thinking of it in anything like that context when they recorded it. Is there anything here that we haven't heard them do before? My personal view is that I don't think so. It's just that there's more of some of the things they're good at and less of some of the others, so how you view the album will depend on how you view these different aspects of their creativity. If you're looking for their marvellous touch with a melody then you may end up dissatisfied but if you like the way they can mix electronics with a piano trio to make a real heavy-metal sound then you'll love it. And that's been a part of their playing for ages. This is them just getting together to play and recording what happens, and that seems to me to be in the best spirit of jazz - somewhere between the carefully-rehearsed studio recording and the spontaneity of a live performance. We don't get to know what the band could have given us to follow this album, but I for one am glad they gave us this.

Leucocyte, 21 Sep 2008
I am a thoroughgoing fan of e.s.t. but for me it stopped with Tuesday Wonderland.

Whatever happened to the melody? This is a very disappointing album, weighed down with SFX, and not very inspiring. It's relatively unimportant, however, as we are left with an overall superb legacy of material. You win some, you lose some.

My first desert island selection, 17 Aug 2008
My first Humphrey Lyttelton 10 inch LP aquired in the mid fifties contained the tune Trouble in Mind and I still consider this the best rendition I've ever heard. I stil get goose pimples when I hear Humphs muted trumpet; he was a master and the 3 CD's just confirm the fact. Highly recommended as a memory of a great trumpeter.


Great value, 26 Apr 2008
Have just been reminded that i bought this by the sad news that Lyttleton has passed away.
I first heard about Humph from a documentary on the Brecon Jazz festival and i ended up wanting to hear more. This is a good box set with a hell of alot of tracks making it great value and a fine introduction to British post war jazz.

Further thoughts on 'Dennis', 08 Jun 2007
I agree the music represents an excellent snapshot of Humph from
an earlier era. Bad Penny... has always been a particular favourite
of mine. My 78 became a little 'Warped' and I tried to heat it slightly,
in the oven and then put the bread-board on it to flatten it out.
It was an experiment that was partially successful except that the
disc became a little more noisy, as a result.
This became a big hit - possibly Humph's biggest, which
was not surprising! I think the Producer reference should read = 'Dennis Preston' = who later ran his own label 'Lansdowne Records', which EMI released.
later produced Albums under his own label 'Lansdowne' - these were
released via EMI.

Into the Music, 19 Nov 2006
First off I'm no jazz fan anymore than John Lennon was-yet he once named Bad Penny Blues as the only jazz he could listen to.In 1968 this 1956 instrumental was the main influence behind Lady Madonna.
Me I like instrumentals from the Golden Age-Duane Eddy,Sandy Nelson,Link Wray,the Ventures etc. And Bad Penny Blues is to my mind the greatest instrumental EVER.
Hrearing this at the time you never wanted it to end-that beautifully dry percussion sound,the muted trumpet,the piano riff-you could fall into it.
The disc was produced by somebody called Dennis Lansdowne who had a studio and it was engineered by a young Joe Meek a few years away from his own take on pop music.In his biog it mentions things he added to it which were not to the jazzmans liking but it went out anyway as it was thank God
Lyttleton is a British institution-a very clever guy who was once a cartoonist and managed to keep the same wife.Makes a guy feel inferior but there you go.
He should have been knighted long ago

Incredible Stuff, 11 Dec 2004
I grew up with this music in England in the late 40's, 50's and 60's before emigrating to Canada in 1967. I brought most of it with me (on 78's, 10 and 12 inch LP's, EP's and singles.) Some I left behind for fear of breakage (78's) and limited space. This is the essence of the greatest traditional Jazz coming out of Britain...ever! In fact, during the late 40's and early 50's, Jazz in the US was losing popularity to some degree. It is thought that Britain's growing entheusiasm for Trad Jazz, and the upcoming young players like Humph, actually, and fortunately kept it alive. Humphrey Lyttleton in my book (And Louis Armstrong's book by the way) was, and still is the best trumpet player that Britain has ever produced. The rest of the globe would also be hard pressed to equal or better it. This CD covers nearly all of the great tracks (that I still have on records,) and will enable me to still listen to them without worrying about damage to the originals. My favourite??? "Cake Walkin' Babies"... Don't think I have heard of anything that has the cristpness, drive, and back-ground rythme as this one..It lifts the soul. Play it when you feel down and you will be on top of the world.
I first heard it at Humph's Jazz club in the basement of 100 Oxford street..(you remeber!)....and so glad that it was cut on record, and now remastered on CD..... Oh, I haven't bought it yet, but will when I sort out some of the other ones to go with it. (like Parlaphone Vol I....)I've just discovered this website I'm glad to say....... Enjoy.

NORAH JONES - come away with me, 10 Aug 2008
The album was fantastic! The selection of songs was good. The songs are beautifully sung; I especially enjoyed `Don't Know Why' and `Nightingale'. Norah has a great voice, her music is soothing. NORAH JONES - come away with me, is definitely a good buy!


Nightingale!!!, 28 May 2008
Well, I have just worked my way through 70 reviews of this wonderful album, and did not see a single mention of what, to me, is the best track on here, so I thought I would try to redress the balance.
The song in question is the magnificent Nightingale, one of Norah's own compositions. I can remember the first time I listened to this album, it was on in the background whilst we were cooking or something, and the album slipped by beautifully in the background, but when it came to Nightingale, my ears really pricked up and I had to go back and listen to it again.
To me, everything about the song is fantastic, from the vocals to the unusual drumming to the absolute highlight of the song - the guitar solo. I am a bit of a guitar solo nut, and enjoy all genres of music from the heaviest metal, to jazz to country and plain old rock, and to me, the solo in this song is as good as any I have heard. The tone of the guitar is amazing, and the solo is composed beautifully, perfectly fitting into the song, which is what a good solo should do.
Anyway, I am glad I have got that off my chest now.
The rest of the album is marvellous, too, especially Come Away With Me, one of the most relaxing songs ever.

Seduction on a silver platter, 18 Jun 2007
Norah has the most seductive vocal delivery I have ever heard in all my years of buying recorded music. The first time I noticed such things was when I heard the Supremes, led by the voluptuously skinny Dianna Ross, doing "Baby Love" on TOTP half a century ago. Since then, I have moved on to Julie London, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson and sundry other sultries but none of them is a patch on Norah in the seductivenesss stakes. Female crooning just doesn't come any more breathily appealing than this.

I'm listening to the album right now and I'm going to sign off so I can immerse myself in her version of Hoagy Carmichael's superb "Nearness of You" again. Although he wrote it seventy years ago, it now belongs to Norah... and to me and to every other bloke on the planet who cares to give it a listen. I'm sure that would include Hoagy as well, if he were still around to hear it.

this album is absolutely fantastic, 20 Jul 2006
I don't usually listen to laid-back-take-it-easy music like this,but I have to say this cd is wonderful.Its classy mix of country,pop and jazz are a powerful cocktail and highly addictive.By the time Norah got to the title track Come Away with Me I found myself thinking "just tell me where we're going honey!" By the time the next track Shoot the Moon arrived I felt as though I could.For me this album is summed up by The Nearness of You.But it's Norah who's near:you really feel that she's singing to you.

Be moved, 28 Nov 2005
There will always be some fans of any genre that isn't pop who will instantly hate something for its popularity and desperately try and shout about how this isn't rock/metal/jazz etc.

Forget the genre. Forget the popularity and forget the adverts on telly and just listen.