Feather Light

Track Listings

1. Easy Days

2. For My Love

3. Feeling It All

4. Lovers Reunion

5. New Beginning

6. Peaceful Journeys

7. No Pressure

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Released in 1989, harpist Hilary Stagg's 42-minute Feather Light offers a modest, easy-listening assortment of quiet pleasures intended more for rumination than serious meditation. Stagg, playing an acoustic-electric harp, intertwines his peaceful, laconic playing with a small ensemble (acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizer, violin, occasional percussion) to create moods that mostly occupy a midrange between earthy and ethereal. The first two selections, "Easy Days" and "For My Love," convey an almost countrified demeanor (with occasional slide-guitar sections lazily, effectively accenting the mix), giving you a mental picture of a barefoot Stagg a-pickin' and a-blissin' on his cosmic back porch. The affect is appealing, and Stagg's unhurried touch adds a nice grass-blade-in-your-teeth, lounging-in-the-meadow atmosphere to tracks such as "Lovers' Reunion" and "Peaceful Journeys." The lovely "A New Beginning" stirs the mental impression of a rose slowly unfolding into full blossom. Too bad Stagg ends things with "No Pressure," where ill-advised drum patterns make the piece sound like cheesy bar music. Other than that misstep, Feather Light is a pleasant (if unspectacular) sonic diversion. --Terry Wood

Feather Light,Hilary Stagg,Real Music,Adult Alternative,Contemporary Instrumental,Jazz Music,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Feather Light

Tracks:

The Blue Danube - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Anna Polka - (French Polka) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Morning Papers - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
At The Hunt - (Polka) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Light of Heart - (Fast Polka) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Wine, Women And Song - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Pleasure - Train - (Fast Polka) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Vienna Bonbons - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Perpetual Motion - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Accelarations - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Pizzicato - Polka - (Johann And Josef Strauss) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.
Tales From The Vienna Woods - (Waltz) - J. STRAUS SR./STRAUSS*J. JR.

Tracks:

The Emperor Waltz - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Thunder and Lightning - (Fast Polka) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Die Fledermaus: Overture - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Voices of Spring - (Waltz) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Prince Methusalem: Bandit Gallop - (From 'Prince Methusalem') - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Artist's Life - (Waltz) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Persian March - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Roses from the South - (Waltz) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Eljen a Magyar! - (Fast Hungarian Polka) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Chit-Chat Polka - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Vienna Blood - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Radetzky-March - (Johann Strauss, Father) - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2007-07-22

These CD's were wonderful. When I drive in the Sierra Nevada mountians I want something peaceful but not boring. I love, love, love it.

Repackaged New Year's Concert 1984 with VPO, etc........2005-02-23

If I'm not mistaken, most of the pieces were recorded originally live during a 1984 New Year's Concert conducted by Lorin Maazel with the Vienna Philharmonic playing in its grand concert hall, the Musikverein. Maazel and the Vienna Philharmonic have had a longstanding relationship dating from the 1960's, and without question, this CD does rank among my favorite New Year's Concert performances (However, the most mesmerizing ones I've heard have been those with the late Carlos Kleiber and Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducting.) for the superb quality of the Vienna Philharmonic's playing. Maazel leads the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in some of the most popular works composed by the Strauss family, most notably Johann II Strauss' Tales from the Vienna Woods Waltz, Emperor Waltz, Pizzicato Polka, Blue Danube Waltz and his father's Radetzky March, which traditionally closes out the annual New Year's Concert. Fans of the Strauss family, Vienna Philharmonic and Lorin Maazel, will not be disappointed with this excellent two CD compilation.

I am glad I bought this one.......2003-04-25

I listen to this cd to relax and it is so soothing. It starts with The blue Danube, which is my favorite. But the rest of the songs do not disapoint.

Great Music as usual.......2002-10-08

This is great recording,
I enjoy listening to it
veru much. This is a
compilation of all the
favorite waltzes by
the Strauss family, that
one might hear at a
New Year's eve concert
of the Vienna Philharmonic...
All waltzes and Polkas are
favorites of audiences everywhere
in the world...

A gem!.......2001-10-29

Who else knows Strauss better than Viennese? I attest that no other orchestra in the world plays Strauss better than the Vienna Philharmonic. Their light sound is exactly what the composer wanted, and it really makes other clumsy, heavy attempts by some other orchestras like Berlin and Chicago seem pathetic.

As far as the content of these CDs go, they are fantastic. They have every waltz, march, and polko of Strauss II that you could possibly want, as well as a nice addition of "Radetzky March" by the composer's father. If you are looking for a Johann Strauss Jr. CD, get this one!

Light as a Feather
Average customer rating:

The playing is good, but the vocals . . .

Classic

one of the BEST albums ever made

better every time I listen to it

Among the best of Chick

Light as a Feather
Return to Forever
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Return to Forever

Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy

No Mystery

Where Have I Known You Before

Romantic Warrior

ASIN: B0000046YK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

You're Everything
Light As A Feather
Captain Marvel
500 Miles High
Children's Song
Spain

Amazon.com essential recording

Featuring the same band as the first Return to Forever album--vocalist Flora Purim, saxophonist-flutist Joe Farrell, bassist Stanley Clarke, and drummer Airto-- 1973's Light As a Feather was the result of a conscious effort on Chick Corea's part to communicate with a broader audience. Although Corea's electric piano and Purim's spacey-samba vocals might sound dated, the album includes a couple of Corea's most beloved compositions, "500 Miles High" and "Spain." Subsequent Return to Forever albums turned to conceptual bombast and silly fantasies. Here, Corea strikes an appealing balance between art and accessibility. --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

The playing is good, but the vocals . . . .......2007-04-15

Chick delivers a fine album musically, with some terrific solos on the electric piano, but I must agree with some of the reviewers on here that Flora Purim's vocals can be downright awful on all the pieces she sings. Her voice sounds flat and off key, and you can really hear her struggle with her accent and her English throughout the album. It sounds as if she is struggling to hit the note and sustain it in all the songs. This is truly disappointing and I cringe because the music is so good and tightly composed. I think the later Return To Forever is better and I'm going to have to sell this one back.

Classic.......2006-03-24

As fresh today as when released. Creative, tasteful improv that avoids some of the excess of later work.

one of the BEST albums ever made.......2005-10-15

This album is in a class by itself. I don't hand out the "Best" judgement lightly. The musicians have to be spectacular, the music has to be exciting, and there are NO weak parts to the album. NONE. Every song is a gem, every musician is clear and articulate. I have to tell you that "Musicmagic" also fits into the "BEST" catagory too.

Stan Getz was so impressed by this and the "Return to Forever" album that his Captain Marvel album contains 3 cuts from the 2 albums, and features Chick Corea on electric piano, Stanley Clarke on electric bass, Airto Moreira on percussion. Quite honestly, I've listened to this album so much that I am sick of it. (I have it in vinyl from the 70's.)

Nowdays I am returning to my roots and have found other musicians good enough to play this stuff, and I am in hog heaven!

I think I can safely say that non-musicians will really enjoy this album, musicians will be blown away!

better every time I listen to it.......2005-01-13

I've had this album on vinyl (2x), tape (1x), and CD (2x). Every time I re-listen to it I discover something else I love about it. The pure tones of the electric piano, the clarity and trueness of Flora Purim's vocals, the bass lines, the drums and percussion. Just an outstanding album, one that gets better over time. I first listened to at 16, and I still love it 30 years later. The quick and dancing piano work from Chick on 500 miles high just shouts out, "This day is absolutely beautiful, I am so glad to be alive and experiencing it."

Among the best of Chick.......2004-08-18

The first time I ever heard this album was in 1976 or so, when I listened to it in a college library listening room in Cortland, NY. The first cut on the album (yes, it was vinyl) was, of course, "You're Everything", and I was beside myself. I think I must have listened to that song about 10 times in a row. I was instantly a major Chick Corea fan, and saw him with Return to Forever in a small on-campus concert. A lot of his other stuff was very appealing to me at the time (late teens early twenties), along with Stanley Clark and Al and Lenny. I will say that I have since fallen a little out of love with much of his music, with the exception of "Inner Space" which has some true straight-ahead jazz in the best tradition of the late sixties, long before we ever dreamed of an abomination like Kenny G. These two albums are as different as night and day, with "Inner Space" being an edgier, exploratory cascade of brass, (some gorgeous flute with Hubert Laws in "Windows"), drums and piano, and "Light as a Feather" being a much more accessible and lighter jazz celebration with the smooth airy tones of Flora Purim, and some fun songs like "Spain" and "Children's Song". If you like Charles Mingus and Bilham Cobly (Billy Cobham) you'll like "Inner Space", but I recommend both albums.

Average customer rating:

Emperor Waltz

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Roses from the South
Andre Rieu Collection (2 CD)
The Vienna I Love, Waltzes From My Heart
100 Years of Strauss
From Holland with Love: Waltzes I've Saved for You

ASIN: B000021XYI
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Enjoy Your Life, Waltz Op.340 - Norbert Neukamp, Andrieu, ,
Pleasure Train, Polka, Op.281 - Joseph Francek, Andrieu, ,
Emperor Waltz, Op.437 - Andrieu,
Eljen a Magyar, Polka, Op. 332 - Joseph Francek, Andrieu, ,
Wine, Women & Song, Waltz, Op.333 - Andrieu,
Egyptian March, Op. 335 - Norbert Neukamp, Andrieu, ,
Tales from the Vienna Woods, Waltz, Op.325 - Andrieu,
Bitte SchFrench Polka, Op.372 - Norbert Neukamp, Andrieu, ,
Morning Papers, Waltz, Op.271 - Joseph Francek, Andrieu, ,
Carefree, Polka, Op.114 - Andrieu,
Love Songs, Waltz, Op.114 - Joseph Francek, Andrieu, ,
Light Hearted, Polka, Op.319 - Joseph Francek, Andrieu, ,

Average customer rating:

Unforgettable
Touching Beyond Belief
Completely Relaxing
Feather Light is oh so right

Feather Light
Hilary Stagg
Manufacturer: Real Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Beyond the Horizon
Dream Spiral
The Edge of Forever
Sweet Return
Hilary Stagg: A Tribute

ASIN: B000001J3V
Release Date: 1994-06-07

Tracks:

Easy Days
For My Love
Feeling It All
Lovers Reunion
A New Beginning
Peaceful Journeys
No Pressure

Amazon.com

Released in 1989, harpist Hilary Stagg's 42-minute Feather Light offers a modest, easy-listening assortment of quiet pleasures intended more for rumination than serious meditation. Stagg, playing an acoustic-electric harp, intertwines his peaceful, laconic playing with a small ensemble (acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizer, violin, occasional percussion) to create moods that mostly occupy a midrange between earthy and ethereal. The first two selections, "Easy Days" and "For My Love," convey an almost countrified demeanor (with occasional slide-guitar sections lazily, effectively accenting the mix), giving you a mental picture of a barefoot Stagg a-pickin' and a-blissin' on his cosmic back porch. The affect is appealing, and Stagg's unhurried touch adds a nice grass-blade-in-your-teeth, lounging-in-the-meadow atmosphere to tracks such as "Lovers' Reunion" and "Peaceful Journeys." The lovely "A New Beginning" stirs the mental impression of a rose slowly unfolding into full blossom. Too bad Stagg ends things with "No Pressure," where ill-advised drum patterns make the piece sound like cheesy bar music. Other than that misstep, Feather Light is a pleasant (if unspectacular) sonic diversion. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Unforgettable.......2004-05-10

When my taped copy got left in the sun and destroyed I almost cried. This music is simply wonderful. Uplifting, relaxing, great for any mood. Simply unforgettable.

Touching Beyond Belief.......2003-06-16

Warning! This CD may bring tears to your eyes. It is probably the most touching music I have ever heard. If you're looking for gentle music for meditation, massage or quiet reading time, try this. There is not a song I don't just love on this album - there are no surprises from the samples you'll hear. I also purchased Dream Spiral but it didn't have the same impact on my soul as this one did...and continues to do so. A great gift for any massage therapist!

Completely Relaxing.......2000-11-08

I have had this CD for several years. In fact I have worn out a cassette tape. This music is what you will want to listen to, no matter what mood you are in. It takes the stress out of your life, regardless of what you have going on in your life.

Feather Light is oh so right.......2000-01-15

In my business, as a massage therapist, you want to create the right atmosphere for your clients. Many times you purchase CDs and some of the selections are appropriate while others are totally wrong. This CD is a perfect mix of harp, guitar, violin and piano. Every selection compliments the one before. My clients all comment on my excellent choice of music when I play this CD. Highly recommend.

Average customer rating:

JEFF BALL'S NEW CD COMBINES NATIVE FLUTE AND THE NEW SPACE-AGE HANG INSTRUMENT

The Shape of Light
Jeff Ball
Manufacturer: Red Feather Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Native American | North America | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Windtamer
Return to Balance
Cedar Moon
Reverence
An Ancient Muse

ASIN: B000NP5MQ4
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Tracks:

Finding Promise
Metta Prayer
Escape Of The Medicine Man
The Shape of Light
Tranquility
Getting There
Ancestors in Daguerreotype
Never Alone
In Buffalo Skins
Drawing In Embers

Product Description

Award winning flute player Jeff Ball continues to explore the boundaries of the Native American Flute on this newest album with guest artists Arvel Bird and Peter Phippen.

Customer Reviews:

JEFF BALL'S NEW CD COMBINES NATIVE FLUTE AND THE NEW SPACE-AGE HANG INSTRUMENT.......2007-03-29

Over the course of ten albums, Jeff Ball has come to be recognized as one of the premier players of wooden American Indian flutes. Jeff has always been one of the most progressive and innovative wood flutists, both melodically and with his arrangements. This album is no exception because instead of using a traditional drum kit as before, his band's drummer plays space-age dome-metal instrument called a hang (pronounced like gong) which was only invented in 2001. The hang is played like a hand-drum, but combines rhythm and melodies (notes and chords can be played on it).

On THE SHAPE OF LIGHT Ball brings modern sounds together with those from an American Indian culture thousands of years old, he also draws musical inspiration from the world around him (the tunes "Tranquility," "Finding Promise," "Never Alone") as well as from ancient native images and traditions ("Escape Of The Medicine Man," "In Buffalo Skin," "Drawing In Embers").

THE SHAPE OF LIGHT is more acoustic, improvisational and meditative than previous Jeff Ball albums. Two of the tunes are in the ten-minute jam-band range. If you enjoy cutting-edge new music mixing traditional native flute with more modern European-invented instruments, this CD will probably appeal to you.

The Strauss Family: Waltzes, Polkas & Overtures - Willi Boskovsky/Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna (6 CD's)

Average customer rating:

The Strauss Family: Waltzes, Polkas & Overtures - Willi Boskovsky/Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna (6 CD's)
Johann Strauss , Johann Strauss II , Josef Strauss , Eduard Strauss , Willi Boskovsky , Johann Strauss Orchestra of Vienna , and Vienna Symphony
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Lehár: Waltzes
Strauss: The Best of Vienna
Strauss: Waltzes, Polkas & Marches
Waldteufel: Famous Waltzes
Lehar: Die Lustige Witwe, Der Graf von Luxembourg, Paganini, Der Zarewitsch, Friederike, Das Land des Lachelns, Giuditta (13 CD's)

ASIN: B0002RUAFG
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

Radetzky-Marsch, Op. 228
Sigh Galop, Op. 9
Blue Danube, Op. 314
Artist's Life, Op. 316
Tales From The Vienna Woods, Op. 325
Wine, Woman And Song, Op. 333
Vienna Blood, Op. 354
Roses From The South, Op. 388
Voices Of Spring, Op. 410
Emperor Waltz, Op. 437

Tracks:

Features Section Waltz, Op. 293
Flight Of Fancy, Op. 215
Accelerations, Op. 234
Ever More Cheerful, Op. 235
Carnival's Ambassador, Op. 270
Leading Article, Op. 273
Morning Papers, Op. 279
Pamphlets, Op. 300
New Vienna, Op. 342

Tracks:

Carnival Pictures, Op. 357
Where The Lemon Trees Blossom, Op. 364
Du Und Du, Op. 367
Kiss Waltz, Op. 400
Lagoon Waltz, Op. 411
Treasure Waltz, Op. 418
Viennese Women, Op. 427
Danube Maidens, Op. 427
Explosions-Polka, Op. 43
Champagner-Polka, Op. 211
Fancy-Dress Parade, Op. 240
Episode, Op. 296

Tracks:

Pleased As Punch, Op. 301
Express, Op. 311
Light As A Feather, Op. 319
Thunder And Lightning, Op. 324
Long Live Hungary, Op. 332
Im Krapfenwald'l, Op. 336
At The Double, Op. 348
From The Banks Of The Danube, Op. 356
Greetings From Austria, Op. 359
At The Hunt, Op. 373
I-Tipferl, Op. 377
Bandits' Galop, Op. 378
New Pizzicato Polka, Op. 449
The Carnival In Rome
The Bat
Cagliostro In Vienna
Blindman's Bluff

Tracks:

The Queen's Lace Handkerchief
A Night In Venice
The Gypsy Baron
Pearls Of Love, Op. 39
Village Swallows From Austria, Op. 164
Secret Powers Of Attraction, Op. 173
Delirious, Op. 212
Watercolours, Op. 258
My Life's Course Is Love And Joy, Op. 263

Tracks:

Masks, Op. 33
Forward!, Op. 127
Off On Holiday, Op. 133
The Gossip, Op. 144
Woman's Heart, Op. 166
Sport, Op. 170
All Sorts, Op. 219
In Flight, Op. 230
Chatterboxes, Op. 245
Typographical Letters, Op. 252
Fireproof!, Op. 269
Without A Care!, Op. 271
Artists Greeting, Op. 274
Jockey, Op. 278
Line Clear!, Op. 45
Where One Laughs And Lives, Op. 108
Non-Stop, Op. 112
Below The Enns, Op. 121
Alpine Rose, Op. 127
Delight In Travel, Op. 166
Out Of Hand, Op. 168
Carnival Letter, Op. 203
With Pleasure, Op. 228
With The Breakes Off, Op. 238

Average customer rating:

Perhaps best compilation so far
Actually comes close to being the best

Best of New Year's Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Best of New Year's Concert Vol. 2
New Year's Concert 2005
1992 New Year's Concert
2007 New Year's Concert
2006 Neujahrskonzert - New Year's Concert

ASIN: B0000E4N55
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Tracks:

The Blue Danube Op. 314 (Waltz)
Thunder And Lightning Op. 324
Morning Papers Op. 279
Bandits' Galop Op. 378
Emperor Waltz Op. 437
Hunting Op. 373
Viennese Bonbons Op. 307
Beloved Anna Polka Op. 137
Accelerations Op. 234
Burning Love Op. 129
The Dragonfly Op. 210
Overture

Tracks:

Vienna Blood Op. 354
Celebration March For The Recovery Of Emperor Franz Joseph I Op. 126
Light Of Heart Op. 319 - Hans Knappertsbusch
Without Brake Op. 238
Music Of The Spheres Op. 235
Pizzicato-Polka Op. 449
Watercolours Op. 258
On The Wing Op. 230
Voices Of Spring Op. 410 - Johann Strauss II
Egyptian March Op. 335
Anna Polka Op. 117
Tales From The Vienna Woods Op. 325 - Karl Swoboda
On Holiday Op. 133
Carefree Op. 271
Radetzky March Op. 228

Customer Reviews:

Perhaps best compilation so far.......2006-06-07

For many years I have rejected the "lesser" music of Strauss family. But since New Year's concert is an institution in Classical music I have to admit that sometime I was to buy something. And since tradition is what matters most, far more important than the particular conducting or programme of every year, why not having a look at a sample of this history line of performances? I usually hate samples of works or concerts, but in this case I make an exception: here the whole is far greater than its parts. Here you have many conductors from Krauss to Ozawa (lacking Mehta and the more recent Harnoncourt and Janssons)plus Knapperstbusch (?) who was closely associated with WP albeit without conducting a NY concert. In all of them the orchestra plays splendidly. If I have to single out a conductor, it is Karajan but I should listen to all his recording to make a judgement. What is important here is that you have a sample of what tradition truly is, far outweighting a particular programme or conductor. And the reperoire: almost all favourite pieces are here. Almost: I think it is a valse,very well known, I think, featuring in other CD under Maazel, that is absent here. But the vast majority of famous walzes and polkas are here, and adding track durations it makes clear that they need 2 cds. Given that it is very probable not to have all of them in a single concert, so I commend you not to let pass this oportunity and grab this compilation, unless you want a complete concert in particular. There is another more recent but less complete, I think. 4 of 27 tracks are not taken in a NY concert, but in Sofiensalle, in another time, but all are alive, with the WP. The local edition of the CD has a brief but appropiate history of the concert series by the President of WP, Clemens Hellsberg. Besides, the double CD ends with Radevsky(?) March, with public clapping, as it should. In summary, a must.

Actually comes close to being the best.......2005-10-28

Over the years DG has recorded more of the traditional New Year's concerts from Vienna than any other company, and they've mined their stock fairly often. Here is one of the very best collections, not a haphazard potpourri but a select cross-section of the best conducting from 1957 (Josef Krips) to 2002 (Seiji Ozawa). As it happens those are two conductors I wouldn't necessarily turn to for Strauss waltzes, but their contributions are buoyant and lovely. The same is true for eveyr cut on both CDs--one really gets into the spirit of a live concert and a festive occasion. Very nice.

Average customer rating:

For those who enjoy RTF's 'Musicmagic'

Light as a Feather
Chick Corea , and Return to Forever
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Return to Forever
Romantic Warrior
Light as a Feather
The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Birds of Fire

ASIN: B00000AFES
Release Date: 1998-09-22

Tracks:

You're Everything
Light As A Feather
Capain Marvel
500 Miles High
Children's Song
Spain

Tracks:

Matrix
Light As A Feather
500 Miles High
Children's Song
Spain
Spain
What Games Shall We Play Today?
What Games Shall We Play Today?
What Games Shall We Play Today?
What Games Shall We Play Today?

Customer Reviews:

For those who enjoy RTF's 'Musicmagic'.......2004-08-23

Whether you love this album probably depends on how early you joined the Corea fan-wagon. I joined in 1976, and found all of 'Romantic Warrior', 'No Mystery' and 'Where Have I Known You Before' to be superb ***** recordings. Working my way back, I wasn't so convinced by 'Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy'. Working forward, I felt totally let down by 'Musicmagic'. Maybe it was the loss of DiMeola's guitar or the disappearance of the hard, gutsy style that I believed was at the core of RTF. Unfortunately the re-branding of RTF as a latin sax-and-female-vocalist seemed a betrayal of the somewhat masculine values of the previous RTF.

But hearing 'Light as a Feather', it's now clear to me that the Musicmagic style wasn't totally new for Corea and RTF. Substitute Flora Purim for Gayle Moran and you have pretty much the 'LaaF line-up of five years earlier. The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide gives this four stars out of five, saying 'Essential for its joyousness, flawed for its lengthy noodling'. I'm not so convinced about its indispensability. Stanley Clarke's bass, mostly low down in the re-mastered mix, seems undistinguished when you compare it with it subsequently became.

The second disc is no worse than the first, although the idea of giving us no fewer than four versions of a track that wasn't even released on the original LP seems excessive. It's revealing to hear Corea giving instructions at the start of each recording -- he clearly worked his band hard, but they were demonstrably capable of responding to his requirements.

For me, 'No Mystery' is one of the best albums ever recorded, although I'll grant that it's an acquired taste. (Whenever I move to a new music format -- such as minidisc or MP3 -- I'll always try out 'Flight of the Newborn' first.) This album falls somewhat short of that, and I can only describe it as 'pleasant enough'.