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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 5099950445424 Label: Blue Note Records Manufacturer: Blue Note Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Blue Note Records Release Date: July 08, 2008 Studio: Blue Note Records Editorial Review: Amazon.com: Two Men with the Blues is no more a jazz album than a blues album. It's neither jazz returning home, nor blues wandering out. What Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis have created is a compilation of jump-blues standards with arrangements that compliment both genres. While most of the album is careful not to take itself too seriously, there are a few tracks that seem to plod on for ages. The live set kicks off with the upbeat "Bright Lights, Big City," on which Marsalis' horn is crisp and full. "Ain't Nobody's Business" and "Basin Street Blues" are arranged slower than better known versions but still fit the album's context. Nelson and Marsalis's take on "Stardust" comes off as a bit too "Sinatra" for Nelson's thin vocal, while "Georgia on My Mind" just doesn't work at all. Still, the things that work, work well. "Night Life" and "Rainy Day Blues" are particular stand-outs, and "Caldonia" is a faithful homage to the Louis Jordan original (minus Jordan's screaming punch line, of course). The album ends riding high on closer "That's All," with its straight-out-of-a-New-Orleans-Baptist-church feel. Both Nelson and Marsalis are notorious for collaborating with other artists. Therefore, it seems only natural that they've found themselves on a project together. Overall, this set is well worth the wait. --Eric C.P. Martin Album Description: The event was simply billed as "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues," but the historic two-night stand on January 12 and 13, 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center was far more than that. Call it a summit meeting between two American icons, Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, two of the most significant figures in modern-day country and jazz, who discovered common ground in their love for jazz standards and the blues. Their performance stirred the sounds of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and New York City into a brilliantly programmed mix that was equal parts down-home and cosmopolitan, with plenty of swing and just a touch of melancholy. To say that these shows were a hot ticket would be an understatement. Luckily, the tapes were rolling and the results of this unique collaboration now constitute the Blue Note album Two Men With The Blues for everyone who couldn't cram into The Allen Room. Featuring great playing from one of the hottest bands around these classic tracks are given new life by the extraordinary dual talents of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. At a time when most people are thinking of retirement, Willie has never been busier. His profile has been high in recent weeks with his various career retrospective releases and sold out tour and this album can rightly stake it's place alongside anything else he has done. Wynton rarely sounds so relaxed and both of these musical giants are clearly having the time of their lives together on these new interpretations of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Dyn-o-mite!What a great album - my husband and I so enjoy this one! We have never particularly been Willie Nelson fans, but heard a song played from this on XM and couldn't wait to get the whole album. It's fun music - and we are both becoming Nelson fans. Of course, what can you say about Wynton - he's good at anything he does. Highly recommend this one! Rating:  - not the "historic ... summit" the product description would lead you to believeYou can probably figure out what this album might sound like. It's sensible and relatively enjoyable at times, but hardly earth shattering. If you're looking for dinner jazz that might make your guests ask, "Is that Willie Nelson?" This is it. Rating: - Great CDTwo of the best! If you thought Wille was only country, guess what? This is one smooth CD. Rating:  - Strange / Interesting Combo....but good !!I've been a long fan of Wyntons...even in the earlier years, when he was just a trumpet machine...no soul. He has progressed fairly well over the years. His playing has relaxed and he is not the ' professor' of music anymore. Willie is just Willie. A relaxed , and easy style. A moderately weak tenor with a lot of feeling. He has gone through a lot since his early years as a writer. This has given him strong credentials as a performer. I think as a collaborative effort, blending styles and musical ... Read More Rating: - Two of our favorites, together!This is a cd that I let play and play, and it just gets better and better. I love the soft, easy back and forth between Willie and Wynton, and the jazz riffs are like coming upon an unexpected chunk of Heath Bar in my ice cream, to be savored in the midst of an experience I'm already enjoying! |
