|
| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> K -> Kurt Elling Man In The Air |
| Kurt Elling - Man in the Air Classification: Jazz Band: Kurt Elling Tracks: - Minuano - In The Winelight - Resolution - Time To Say Goodbye - The Uncertainty Of The Poet - The More I Have You - Man In The Air - A Secret I - Higher Vibe - Hidden Jewel - Never My Love - All Is Quiet Strong Effort from Master Vocalist/Lyricist For a jazz horn snob like myself, it's rare for me to rave about any singer, but Elling is the *stuff*. I heard him Live last year and have been accumulating his CDs and turning friends onto them ever since. It's all there on Man in the Year -- Kurt's soaring voice, profound lyrics, clever Laurence Hobgood arrangements and pleasantly diverse material. Kind of like Marvin Gaye, it's funny that when Kurt isn't singing about love/... ("Winelight"), he's writing lyrics about God/theology ("Resolution", "Higher Vibe", title track). It's some of these theology-based lyrics I find most meaningful. You can see the lyrics on Elling's website. Kurt's lyrics to Coltrane's "Resolution", are in my opinion a masterpiece. Since this is the first US release of Elling's "Resolution", it should certainly open some eyes, although if you like this version you should try to track down the more intense but less "clean" Live version of this song on Live from Chicago: The Out Takes (Australian Blue Note release). The version on Man in the Air seems to suffer from a lack of assertiveness from the drums (how can you remake an Elvin Jones/Trane duo if someone isn't kicking the living #%@% out of the drums?) Finally, "Time to Say Goodbye" is simply beautiful, and it's not the first time an Elling song has made tears well in my eyes. (He also matches Wayne Shorter's phrasing to a note.) Elling's appreciation of beauty is Truly artistic, and wonderful for his listeners to behold. THIS IS THE GRAMMY WIN!!! Excellent! Elling and Hobgood Present not only an expert collaboration, but a sensitive yet Bold reading of jazz standards. Elling's treatment of these classic tunes, by having composed lyrics to what have been instrumental mainstays, creates true art; for the lyrics, new to his audience, seem familiar, comfortable, desirable eloquence (like being able to recite the 116th from the Bard of Avon, any time, any place, just because). The listening is sheer joy and immense Pleasure as ushered by "Minuano," then carried further still by "In the Winelight." The rest of the play list are something like old friends coming to visit in a new season. Of course the arrangements, helmed by Elling and Hobgood, are the key to this particular magic. Their offering is fresh and new but imbued with their usual, impeccable execution--utterly flawless. Do not be fooled by the nay-sayers whose predictable and tired plaintive has become to lament over what is essentially Elling's tribute to his masters, and not "some pretentious rehashing of standard jazz fare." This is an excellent choice, both for newcomers to the music of Kurt Elling, and to his established members of the guild. My money is on the Academy's recognition for a true Blue Note Expert and Master. Kurt Makes Another Classic Kurt Elling's new cd is simply extraordinary. I got it the first day it came out, and I listened to it 3 times straight through in one day. Some of the highlights on the cd are most certainly the first track. Kurt adds vocals to Pat Metheny's Minuano (six-eight). When i saw this, i thought "oh no....major cheesiness potential". it's quite the opposite. it's possibly the best track on the cd. i've listened to it about 8 or 9 times since yesterday. it's amazing. another great one is Time To Say Goodbye. This was originally's Joe Zawinal's A Remark You Made from Heavy Weather. This song is simply incredibly. In my opinion, the best "break-up song" ever recorded. the message isn't "you left me, i hate you" or "please baby, come back" but the message is one that suggests hope and comes to the realization of fate and making the best of it and knowing you're better off in the end for it. the track brought tears to my eyes. other songs that i can't stop listening to are "the more i have you", "never my love" and "higher vibe". make no mistake...every track on this cd is sooooo good, i'm just mentioning the ones that really stand out to me. <BR> the musicians on this cd make it happen. laurence sounds fabulous as always. rob amster plays absolutely beautifully, i'm very impressed by what he does on this album. frank parker, jr. really sounds great as well. his work complements Kurt's style better than any drummer i could think of. other than those guys, having stefon Harris on vibes on the album was SUCH a smart move. he really adds so much to the overall sound, it's just great. also...brad wheeler sounds surprisingly amazing on Minuano. for the rest of the cd, jim gailloreto is brilliant.<BR> This cd is very unique and is, what i think, a true landmark in Kurt's career. It combines the best elements of all his other cds into one masterpiece. It takes the contemporary, modern, innovative sounds of The Messenger (my favorite kurt album, next to this one) with the true spontaneous jazz vibe of his Live in Chicago album with the Honey Sweet vocals of "flirting with twilight" and puts them together to make Man in the Air. its a Truly beautiful album, and i strongly suggest you buy it. really....it's really really good. no, seriously, it's amazing and you'll Love it, i mean it. get it. Buy Kurt Elling Man In The Air at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
