	Sign In Sign-Up

Albums from my collection,

highly recommended for every true music fan

Part III

JAZZ
Progressive/ROCK

OTHER

Best Of The Rest

Richie Kotzen, Greg Howe

"Tilt"
1995
This is, probably, the best guitar album I have. Brilliant speedy techniques, with unexpected, cool jazzy licks. Fully instrumental album - no love songs, just explosion of guitar lightenings...

Vinnie Colaiuta

"Vinnie Colaiuta"
Vinnie Colaiuta is probably the best drummer found on today's scene. Avid followers of Vinnie know that he can play absolutely anything on the drums. He can take the most complex odd timed stuff and make it groove like no one ever has. However, in this record he holds back and concentrates more on crafting quality music. Probably he felt (and rightly so) that he had nothing else to prove in terms of ability. This album requires concentration and patience of subsequent listens, which we hardly have most of time.

Al Di Meola

Elegant Gypsy, 1976
Casino, 1977
Splendido Hotel, 1979

Series of albums featuring Al Di Meola in post-"Return To Forever" era. While still being quite unknown as a composer, but famouse for his brilliant guitar techniques, Al Di Meola puts a lot of thought in his music here. Combining speedy and rockish fusion style with accoustic flamenco compositions, Di Meola shows a hint about his future directions. Showing himself as a versatile musician, he exposes his growing sensitive side, gently touching the most fragile corners of listeners' soul. The compositions are strong and diverse, while Al Di Meola is surrounded with finest musicians: Chick Corea, Lenny White, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Barry Miles, Jan Hammer ( ex - Mahavishnu ), and many others, including Paco De Lucia performing the famouse "Mediterranian Sundance", predicting the appearance of the Guitar Trio ( Di Meola - De Lucia - McLaughlin ).
Beautifull music !!! Lots of pleasure...

Joe Satriani

Flying In A Blue Dream

1989
A very nice guitar album, very well balanced. Satriani is a talented guitarist, but besides, what also separates Satriani from most technically gifted guitar virtuosos is that he treats a song as a song, not as an excuse to shred. In this album Satriani transcends that line between virtuoso and composer. All the tracks differ strongly from each other, creating interesting variety and feeling of something complete.

Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra

Krupa & Rich

1955
This is an awesome CD filled with solos from the two most famous names in jazz drumming. Both drummers bring their bands to record a drum battle. However, each of the principals get some solo space, giving this release more variety than one might expect. Many talented musicians are also on this CD such as Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Elridge, Oscar Peterson, Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Ray Brown, and many others.

Sade

Best Of Sade

1994
Tender, soft and very sensual voice of Sade is presented in this album in full glory. Each song is enormous pleasure...

Chick Corea

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs

1968
An early release of Chick Corea as a leader, one of my favourite jazz CDs.

The original LP (using the same title) only had five selections, but this CD contains 13, with the added eight (from the same sessions) having first been released on the double-LP Circling In. Age 26 at the time, and on the brink of gaining major recognition in the jazz world, pianist Chick Corea is featured with a very strong trio that also includes bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes. The music includes 11 of Corea's originals including "Matrix", "Windows" and "Samba Yantra", Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and the standard "My One and Only Love" and is essentially advanced hard bop with an open-minded attitude toward free jazz. Listen to how part of "Steps-What Was" has hints of Corea's future composition "Spain."

Scott Yanow

Universe

Planet X

2000
Derek Sherinian ( Dream Theatre ), Tony MacAlpine and Virgil Donatti, concidered the best prog drummer of today's scene. Very powerfull album, somehow reminds Liquid Tension, but much more tough and less graceful.

Brad Mehldau

Art of the Trio, Vol. 3:
Songs

2000
A very fine classic piano jazz album - soft, extremely tender and full of autumn melancholy.

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: The lyrical pianist Brad Mehldau applies his melancholy, Bill Evans/Keith Jarrett-derived approach to a set of five originals plus standards including "Young at Heart," "For All We Know," and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," as well as covers of Nick Drake's "River Man" and Radiohead's "Exit Music (For a Film)." The always swinging and tasteful pianist is accompanied by a rhythm section of drummer Jorge Rossy and bassist Larry Grenadier, and overall this is a fine program easily recommended to straight-ahead collectors. -- Steve Huey

Marty Friedman

Scenes, 1992
Dragon's Kiss, 1988

Marty Friedman, lead guitarist of "Megadeth", is always associated with technical speed metal form. Despite this frightening characteristic, his playing is full of grace and complex yet interesting musical structure, which, in addition of brilliant techniques, makes his music much more interesting and attractive than that of Ingwee Malmsteen and other "technitions". On "Scenes", partly produced by Kitaro, there's an attempt to put loud guitar distortion aside calm oriental sound, through experiments with "accoustic" sound and east-asian styled melodies.

Dave Weckl Band

Transition

2000
Very representing CD of late Dave Weckl Band - brilliant drumming with pretty boring "private version of fusion". The album sounds much more keyboard oriented than their others, due to departure of guitarist Buzz Feiten. Dave Weckl plays wonderfull drums ( like always ), and in addition makes some nice percussion stuff while simultaneously playing the drumset, and that sounds really good. Their live show is very impressive, but somehow there just doesn't seem to be quite enough energy on this disc.

Primus

Frizzle Fry

1990
A very powerfull trash-funk creature called "Primus" captured my ears right after the first listening of this CD. Cool guitar work, and absolutely amasing bass sounds by Les Claypool, as well as virtuozity and jazz-informed drum beats by Tim Alexander. This group is one of a kind, considering music and textual images - the special texture demands an open mind and a sense of humor to accept this music, which has something of Zappa in it.... musically, "Primus" were doing in 1990 what Red Hot Chili Peppers are doing in 2000 ( guess who is doing it better... ) - remember, these were days of New Kids On The Block, Vanilla Ice and Milly Vanilley.
In short - a great album !

This page has been visited

times since June 18, 2001

	Richie Kotzen, Greg Howe "Tilt" 1995	This is, probably, the best guitar album I have. Brilliant speedy techniques, with unexpected, cool jazzy licks. Fully instrumental album - no love songs, just explosion of guitar lightenings...
	Vinnie Colaiuta "Vinnie Colaiuta"	Vinnie Colaiuta is probably the best drummer found on today's scene. Avid followers of Vinnie know that he can play absolutely anything on the drums. He can take the most complex odd timed stuff and make it groove like no one ever has. However, in this record he holds back and concentrates more on crafting quality music. Probably he felt (and rightly so) that he had nothing else to prove in terms of ability. This album requires concentration and patience of subsequent listens, which we hardly have most of time.
Al Di Meola Elegant Gypsy, 1976 Casino, 1977 Splendido Hotel, 1979		Series of albums featuring Al Di Meola in post-"Return To Forever" era. While still being quite unknown as a composer, but famouse for his brilliant guitar techniques, Al Di Meola puts a lot of thought in his music here. Combining speedy and rockish fusion style with accoustic flamenco compositions, Di Meola shows a hint about his future directions. Showing himself as a versatile musician, he exposes his growing sensitive side, gently touching the most fragile corners of listeners' soul. The compositions are strong and diverse, while Al Di Meola is surrounded with finest musicians: Chick Corea, Lenny White, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Barry Miles, Jan Hammer ( ex - Mahavishnu ), and many others, including Paco De Lucia performing the famouse "Mediterranian Sundance", predicting the appearance of the Guitar Trio ( Di Meola - De Lucia - McLaughlin ). Beautifull music !!! Lots of pleasure...
	Joe Satriani Flying In A Blue Dream 1989	A very nice guitar album, very well balanced. Satriani is a talented guitarist, but besides, what also separates Satriani from most technically gifted guitar virtuosos is that he treats a song as a song, not as an excuse to shred. In this album Satriani transcends that line between virtuoso and composer. All the tracks differ strongly from each other, creating interesting variety and feeling of something complete.
	Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa and His Orchestra Krupa & Rich 1955	This is an awesome CD filled with solos from the two most famous names in jazz drumming. Both drummers bring their bands to record a drum battle. However, each of the principals get some solo space, giving this release more variety than one might expect. Many talented musicians are also on this CD such as Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Elridge, Oscar Peterson, Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Ray Brown, and many others.
	Sade Best Of Sade 1994	Tender, soft and very sensual voice of Sade is presented in this album in full glory. Each song is enormous pleasure...
	Chick Corea Now He Sings, Now He Sobs 1968	An early release of Chick Corea as a leader, one of my favourite jazz CDs. The original LP (using the same title) only had five selections, but this CD contains 13, with the added eight (from the same sessions) having first been released on the double-LP Circling In. Age 26 at the time, and on the brink of gaining major recognition in the jazz world, pianist Chick Corea is featured with a very strong trio that also includes bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes. The music includes 11 of Corea's originals including "Matrix", "Windows" and "Samba Yantra", Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and the standard "My One and Only Love" and is essentially advanced hard bop with an open-minded attitude toward free jazz. Listen to how part of "Steps-What Was" has hints of Corea's future composition "Spain." Scott Yanow
	Universe Planet X 2000	Derek Sherinian ( Dream Theatre ), Tony MacAlpine and Virgil Donatti, concidered the best prog drummer of today's scene. Very powerfull album, somehow reminds Liquid Tension, but much more tough and less graceful.
	Brad Mehldau Art of the Trio, Vol. 3: Songs 2000	A very fine classic piano jazz album - soft, extremely tender and full of autumn melancholy. AMG EXPERT REVIEW: The lyrical pianist Brad Mehldau applies his melancholy, Bill Evans/Keith Jarrett-derived approach to a set of five originals plus standards including "Young at Heart," "For All We Know," and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," as well as covers of Nick Drake's "River Man" and Radiohead's "Exit Music (For a Film)." The always swinging and tasteful pianist is accompanied by a rhythm section of drummer Jorge Rossy and bassist Larry Grenadier, and overall this is a fine program easily recommended to straight-ahead collectors. -- Steve Huey
Marty Friedman Scenes, 1992 Dragon's Kiss, 1988		Marty Friedman, lead guitarist of "Megadeth", is always associated with technical speed metal form. Despite this frightening characteristic, his playing is full of grace and complex yet interesting musical structure, which, in addition of brilliant techniques, makes his music much more interesting and attractive than that of Ingwee Malmsteen and other "technitions". On "Scenes", partly produced by Kitaro, there's an attempt to put loud guitar distortion aside calm oriental sound, through experiments with "accoustic" sound and east-asian styled melodies.
	Dave Weckl Band Transition 2000	Very representing CD of late Dave Weckl Band - brilliant drumming with pretty boring "private version of fusion". The album sounds much more keyboard oriented than their others, due to departure of guitarist Buzz Feiten. Dave Weckl plays wonderfull drums ( like always ), and in addition makes some nice percussion stuff while simultaneously playing the drumset, and that sounds really good. Their live show is very impressive, but somehow there just doesn't seem to be quite enough energy on this disc.
	Primus Frizzle Fry 1990	A very powerfull trash-funk creature called "Primus" captured my ears right after the first listening of this CD. Cool guitar work, and absolutely amasing bass sounds by Les Claypool, as well as virtuozity and jazz-informed drum beats by Tim Alexander. This group is one of a kind, considering music and textual images - the special texture demands an open mind and a sense of humor to accept this music, which has something of Zappa in it.... musically, "Primus" were doing in 1990 what Red Hot Chili Peppers are doing in 2000 ( guess who is doing it better... ) - remember, these were days of New Kids On The Block, Vanilla Ice and Milly Vanilley. In short - a great album !