Alan Wortman

Clear evidence Jazz died in the 1960's, Jun 3 2004

I love Jazz. I love the Blues. I love raw Jazz and Blues singers. I love gutsy experimentation. But, by the time this album came out, Jazz vocals had been developed as far as they were going to go. Betty Carter attempts to innovate in much the same way the Serialists tried to innovate in Classical music--and the result is just about as attractive. This screeching is unlistenable in the 21st century and is only valuable as a historical record of how hard a Jazz vocalist had to try to do anything meaninful after the rise of Rock & Roll. Sad really.

Santana & Arista hit another home-run, Oct 22 2002

Arista records got it right with Supernatural: Santana is a great guitarist, great band, and great songwriter. Carlos just needed some top vocalists and creative producuction to communicate his full powers. The formula worked before and it works again here.

This album is generally mellower than Supernatural, although several of the tunes really rock. There isn't a bad song on the album. Several of the songs could be strong singles. I do think Macy Gray's song is a particular winner.

Shaman is really enjoyable, with consistently strong songs, diverse and interesting artists. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a superhit like Supernatural's Smooth.

A disasterous fusion of jazz and rock., April 24 2002

I really love Gil Evans big band work on the Miles Davis albums: Sketches of Spain, Porgy & Bess, and Miles Ahead. These are probably my three favorite Jazz albums. I also love Gil Evans own work on Out of the Cool and on Gil Evans and Ten.

Jimi Hendrix has been my idol since my early teens. Electric Ladyland is my all time favorite album. I've worn through three vinyl and three CD editions.

So you would think I would really enjoy this album, right? Wrong!!! Somewhere this concept went terribly, terribly, awfully, horribly wrong. Instead of Cool Jazz, instead of hip Fusion, we have really bad Muzak versions of Hendrix.

There are 12 tracks on the CD. "Angel" is a solid instrumental… Read more