|
I have about 12 of her CDs and they are all good. the piano playing is delightful and the music is good for dancing, going to sleep by,or just sitting back and listening to her technique. They are wonderful.
Flawlessly executed renditions of well known standards. Here, as elsewhere, BA sports Oscar Peterson-like technique and sensibilities sans the 128th-note riffs. While hard-core jazz enthusiasts may find her work a bit "straight" or predictable, BA is clearly a first-rate pianist.
Received in excellent shape. Very satisfied with transaction.
Being both a Beegie Adair and a Cole Porter fan I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of this CD, but would have to say it is, to my taste, the weakest of her works. In this CD, Beegie seems to run rampant with the music to the point that one can't follow the lyrics, either in your head or aloud. I've tried to think why, and believe it is a conflict between a great instrumentalist and a great lyricist, indeed poet. Porter's genius was in his poetry, set to catchy tunes. It seems a bit egotistical to me to do so, and I would compare this CD with her wonderful "I'll Take Romance,: where Beegie seems to worship the songs she plays. In "Dream Dancing," it's more of a battle.The final track "Begin the Beguine" is just painful, a slow funeral dirge of a song that can be a great self proclamation.Not recommended.
Reading through some other comments, I'd like to throw in my own three cents. Her live performances are beyond great. Still a sceptic.
Her recordings are one thing. I've attended dozens of them, and I have every single recording she has made (23 to date). Beegie Adair should indeed be considered among the short list of great jazz pianists.
Go see her live concerts. Here LIVE PERFORMANCES are quite another.On Deam Dancing, Beegie Adair and her trio present the great songs of Cole Porter in a, yes, "romantic" and "easy on the ears" format. Intentionally created for dinners, candlelight moments, and those oh-so-grand times of canoodling with your heartmate.This in no way dismisses her from inclusion among Bill Evans, George Shearing, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan, Gene Harris, et al.
Again, her recordings are great, no doubt. Hear for yourself.
|
