|
Review by bruser December 6, 2004 (3 of 4 found this review helpful)
|
Performance:  Sonics:  |
| This is a fine update of Gershwin by Herbie and friends, who include Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder doing vocal cameos. I especially enjoyed the 11 minute take on "Lullaby", featuring Herbie soloing in front of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - it's tender and bluesy at the same time. That said, the 5.1 surround mix is stunning, maybe the best I've heard this year. The dynamics and soundstaging are perfect, making this a recording that can be enjoyed even at very low volume levels. Herbie's piano is mixed in all channels giving it a warm, sonorous quality, and the surrounds are used to great effect, spotlighting the horns, Stevie's harmonica, the orchestra and assorted percussion. And you've got to hear Joni Mitchell singing "The Man I Love." I did a double-take when I looked at the credits. Not every take here works, but it's still very enjoyable.
|
Was this review helpful to you?
yes |
no
|
|
|
Review by Barb October 16, 2007 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
|
|
H. Hancock p & organ, E. Henderson tp, K. Garrett as, J. Carter ts & ss, I. Coleman b, T. L. Carrington ds, M. Diop talking dr, M. Dembelle djembe, J. Mitchell vcl, W. Shorter ts & ss, M. Graves g & perc, C. Baptista perc, R. Sadin perc progr, S. Wonder vcl & harmonica, A. Al b, C. Corea p, B. Kumalo b & g, K. Battle voice, C. Curtis cello, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Verve 1998.
With very different line-ups, from piano solo and duet with Chick Corea to octets with trumpet and saxes, with singers Stevie Wonder (one track) and Joni Mitchell (two tracks) and two tracks of piano accompanied by a chamber orchestra (which I always skip because I don`t like that kind of fusion) this disc offers a very diverted program. Most interpretations are surprising and thrilling, Stevie Wonder sings Stevie Wonder but Joni Mitchell demonstrates again (on The Man I Love and Summertime), that she is much more than just a pop singer, she is great in jazz, too. All in all it is very modern played jazz with some extravagant versions of e.g. Prelude in C-Minor including Kathleen Battle`s soprano voice or Lullaby, a piano and chamber orchestra version.
The sound is very good, rich of colour, very good soundstage and imaging, air for the instruments to breath, dynamic, brilliant.
|
Was this review helpful to you?
yes |
no
|
|
|
Review by uncle buck July 6, 2006 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
|
|
I had high hopes on this album being a professional jazzmusician and audiophile as well.
For starters, the multichannel mix is childlishly done. Percussion is everywhere, left bongo = left surround channel, right bongo 100% in the right channel. Instruments appears not on stage but behind you in a very forced uncool manner. Sometimes there is o muted trumpet 100% in the right surround channel. Isn´t there laws against such things? This is 5.1 music mixing at its worst! Very strainful to listen to, only effects and no taste. The stereo mix is better. Pianosound is very crisp but way to large.
Is this a serious attempt to update the Gershwin songbook? No. This is a bunch of friends fooling around in a modern studio, the result is very ordinary, plain and thin although its wrapped in a bizarre package. Furthermore the rhythmsection does not swing at all... Terry Lyne Carringtons hihat sounds awful on the jazzy parts, lagging in time and swing as fusiondrummers often do when trying to swing. Bass sound is horrible, modern, compressed and processed. The piano, is of course masterfully played. Even though I wish Herbie Hancock would challenge himself more than this.
The best track by far is nr 6, Lullaby. A chamber Orchestra and piano. Herbie playing and improvising inbetween the orcestrated parts. The sound of the orchester is marvellous. Unfortunately, this seems to be recorded in another studio because the sound of the grandpiano is totally different from the rest of the album. Now it sound more like McCoy Tyners in the 60s. Not fitting well at all with the subtle nuances of the chamber orchestra. However its a nice track, a little too long though, and Herbie´s playing lacks the good frasing that is required in this borderzon of classical and improv. Left hand is a little loud and the volume seems to be the same on all tones he plays in all registers. Melodies arn´t accentuated, chords striked to loud killing the dynamics and sound. Not at all like his colleagues who have also done work in the neoclassical improvised piano form; Keith Jarrett and Brad Mehldau. However Herbies improvising is very nice and it is the most interesting track on the album.
If you are interested in one of the best ever modern jazzalbums with Gershwin check out Marcus Roberts; Gerschwin for lovers. Don´t let the cheesy coverart and title fool you. This is the shit! Not in SACD but very nice recording!
Summary: Herbie Hancock; Gerschwin´s World SACD may seem spectacular and fun but its a really thin lie that i will return to a second hand store really soon.
Good luck and thanks for reading!
|
Was this review helpful to you?
yes |
no
|
|
Sonics: 
