This review is from: Mozart Operas: Harmoniemusik Arrangements of the Period + Beethoven's Fidelio (Audio CD)
This set was an excellent value (under $30) before it was discontinued. The Amadeus Ensemble (Not to be confused with the Amadeus Winds led by Christopher Hogwood.) is very competent. Their style is neither excessively romantic nor aggressively historical. The transcriptions, made by several late 18th-early 19th century musician/composers, are workmanlike and inoffensive.
If any recordings by either the Hogwood group, or the Sabine Meyer ensemble, especially with transcriptions by Franz Josef Rosiniack, become available they would be preferable.
Fidelio's dramatic music does not work as well in transcription as do the Mozart operas.
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This review is from: Vivaldi: Violin Concertos Volumes 4 & 5 (Audio CD)
Don't buy this album unless you love beautifully played Vivaldi. You will become addicted.
I own the entire set of Sholomo Mintz's Vivaldi Collection (of which this is volumes IV & V) and I have not found a disappointing moment.
If you are in the market for great music, great Vivaldi, great violin playing, or, especially, great Vivaldi violin playing, the Shlomo Mintz discs will fill the bill. These are recordings you can live with and enjoy countless times. Give it a try. The twelve concerti on this disc provide a splendid introduction to the wonderful art of Antonio Vivaldi, and the wonderful art of Shlomo Mintz.
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If Al Kooper isn't a living American musical legend, no one is. Who else has performed with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Hendrix and countless others? And not just performed but been an important component of legendary songs (how about the Hammond organ on both Dylans' Like a Rolling Stone and The Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want)? As a solo artist he is best known for his work as a founding member of both the Blues Project and Blood Sweat and Tears. Many more famous recordings have followed and lead us to this great selection - a CD that is, in my opinion, a classic: a two-CD Al-fest. Recorded live at NYC's Bottom Line, Al performs his great tunes from the Blues Project and Blood Sweat and Tears, as well as his solo recordings such as I Stand Alone. The excitement from the packed audience is only rivaled by the intensity Al and the band bring to such classics as I Can't Quit Her, Somethin' Goin' On and New York City (You're a Woman). It's Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll and a great time, as only Al Kooper can bring.
2CD set featuring Al Kooper
WITH Blues Project & Blood, Sweat & Tears alumni
RECORDED LIVE at the BOTTOM LINE in NYC
WITH Randy Brecker, Tpt; Jerry Douglas, Gtr; Al Kooper, Org; Lew Soloff, Tpt; Mike Henderson, Hrm; Johnnie Johnson, pno; John Sebastian, Hrm; Bill Lloyd, gtr; Michael Henderson, Hrm; Fred Lipsius, Alto Sax; Tom "Bones" Malone, tbn; John Simon, Org; Roy Blumenfeld, drm; Harvey Brooks; B gtr; Crispin Cioe; hrn; Howie Emerson, sl. gtr; Jim Fielder, bass; Anton Fig, dms; Bob Funk, tbn; Arno Hecht, hrn; Danny Kalb, gtr; Andy Kulberg, bass; Will Lee, bass gtr; Sherryl Marshall, back vocals; Chris Michie, bass; Catherine Russell, Vls (Background); Jimmy Vivino, gtr; Larry Natkin, hrn; Oniviv Ymmij, gtr;
This review is from: Soul of a Man: Live (Audio CD)
"Soul of a Man" is a wonderful 2 disc set that was recorded during a celebration of the career of Rock man behind the scene, Al Kooper. He's been there making great music, first as a session man with a talent for making classic songs stick to your brain, i.e. "Like a Rolling Stone" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want". He continued then as a bandleader (the Blues Project and the original Blood,Sweat and Tears),and made many fine recordings as a solo artist. For this live recording,he managed to assemble some of his many friends and former bandmates to appear with him at the Bottom Line in NYC for a couple of memorable nights. The recording itself is just plain wonderful. Whoever mixed it did an incredible job. The versions of old chestnuts like "I Can't Quit Her" and "Flute Thing" sound better than the originals, and the band(s) all play like they're having as much fun as the audience. There are a couple of mis-steps when Danny Kalb sings "2 Trains Runnin",and when Koop plays a... Read more
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This review is from: Soul of a Man: Live (Audio CD)
Quite aside from this 2 disk set surpassing the sound & production quality of any live offering I've heard, this is a superb effort by original Blues Project & BS&T members, plus the ReKooperators and guests.
There is only one way to listen to this album. Gather All Things Al aficionados, enjoy your favourite libation and enjoy.
It's all there; Super Session, You Can't Always Get...with a trombone instead of Al's french horn.
The only negative is that Steve Katz decided, apparently after the gig, that his guitar was not to be on the album. The negative is eliminated by Al's production artistry. Goodbye Katz and thanks to Jimmy Vivino & Oniviv Ymmij for helping make this offering a perfect overview of the best of the last 50 years of popular music.
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THERE IS NOONE OUT THERE DOING THIS TYPE OF MUSIC BETTER., August 23, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Soul of a Man: Live (Audio CD)
I've been a huge fan of Al's since 1969, saw his first show in the UK at Aylesbury and have been waiting a long time for a record like this. I was apprehensive to say the least but it was an unbelievable moment hearing the first bars of Something Going On and from there on it was pure magic.There's a huge gap in the market for this type of music. The BS&T stuff sounds as fresh as ever but if I had to change anything I would have preferred to have heard MORE from the solo albums eg Easy Does It.
Al, if you read this thanks a lot. I realise that the video probably won't come out but is there any chance you could make it available to us! Lastly it's great to read other fans reviews on this and to find out yet again that there are Al Kooper fans out there. Al let's hear some more as soon as possible. With thanks Michael Zabaroff, London, England
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Good value, 
