Giant Steps

Giant Steps

Giant Steps

Track Listings
 
1. All Blues" 4:55 Al Mack sings & plays all instruments
2. "Giant Steps" 2:18 Al Mack plays all instruments
3. "The Sphere" 3:57 Al Mack plays all instruments
4. "Hanging At The Rio" 3:44 Al Mack plays all
5. "The Master Failed" 1:47 Al Mack plays all instruments
6. "Song For Mattie" 7:37 Al Mack plays all instruments
7. "Tribal Law" 6:46 Al Mack plays all instruments
8. "What You Need To Do Is..." 3:10 Al Mack plays all instruments
9. "Mob Town" (The Instrumental) 3:10 Al Mack Plays all instruments
10. "Big Black Jerri Curl" 5:45 Al Mack plays all instruments
11. "Let's Have Some Church" 3:01 Al Mack plays all instruments
12. "Rising In Love" 11:30 Al Mack sings and plays all instruments

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Al Mack began classical piano lessons at age five. At age eight he played his first recital at The World Famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. These yearly Recitals continued until age fourteen. At Eighteen Al accepted a scholarship to Rutgers University where he studied Music Performances under the auspices of Bassist: Larry Ridley, Guitarst: Ted Dunbar and Pianist: Kenny Barron. Al was known on campus for doing weekend gigs and opening up for all the major acts that came through such as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and The Gang, Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, and others.

Al directed a mass choir that featured Patti Labelle. Alto Saxophonist Fluist and fellow student James Spaulding was a part of Al's Campus group.

Later Al would play with LL Cool J, Curtis Blow New Edition, BBD, and was and still is an influential figure in the development and production of Hip-Hop. In between doing sessions and gigs with some of the industries top acts such as: Marcys Miller, Lenny White, The Winans, Curtis Mayfield, Ron Carter, Jon Faddis, and The Clark Sisters. Al Mack's regular jazz quartet would later feature Bob Cunningham on bass, Freddie Waits on drums, and Bill Saxton on tenor and soprano saxophones.

Al is presently a full time producer writer and keyboardist. Working shows and conventions in Las Vegas, Nevada as well as doing yearly national and international tour dates. He has been invited and accepted dates to perform in Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, France, England, Israel, Germany, Spain, and Denmark.

Al has developed a unique atonal circular style of improvization that no other pianist has ventured into. Al has experimented with improvising over gospel, funk, classical, blues, latin, reggae, rock, and hip-hop rhythums. He also leads a classical string quartet as well as conducts and write for a couple symphony orchestras.

Al Mack plays all the instruments as well as sings on his new Cd entitled Giant Steps. The Album is a tribute to the memory of Thelonius Sphere Monk. Al is currently finishing up his next releas which will be entitled "Above Your Understanding"

Heres what the critics have bben saying:

Mike Prevett, from Las Vegas Citylife "The Beats are phat, I was surprised at how well this album was produced..."

Shauna J, from Freestyle Magazine Al Mack is the greatest entertainer of all time..."

Al mack's last album "Going It Alone" won The Las Vegas Citylife Poll as The 1999 Jazz Album of The Year.

Product Description
The CD starts out in a straight-ahead jazz mode

Then it gets a little smooth Al inprovises and experients with afro-cuban, hip-hop, funk, gospel, classical, and rock rhythums and ends on a high energy jazz-rock fusion note!

Giant Steps,Al Mack,Harvest Media Group,Club/Dance,Dance Music,House,Pop
Giant Steps
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • the album that leaps
  • more great jazz from coltrane.
  • Essential for any jazz collection
  • Essential, and very convenient for beginners.
  • Great album and "easy" for beginners to groove to...
 Giant Steps
John Coltrane
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
InnovatorsInnovators | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. A Love Supreme
  2. My Favorite Things
  3. Kind of Blue
  4. Blue Train
  5. Mingus Ah Um

ASIN: B000002I4S
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Giant Steps
  2. Cousin Mary
  3. Countdown
  4. Spiral
  5. Syeeda's Song Flute
  6. Naima
  7. Mr. P.C.
  8. Giant Steps
  9. Naima
  10. Cousin Mary
  11. Countdown
  12. Syeeda's Song Flute

Amazon.com essential recording

Released in January 1960, John Coltrane's first album devoted entirely to his own compositions confirmed his towering command of tenor saxophone and his emerging power as a composer. Apprenticeships with Dizzy, Miles, and Monk had helped focus his furious, expansive solos, and his stamina and underlying sense of harmonic adventure brought Coltrane, at 33, to a new cusp--the polytonal "sheets of sound" that distinguished his marathon solos were offset by interludes of subtle, concise lyricism, embodied here in the tender "Naima." That classic ballad is a calm refuge from the ecstatic, high-speed runs that spark the set's up-tempo climaxes, which begin with the opening title song, itself a cornerstone of modern jazz composition. This exemplary reissue benefits from eight alternate takes of the original album's seven stellar tracks, excellent remastering of the original tapes, and an expanded annotation. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars the album that leaps.......2007-04-18

The 1960 release of Atlantic's `Giant Steps' was the first album featuring Coltrane performing all original compositions. Listeners become absorbed into the marvelous sheets of sound he belted out with such professional ease. Speedy execution and marksman-like precision brought Coltrane the envy of both his peers and fans. Sweeping solos spout from Coltrane's horn on here, accomplishing what a lesser musician plainly could not. `Giant Steps' races to the borders of harmony while the ballad `Naima' slows the mood down and heats things up. This CD version includes bonus alternate takes which Coltrane had rejected in favor of those featuring Tommy Flanagan.

Personnel for the tracks `Giant Steps', `Cousin Mary', `Countdown', "Spiral', `Syeeda's Song Flue' and `Mr. P.C.' on the original LP:

John Coltrane (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Paul Chambers (b), Art Taylor (d).

Personnel for the track `Naima' on the original LP:

John Coltrane (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d).

Many of the alternate takes that never made their way on the album feature Cedar Walton on piano and Lex Humphries on drums.

5 out of 5 stars more great jazz from coltrane........2007-02-15

to live a proper life you will of course need lots of john coltrane music. this album is an absolute must. from the saxophone pyrotechnics on the title track and the jazz lightning of "mr p.c.," on through to the great melodics of "cousin mary" and "syeeda's song flute," this is pure jazz magic. "naima" is a another standout; a piece of beauty, another coltrane classic. this was my first coltrane album, way back at the tender age of 20 (up to 45 now, i am), and it was the start of something very good in my life. coltrane's music has been a big part of my soundtrack ever since. life has been a richer journey for it, too.

5 out of 5 stars Essential for any jazz collection.......2006-11-30

When people who are just getting into listening to jazz ask me which albums they should start with, I always recommend "Kind of Blue", and "Giant Steps". While this may not be Coltrane's most pure recording, it nonetheless is one of the finest jazz albums ever recorded. I'm not going to go into the specifics of his "sheets of sound" approach, other than to say that when he really gets going such as on the title track, his playing is absolutely breathtaking. It is important to mention however that aside from Coltrane's exceptional chops and phrasing, I find his tone on this disc to be one of warmest sounding I've ever heard on the instrument. If you don't own this CD, buy it!

4 out of 5 stars Essential, and very convenient for beginners........2006-11-08

In this Coltrane's classic record, three songs help us to put it in perspective. First, "Naima", a sont that will be played by Coltrane all his career long, showing his deep feeling in a melodic way, easy to approach for the beginner and to compare with the many versions of it recorded by him. Second, "Giant Steps", where the long 'sentences' and the armonics still remind the be-bop days, as if Coltrane were leaving that period. And third, "Mr P.C", where Coltrane shows his future 'shaken' way of playing, using a structure of two consecutive notes, high and low, up and down, each of them following a diferent line but, by this 'lateral playing', opening between those two lines an empty and free space where the melody is heard without being played. This is the Coltrane what will be found later in his marvellous album "My Favourite Things".
As well, in this record, Coltrane is forgetting that 'deadpan' jazz who followed the cool period. Always without falling in sentimentality, Coltrane starts to fill that free and open space of his music with feelings. What is trully amazing is how love made him rebellious, and how it showed him the way to push modern jazz out of its ensconced position.
To finish: don't miss "Countdown", a burst of technical power.

5 out of 5 stars Great album and "easy" for beginners to groove to..........2006-11-06

I noticed that a lot of hardcore jazz folks have written extensively about the arcane virtues of this album, so I just want to chime in that this is also really fun and accessible music! a few reviewers have warned that it might be "difficult" to listen to-- as a fairly UNsophisticated listener who knows nothing about music theory, I'd have to strongly disagree.
The album features Coltrane playing original compositions in his mature style, but the songs are catchy and concise, with very infectious hooks. It's the perfect first Coltrane record for anyone who's just getting into modern jazz and wants a representative example of his work-- comparable to Miles' "Kind of Blue" and Brubeck's "Time Out".
Giant Steps
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • the album that leaps
  • more great jazz from coltrane.
  • Essential for any jazz collection
  • Essential, and very convenient for beginners.
  • Great album and "easy" for beginners to groove to...
 Giant Steps
John Coltrane
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Hard BopHard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. A Love Supreme
  2. My Favorite Things
  3. Kind of Blue
  4. Blue Train
  5. Mingus Ah Um

ASIN: B000003489
Release Date: 1998-03-03

Tracks:

  1. Giant Steps
  2. Cousin Mary
  3. Countdown
  4. Spiral
  5. Syeeda's Song Flute
  6. Naima
  7. Mr. P.C.
  8. Giant Steps (Alternate Version 1)
  9. Naima (Alternate Version 1)
  10. Cousin Mary (Alternate Take)
  11. Countdown (Alternate Take)
  12. Syeeda's Song Flute (Alternate Take)
  13. Giant Steps (Alternate Version 2)
  14. Naima (Alternate Version 2)
  15. Giant Steps (Alternate Take)

Amazon.com essential recording

Released in January 1960, John Coltrane's first album devoted entirely to his own compositions confirmed his towering command of tenor saxophone and his emerging power as a composer. Apprenticeships with Dizzy, Miles, and Monk had helped focus his furious, expansive solos, and his stamina and underlying sense of harmonic adventure brought Coltrane, at 33, to a new cusp--the polytonal "sheets of sound" that distinguished his marathon solos were offset by interludes of subtle, concise lyricism, embodied here in the tender "Naima." That classic ballad is a calm refuge from the ecstatic, high-speed runs that spark the set's up-tempo climaxes, which begin with the opening title song, itself a cornerstone of modern jazz composition. This exemplary reissue benefits from eight alternate takes of the original album's seven stellar tracks, excellent remastering of the original tapes, and an expanded annotation. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars the album that leaps.......2007-04-18

The 1960 release of Atlantic's `Giant Steps' was the first album featuring Coltrane performing all original compositions. Listeners become absorbed into the marvelous sheets of sound he belted out with such professional ease. Speedy execution and marksman-like precision brought Coltrane the envy of both his peers and fans. Sweeping solos spout from Coltrane's horn on here, accomplishing what a lesser musician plainly could not. `Giant Steps' races to the borders of harmony while the ballad `Naima' slows the mood down and heats things up. This CD version includes bonus alternate takes which Coltrane had rejected in favor of those featuring Tommy Flanagan.

Personnel for the tracks `Giant Steps', `Cousin Mary', `Countdown', "Spiral', `Syeeda's Song Flue' and `Mr. P.C.' on the original LP:

John Coltrane (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Paul Chambers (b), Art Taylor (d).

Personnel for the track `Naima' on the original LP:

John Coltrane (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Paul Chambers (b), Jimmy Cobb (d).

Many of the alternate takes that never made their way on the album feature Cedar Walton on piano and Lex Humphries on drums.

5 out of 5 stars more great jazz from coltrane........2007-02-15

to live a proper life you will of course need lots of john coltrane music. this album is an absolute must. from the saxophone pyrotechnics on the title track and the jazz lightning of "mr p.c.," on through to the great melodics of "cousin mary" and "syeeda's song flute," this is pure jazz magic. "naima" is a another standout; a piece of beauty, another coltrane classic. this was my first coltrane album, way back at the tender age of 20 (up to 45 now, i am), and it was the start of something very good in my life. coltrane's music has been a big part of my soundtrack ever since. life has been a richer journey for it, too.

5 out of 5 stars Essential for any jazz collection.......2006-11-30

When people who are just getting into listening to jazz ask me which albums they should start with, I always recommend "Kind of Blue", and "Giant Steps". While this may not be Coltrane's most pure recording, it nonetheless is one of the finest jazz albums ever recorded. I'm not going to go into the specifics of his "sheets of sound" approach, other than to say that when he really gets going such as on the title track, his playing is absolutely breathtaking. It is important to mention however that aside from Coltrane's exceptional chops and phrasing, I find his tone on this disc to be one of warmest sounding I've ever heard on the instrument. If you don't own this CD, buy it!

4 out of 5 stars Essential, and very convenient for beginners........2006-11-08

In this Coltrane's classic record, three songs help us to put it in perspective. First, "Naima", a sont that will be played by Coltrane all his career long, showing his deep feeling in a melodic way, easy to approach for the beginner and to compare with the many versions of it recorded by him. Second, "Giant Steps", where the long 'sentences' and the armonics still remind the be-bop days, as if Coltrane were leaving that period. And third, "Mr P.C", where Coltrane shows his future 'shaken' way of playing, using a structure of two consecutive notes, high and low, up and down, each of them following a diferent line but, by this 'lateral playing', opening between those two lines an empty and free space where the melody is heard without being played. This is the Coltrane what will be found later in his marvellous album "My Favourite Things".
As well, in this record, Coltrane is forgetting that 'deadpan' jazz who followed the cool period. Always without falling in sentimentality, Coltrane starts to fill that free and open space of his music with feelings. What is trully amazing is how love made him rebellious, and how it showed him the way to push modern jazz out of its ensconced position.
To finish: don't miss "Countdown", a burst of technical power.

5 out of 5 stars Great album and "easy" for beginners to groove to..........2006-11-06

I noticed that a lot of hardcore jazz folks have written extensively about the arcane virtues of this album, so I just want to chime in that this is also really fun and accessible music! a few reviewers have warned that it might be "difficult" to listen to-- as a fairly UNsophisticated listener who knows nothing about music theory, I'd have to strongly disagree.
The album features Coltrane playing original compositions in his mature style, but the songs are catchy and concise, with very infectious hooks. It's the perfect first Coltrane record for anyone who's just getting into modern jazz and wants a representative example of his work-- comparable to Miles' "Kind of Blue" and Brubeck's "Time Out".
Stan Getz and the Lighthouse All-Stars Live
Average customer rating: 1 out of 5 stars
  • Review?
 Stan Getz and the Lighthouse All-Stars Live
Stan Getz , and The Lighthouse All-Stars
Manufacturer: Giant Steps UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool JazzCool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Traditional Jazz GeneralTraditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Live in Saint Louis 1956
  2. Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio: The Silver Collection
  3. Jazz Samba
  4. Momento
  5. Plays Duke Ellington

ASIN: B000NVLEZG
Release Date: 2007-05-07

Tracks:

  1. I Only Have Eyes for You [Live]
  2. Jive at Five [Live]
  3. Moonlight in Vermont [Live]
  4. Love Me or Leave Me [Live]
  5. So Long Broadway [Live]
  6. Topsy [Live]
  7. Four Others [Live]
  8. All the Things You Are [Live]
  9. Cr de Menthe [Live]
  10. Viva Zapata! [Live]
  11. Bernie's Tune [Live]
  12. Solitaire [Live]

Tracks:

  1. Morgan Davis [Live]
  2. Soncailli [Live]
  3. Luau [Live]
  4. Comin' Thru the Rye Bread [Live]
  5. Taking a Chance on Love [Live]
  6. Big Top [Live]
  7. Duke You Say! [Live]
  8. Sunset Eyes [Live]
  9. Witch Doctor No. 2 [Live]
  10. Round 'Bout Midnight [Live]
  11. Mood for Lighthouse [Live]
  12. Blind Man's Bluff [Live]
  13. Lady Jean [Live]
  14. Casa de Luz [Live]

Album Description

The shore-front Lighthouse Café at Hermosa Beach was the hub of the L.A. Jazz scene throughout the '50s. From 1949 until 1961, this Californian beach front niterie may have hosted everyone from Miles to the MJQ, Lee Morgan to Cannonball Adderley, The Jazz Messengers to The Jazz Crusaders but it is for its resident (Light) House Band that this venue is fondly remembered. Mainly comprised of former Stan Kenton soloists, The Lighthouse All-Stars boasted such stars as Shorty Rogers, Maynard Ferguson, Shelly Manne, Jimmy Giuffre, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli and many more. . On this Giant Steps release, it's Stan Getz plus Teddy Charles (vibraphone) who are in the spotlight. In doing so, it recaptures some of the magic that was unique to those nightly sessions at The Lighthouse back in the day. Giant Steps.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Review?.......2007-05-09

I certaintly would indeed like to review this music. But since you have seen fit not to permit us to listen to samples of the offering, it can not be realisticly done.

Thanks anyways,

Artiedoes
A Guitar Supreme: Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Disappointment...
  • arrangements unworthy of the players
  • just a bunch of scott henderson clones
  • Wow, its true
  • Giant steps?
 A Guitar Supreme: Giant Steps in Fusion Guitar
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Tone Center
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Jazz FunkJazz Funk | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Fusion for Miles: A Guitar Tribute
  2. Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse: A Fusion Guitar Tribute
  3. Mysterious Voyages: A Tribute to Weather Report
  4. The Royal Dan: A Tribute
  5. Live!

ASIN: B0002VGROU
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Tracks:

  1. Resolution
  2. Afro Blue
  3. Crescent
  4. Giant Steps
  5. My Favorite Things
  6. Naima
  7. Mr Syms
  8. Central Park West/Your Lady
  9. Equinox
  10. Village Blues
  11. Lazy Bird
  12. Satellite

Album Description

John Coltrane's musical virtuosity not only influenced sax players, but also composers and soloists on other instruments. "A Guitar Supreme" brings together guitarists Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Eric Johnson, Steve Lukather, Greg Howe, Jeff Richman, Frank Gambale and more in a guitar tribute to one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Disappointment..........2006-05-27

A bunch of great guitarists dealing with John Coltrane's complex harmonies. Quite every jazz player considers Coltrane as one of the most rappresentative and influential musician in the world; I love all the musicians playing in this album, they all have the harmony knowledge to play on the intricate Coltrane's chord changes, BUT...it seems they never listened to his songs, to his sounds, to the magic athmosphere he was able to create on his albums. That dreamy sensation is the main thing lacking here in my opinion. Playing in a Coltrane tribute is NOT ONLY playing over Coltrane chords! Here it's like some good guitar players practising...where's the Tribute??
Besides, in Giant Steps (soloist: Greh Howe) why mix a kind of Hendrix's Foxy Lady in the main theme???
I would have expected something more, considering skill of such guitarsits.
Maybe a too commercial project?

2 out of 5 stars arrangements unworthy of the players.......2006-05-18

Not a bad idea, but there are already a million (maybe more?) Coltrane tribute recordings out there, so the bar has already been set very high. The arrangements are what hold this project back. I haven't heard enough of Richman's work to say that he's a bad arranger, but he has no business arranging these tunes. He bit off more than he could chew, and really should've hired an accomplished arranger. These are very challenging tunes to arrange, because they really need very little arranging. The original material is so strong, that you better be a damn good arranger - and have a couple good ideas - before you start tinkering. The result here is not Fusion, but Fuzak. The tunes all have a lame LA milquetoast sound, as if arranged for Kenny G. Rough edges have been smoothed and sanitized. But, to keep things 'spicy', almost every tune has at least one odd-time signature measure!! That makes it fusion, right? Give me a break.
FWIW, my favorite recent Trane tribute recording is probably Conrad Herwig's 'The Latin Side of John Coltrane'.

2 out of 5 stars just a bunch of scott henderson clones.......2006-05-12

Sounds like everyone here is trying to be a Scott Henderson clone, but he already did this kind of stuff years ago much better than these players. Just get all the Tribal Tech CD's instead.

3 out of 5 stars Wow, its true.......2005-11-27

He's not really playing over Giant Steps. Thats depressing cuz i know he can... oh well... Its funny to hear some of the interpretations of these standards. On one hand its nice to hear a varied rendition of each of these tunes from how they were played and even now are general played today, (mostly straight ahead type vibe,) but on the other hand its doesnt feel any where near as fresh as when Coltrane played these songs. I guess what i mean is, is that when Coltrane played these songs, (especially stuff from the mid-later Quartet albums, these songs and they way they were played, (i.e. harmonic approach, comping, the whole "sheets of sound" approach, etc,) were something so completely new and different, it forced the listeners and the surrounding musicians to react and to think and to feel differently then they had prior. It brought music to another level for many people, and it transcended the typical sense of how music was felt. ( Very few musicians ever achieve this type of musical epiphany, hence why they are considered "artist.") But on this record, i dont get the same sense of personal exploration that i got from listening to Coltrane. To honor a great artist by simply getting a bunch of guys to jam on his music i dont think is necessarily the best way to do it. But i digress, im sure that whoever produced it and put it together was on a tight schedule and budget, so they were not going to be able to get enough time to really work with all the musicians on direction and content and approach. I personaly would have loved to see the likes of Kurt Rosenwinkle, Allan Holdsworth, Lage Lund, Dave Gilmore (of the Seve Coleman fame, not Pink Floyd,) or Alex Skolnic, to hear what they would have done with these tunes, but even then theres no guarantee that they wouldnt just slap a band together and blow of Count Down or Crescent. I guess in the end, everyone played rather well on this record, even though the arrangements sound pretty stale to me, bu tim sure that is because of the lack of time and fore thought/ direction. Ultimately, i think the best way to honor any great artist is to take what they have created and go beyond it. I can safely say that this record does not achieve that. In fact, i dont think even on a personal level for these guitarist does this record achieve that. If you have this record, then enjoy it! And if you dont have, thats ok too. Its worth a once through, ( easily memorizable,) but thats about it

1 out of 5 stars Giant steps?.......2005-05-01

The guy really isn't playing Giant steps. Enjoy the Jolt cola and D&D. Rock on!
Giant Steps
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • ONE REVIEW?!!?? ONLY ONE?????
  • Say what I can't say.
 Giant Steps
The Boo Radleys
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
BritpopBritpop | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Dream PopDream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
ShoegazingShoegazing | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Alternative RockAlternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Wake Up!
  2. Everything's Alright Forever
  3. Nowhere
  4. C'mon Kids
  5. Femi Kuti

ASIN: B0000240JU
Release Date: 2001-01-22

Tracks:

  1. I Hang Suspended
  2. Upon 9th and Fairchild
  3. Wish I Was Skinny
  4. Leaves and Sand
  5. Butterfly McQueen
  6. Rodney King [Song for Jenny Bruce]
  7. Thinking of Ways
  8. Barney (...and Me)
  9. Spun Around
  10. If You Want It, Take It
  11. Best Lose the Fear
  12. Take the Time Around
  13. Lazarus
  14. One Is For
  15. Run My Way Runaway
  16. I've Lost the Reason
  17. White Noise Revisited

Album Description

Sony budget series release of 1993 album, out of print in the States.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars ONE REVIEW?!!?? ONLY ONE?????.......2007-03-23

You have got to be kidding me! I NEVER write reviews on AMAZON, but seeing this album with only one supporter, well, I just had to get my 2-cents in.
For you aging sixties hipsters, remember the first time you heard Pet Sounds? Or perhaps LOVE's Forever Changes? How 'bout Tommy?
For you seventies burn-outs, remember Led Zep IV? Wish You Were Here? Bowie's LOW?
How about all you eighties 'wavers' (including myself!), do YOU remember the first time you heard Joy Division's Closer, Pornography by the CURE, or Laibach's Opus Dei?
In the early nineties, you had Screamadelica by Primal Scream, which drastically changed the sonic landscape by melding stonsey-type rockers with house and ambient music.
And you had the Boo Radleys GIANT STEPS, which combined the shoegazing sonics of My Bloody Valentine with Brian Wilson style harmonies. But that was not all. One listen to Lazarus (in an abbreviated version here, unfortunately) and you will become a fan. As my brother would say, "it's a dubtastic psychedelic trip, maaaaaan!"
Every track is a psychedelic standout, the best of the best being the afore mentioned Lazarus, Rodney King, Butterfly McQueen and Best Lose the Fear.
If you buy this album and have never heard it before, your first listen should be on high quality headphones, lest you miss the little gems of musical wonder hidden in each track.
Bottom line: everyone with even a passing interest in quality music should own this. Yes, it really is that good, it stands the test of time by sounding both nostalgic and twenty years ahead of it's time.

5 out of 5 stars Say what I can't say........2006-12-07

Giant Steps is one of those extraordinary albums that tugs at your unconscious and whirls you through some airy region that is part molten dreams and part hair-thin half remembered visions that only flicker into life when this album shakes your biological fat encrusted brain from its habitual somnanbulance. The tunes are as striking as anything penned by Brian Wilson; however, they also contain some strange psychic liquid distilled through the emotional falls and glides of the albatros, Martin Carr. On this album he and the band risk their lives to extract these tunes from the undiscovered country where dwell spectres indifferent to the fears and hopes of schmuks like me. Just when your life seems dominated by your stupidity an album like Giant Steps reminds you that there are characters like Martin Carr that have courageously travelled to the edge of our banality and found mystery drifting in rivers just beyond our ken. Everytime I hear this album it peals with an intensity of joy mixed with craving for that something that both saves and destroys us. But best of all this album reminds me that these glorious songs switch an extra chamber in my mind that enlarges my megre existence. Thank you Boo Radleys for this gift.
Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fantastic Finish
  • Ghostwrite for Soft Schedule
  • Hmmmmm
  • It's still heartbreaking music
  • The last chapter of the Bad Astronaut saga
 Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment
Bad Astronaut
Manufacturer: Fat Wreck Chords
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
PunkPunk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Houston: We Have a Drinking Problem
  2. Acrophobe
  3. Love Their Country
  4. War of the Worlds
  5. Unicornography

ASIN: B000IZJ1HU
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

  1. Good Morning Night
  2. Ghostwrite
  3. Beat
  4. Stillwater, California
  5. One Giant Disappointment
  6. Minus
  7. Best Western
  8. San Francisco Serenade
  9. Autocare
  10. Violet
  11. Go Humans
  12. The 'F' Word
  13. The Thirteenth Step

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic Finish.......2007-04-12

Perhaps my favorite Bad Astronaut release and definitely one of the best records of 2006. One Giant Disappointment is one of my favorites here. It made me cry everytime I heard it for 2 weeks, Ghostwrite, Minus, Best Western, San Fran Serenade, Go Humans are all excellent. Joey is consistantly great, one of my favorite artists of the last 15 years.

4 out of 5 stars Ghostwrite for Soft Schedule.......2006-12-21

Fist thing first: it's a great album. Songs are so hooked on a soap space, since the 'Houston...' LP that they are actually in so often feels like one. Good Morning Night' and Beat' still capture the old fashion secrets of Joey and added satisfy feeling that came with new ways such as 'Best Western. Only misguided feeling is the whole concept evolution through the "album" idea. After Derrick passing, it's hard to collect the motives of sound to create tracks and waited for a new born viewing behind the main ideas of the songs. Joe Strummer's Streetcore suffers by the very same thing. At the some point 'Twelve Small Steps...' seems like a some kind of superior collecting rare songs and b-sides album with a thrilling feeling in the core that is both dark and celebratory. As a legacy it's an ear-catching affair to it's white noise. As a tribute; it'll be along any forever...

3 out of 5 stars Hmmmmm.......2006-12-17

Ok, the other reviewers before me have done a great job of talking about the background of this band and the trajedy that befell them. Therefore I will skip to my review of what I feel is a lackluster album (it appears I'm in the minority, which is nice... I love Bad Astronaut). Anyway, there are no real great songs on here, just a bunch of good ones. For any other band that would be more than satisfying, but this is Bad Astronaut! Their first two albums are without a doubt two of my favorite records of all time. The band grew so much between Acrophobe and Houston... and I was hoping that 12 Steps would be even better than the first two. However, this is not the case. Ignoring the death of one of the key members of the band is unfair, but we are reviewing the cd here and I can't change my rating of the music. Hopefully over time this album will grow on me, but unlike the first two it has not hit me immediately.

5 out of 5 stars It's still heartbreaking music.......2006-11-15

This is a very different CD than I was expecting, it's hard to know how losing a pivotal member both musically and personally will affect the music they create. Many people fall apart and give up, while others take the pain their feeling and focus it back into their music. Fortunately, Joey Cape is more of the latter than the former. I've always felt that the greatest artistic achievements have come from pain (see: Disintegration by The Cure, Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt, etc.), so while this CD wasn't what I was expecting, it is by no means disappointing.

I first heard of Bad Astronaut right around the time that Acrophobe came out, and it was such a breath of fresh air from the music at the time. There was so much thought put into the music, the cello was present, but never overused, it was just incredible song writing and musicianship (is that a word?). Their second CD was even better than the first, "My Son" literally drove my mom to tears the first time she heard it, and the maturation of the band continued. After Derrick took his life, there was a lot of talk that this record would never be released, it was too hard for them to face this. Luckily Joey took the pain and heartache and created a beautiful, if sometimes disjointed record.

This record was being written when Derrick died, so some songs were written before, some after, and the disparity between the two types of songs are huge. There are the "normal" Bad Astronaut songs like Go Humans that for some reason reminds me of Grey Suits, and there is the haunting Minus which has been one of my favorite songs for quite a while. The real highlight of this CD is the songs written to/about Derrick. You can almost see Joey trying to cope with it as the CD progresses. In One Giant Disappointment he almost sounds angry at Derrick for leaving him, for not struggling on. In Stillwater, California he pays tribute to the ones that have left us including Derrick, but also Jason (Thirsk? Sears?) and Richard (?). Finally there's a general acceptance of things with Thirteen Steps, the minor chord he drops into right before the "devastating" is just heartbreaking. There is so much emotion and depth to their songs.

So sadly as we say goodbye to Bad Astronaut, we can thank them for some beautiful songs, for putting everything out in the open so we can see what they were dealing with at the time. As I listen to the backwards guitars that have a very "Beatles" feel on Thirteen Steps, I smile, realizing that I was very lucky to have been clued into them, and realize that as long as Joey is creating (the Tony Sly split is beautiful) and the rest of the band keeps doing their thing, we'll all come out ahead.

5 out of 5 stars The last chapter of the Bad Astronaut saga.......2006-11-15

Bad Astronaut. A band that was made as an excuse for 2 old friends, Derrick and Joey, to play together again. With Derrick gone now, Twelve small steps, one giant dissappoinment, is Joey's final goodbye to his best friend.

From start to finish you can hear the honesty and passion in the music, writing and Joey's voice. Even in the songs that are not written about Derrick {or don't seem to be written about derrick}, you feel the power in this album. This is record is truly a gift to the world of indie rock, punk, or all music lovers.

After hearing it for only one day, it moved me almost immediately. This is a must for all Bad Astroanut, Wagon, Caper, and Derrick fans. I highly recommend this for indie rock lovers. You will not be disappointed. The boys in Bad Astronaut put their heart and soul into this recording and I for one am going to miss this band's contribution to the world of rock.

Not to mention Derrick's contribution to the World of Punk Rock and Rock.

Do yourself a favor and get this cd.

Thanks to the Guys of Bad Astronaut. And thank you Derrick for the inspiration. You will not be forgotten.
On the Road: Live in California
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		On the Road: Live in California
    Gerry Mulligan Quartet
    Manufacturer: Giant Steps UK
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    Cool JazzCool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music
    JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. On the Road: Live in LA and Boston '54
    2. Lost Holland Concert September 18 1955
    3. Köln Concert Featuring Dick Twardzik
    4. Complete Recordings
    5. Quartet Live, Vol. 3: My Old Flame

    ASIN: B000EQIO58
    Release Date: 2006-05-01

    Tracks:

    1. Line For Lyons
    2. Carioca
    3. My Funny Valentine
    4. Bark For Barksdale
    5. Utter Chaos
    6. Aren't You Glad You're You
    7. Get Happy
    8. Poinciana
    9. Godchild
    10. Too Marvellous For Words
    11. Lover Man
    12. I'll Remember April
    13. These Foolish Things
    14. All The Things You Are
    15. Bernie's Tune
    16. Five Brothers
    17. I Can't Get Started
    18. Ida's Side
    19. Funhouse
    20. My Funny Valentine
    21. Blues Going Up
    22. Little Girl Blue
    23. Piano Blues
    24. Yardbird Suite
    25. Blues For Tiny
    26. Soft Shoe
    27. Makin' Whoopee
    28. Darn That Dream
    29. Ontet
    30. Bark For Barksdale
    31. Makin' Whoopee
    32. Nights At The Turntable
    33. Blues For Tiny
    34. Frenesi
    35. Limelite

    Album Description

    One of the genuinely innovative modern jazz groups to emerge in Los Angeles during the early '50s, the original Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker is captured live, on stage, at their regular Hollywood haunt, The Haig as well as San Francisco's famed Black Hawk Club. The album has been compiled by the legendary Roy Carr. Giant Steps.
    Historic Carnegie Hall Concerts: Birth of a Legend
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Historic Carnegie Hall Concerts: Birth of a Legend
      Oscar Peterson
      Manufacturer: Giant Steps UK
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      CanadaCanada | North America | International | Styles | Music
      Bebop GeneralBebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music
      JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Pilgrimage
      2. What's Up?: The Very Tall Band
      3. On the Road: Live in California
      4. No One Else But Kenny
      5. Disorder at the Border: The Music of Coleman Hawkins

      ASIN: B000EQIO4Y
      Release Date: 2006-05-08

      Tracks:

      1. Fine and Dandy
      2. I Only Have Eyes for You
      3. Carnegie Blues
      4. Gai
      5. Padovane
      6. Sweet Georgia Brown
      7. Cheek to Cheek
      8. C Jam Blues
      9. Tenderly
      10. Seven Come Eleven
      11. Lollobrigida
      12. Pompton Turnpike
      13. Swingin' on a Star
      14. Love for Sale
      15. Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home

      Album Description

      By any standards, impresario Norman Granz's method of launching Canadian piano virtuoso Oscar Peterson onto the American jazz public was genuinely inspired. Granz wanted Peterson to appear at a Jazz At The Philharmonic concert at Carnegie Hall on a bill featuring Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Flip Phillips, Ella Fitzgerald etc. When the pianist couldn't obtain a US work visa in time, Granz came up with the perfect ruse: Oscar Peterson would appear as an unbilled non-paid guest. On the night in question, Granz planted Peterson in the audience. Then, at a pre-arranged moment, casually announced that Peterson just happened to be in the audience and invited the piano man to join him on stage. It was then but a short step to the keyboard and, an even shorter step to stardom. Overnight, Oscar Peterson had become the talk of New York. This collection includes that memorable occasion plus future sets featuring Ray Brown, Barney Kessel and Herb Ellis. Giant Steps.
      Crime Scene USA: Classic Film Noir Themes & Jazz Tracks
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Music for mean streets
      		 Crime Scene USA: Classic Film Noir Themes & Jazz Tracks

      Manufacturer: Giant Steps UK
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by NewmanAll Works by Newman | Newman, Alfred | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by WaxmanAll Works by Waxman | Waxman, Franz | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Movie ScoresMovie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
      Movie SoundtracksMovie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
      JazzJazz | Imports | Stores | Music
      SoundtracksSoundtracks | Imports | Stores | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Murder Is My Beat: Classic Film Noir Themes And Scenes - Motion Picture Soundtrack Collection
      2. Crime Jazz: Music In The Second Degree (Television And Film Soundtrack Anthology)
      3. White Heat: Film Noir
      4. Film Noir
      5. Body Heat (1998 Re-recording of 1981 Film)

      ASIN: B000JBWWC4
      Release Date: 2006-11-20

      Tracks:

      1. Street Scene/Theme
      2. Letter/Theme
      3. Maltese Falcon/Theme
      4. High Sierra/Theme
      5. Double Indemnity/Theme
      6. Mildred Pierce/Theme
      7. Detour/Theme
      8. Killers/Theme
      9. Big Sleep/Theme
      10. Postman Always Rings Twice/Theme
      11. Brute Force/Theme
      12. Dark Passage/Theme
      13. Born to Kill/Theme
      14. Key Largo/Theme
      15. Force of Evil/Theme
      16. White Heat/Theme
      17. Impact/Theme
      18. Asphalt Jungle/Theme
      19. D.O.A./Theme
      20. Sunset Boulevard/Theme
      21. Strangers on a Train/Theme
      22. Racket/Theme
      23. Macao/Theme
      24. Kansas City Confidential/Theme
      25. Big Heat/Theme
      26. Suddenly/Theme
      27. Private Hell 36/Theme
      28. Man with the Golden Arm/Theme
      29. Kiss Me Deadly/Theme
      30. Killing/Theme
      31. Sweet Smell of Success/Theme

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Music for mean streets.......2007-01-19

      This CD contains all the great Film Noir themes you'll ever need and then some. From Alfred Newman's majestically Gershwin-esque opener "Street Scene" (which graced a number of movies including the distinctly non-noir "How To Marry A Millionaire") through to the pared-down jazz of Bernstein and Katz's "Sweet Smell of Success" this is a guided tour down the dark alleys and mean streets of the music that soundtracked some of the greatest monochrome crime movies of all time. The music, by it's very nature, is intense, urgent, overwrought and nervy and you may find the album a hard one to listen to in one sitting but, boy, does it make you want to re-watch those films! Sound quality is very good and the liner notes - which include brief plot summaries for the films - are snappy and informative.

      Note: My CD has 31 tracks and not 33 as listed here. "White Heat" is included but missing (presumed omitted on release?) are "Murder, My Sweet", "The Chase" and "Scene of the Crime". For a correct tracklisting see the product details on Amazon.co.uk.
      Giant Steps
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • The Best of Woody Herman
      • The Best of Woody Herman
      • Don't Miss This!
      • Big Band at it's best
      		 Giant Steps
      Woody Herman
      Manufacturer: Ojc
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Swing GeneralSwing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Classic Big BandClassic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Contemporary Big BandContemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. Thundering Herd
      2. Woody Herman-1963 Swingin'est Big Band Ever (25th Year-His Greatest)
      3. Big New Herd at the Montery Jazz
      4. Thundering Herds 1945-1947
      5. King Cobra

      ASIN: B000000YJ4
      Release Date: 1994-10-21

      Tracks:

      1. La Fiesta
      2. A Song For You
      3. Freedom Jazz Dance
      4. Te Meaning Of The Blues
      5. The First Thing I Do
      6. Think On Me
      7. Giant Steps
      8. A Child Is Born
      9. Be-Bop And Roses

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars The Best of Woody Herman.......2003-07-22

      This is the best CD that Herman created to feature a more modern style of jazz in the 1970's. Every track on this CD shows off the amazing skill of Herman's "Herd" La Fiesta is a fast beat composition of Chic Corea, which is definatly the highlight of the CD, and everything else all the way down to Be-Bop and Roses are all great works of the Herman Band. If you like Woody Herman, you will like this album.

      5 out of 5 stars The Best of Woody Herman.......2003-07-22

      This is the best CD that Herman created to feature a more modern style of jazz in the 1970's. Every track on this CD shows off the amazing skill of Herman's "Herd" La Fiesta is a fast beat composition of Chic Corea, which is definatly the highlight of the CD, and everything else all the way down to Be-Bop and Roses are all great works of the Herman Band. If you like Woody Herman, you will like this album.

      5 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This!.......2000-01-14

      Woody's first album for the new Prestige-Fantasy label, this was an instant Grammy winner! Great playing by another group of future all-stars, the showpiece tune on this one is Tony Klatka's GREAT arangement of Chick Corea's "La Fiesta." Great tunes, like you would expect from Woody, all arranged and played to perfection. Nobody ever played a ballad better than the Herman band, and Leon Russell's "A Song For You" just wraps you up in the music, as Bill Stapleton's lovely flugelhorn solo helps build the chart to a swelling conclusion. There is also Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance," Bobby Troup's "The Meaning of the Blues" and the Coltrane great on the title tune "Giant Steps." Want more? Check Woody's lyrical playing on Thad Jone's "A Child Is Born!" And the "kicker," pianist Alan Broadbent's original "Be-Bop And Roses" (WOW!) Yes, it's a great album.....

      5 out of 5 stars Big Band at it's best.......1999-11-15

      The Herd's Grammy winning album is definitely one of the best jazz cd's I have ever purchased. Every tune is a gem. La Fiesta and A Child is Born stand out and thier version of Giants Steps is superb. A must for any fan of big band and jazz.

      Music:

      1. Hand and the Sword [Import]
      2. Hardstyle: the Ultimate Collection 2004 V.3 [Import]
      3. His Own Way [Import]
      4. Hot Planet
      5. Hotride [CD-single]
      6. I Wanna Be Your Toy [CD-single] [Import]
      7. I Will Survive [CD-single] [Import]
      8. India [Import]
      9. Irma Italo House & Disco [Import]
      10. Italo Lounge [Import]

      Music

      music

      Recommended Music:

      In and Out of Focus [Original recording remastered] [Import]

      Magic Of The Violin

      Mundell Lowe [Import]

      Music: One Size Fits All [Import]

      Live & Direkt [Import] [Live]

      Loopholes & Great Excuses [Import]

      Lungo Le Vie Del Vento [Import]

      Jungle Tools 1.0

      Now Playing: Movie Themes - Solo Piano

      Joachim Raff: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Frühlingsklänge" & 9 "Im Sommer"

      Isolation Party

      Lost Sides [Import]

      Mr. Lunasicc [Explicit Lyrics]

      Perfect Love

      Connected