|
Watch What Happens: The Jazz Album | 
 enlarge | Creators: Fiete Felsch, Gary Foster, Marcus Bartelt, Dieter Ilg, Andreas Maile, Harold Arlen, Adam John / Price, Stuart David Blake, Charlie Chaplin, Eric Steven Cunningham, Edward "duke" Ellington, Sammy Fain, George Gershwin, Michel Legrand, Frederick Loewe, Richard Rodgers, Stevie Wonder, Nan Schwartz Mishkin, Peter Erskine
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $9.79
You Save: $7.19 (42%)
New (22) Used (9) from $8.99
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 113585
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 000823902
UPC: 028947765011
EAN: 0028947765011
ASIN: B000JFZ9FM
Release Date: February 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Tracks:
| • | There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York | | • | Watch What Happens | | • | Secret Love | | • | You And I | | • | Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive | | • | I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face | | • | Can't We Be Friends? - Arranged by Alan Broadbent | | • | Smile (Final Theme from the Motion Picture "Modern Times") - Arranged by Nan Schwartz | | • | They All Laughed | | • | My Funny Valentine | | • | What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? - Arranged by Nan Schwartz | | • | In My Solitude |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Is it surprising that a master of German art song would produce a jazz album? Not if he's Thomas Quasthoff, who has sung jazz since his university days and maintains an infectious enthusiasm for it. From breezily light baritone to sexy bass (he rumbles very comfortably around low F), Quasthoff totally adapts his sound to the music's needs, confidently attacking certain notes "white" before adding vibrato. The American "r" - so difficult for foreign artists - does draw undue attention, as do certain vowel sounds, but otherwise Quasthoff's delivery of English is convincing. He sings much of the music comparatively "straight" (one frequently wishes he'd indulge in some really off-the-wall improvisation), but he definitely knows his way around this material. Highlights are a cool "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," a jaunty "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive," and especially haunting versions of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" and Duke Ellington's "In My Solitude." Very enjoyable, too, is the growling conclusion of Stevie Wonder's "You and I." Quasthoff is supported by a strong ensemble, including Germany's most gifted jazz trumpeter, Till Broenner, and the excellent pianist Alan Broadbent. The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra, however, brings an unwelcome "101 Strings""flavor to six numbers. --Roger Pines
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Million-dollar voice!! October 21, 2007
A. Wilkerson (Los Angeles)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recently became aware of a new album by one of the finest singers I've ever heard. Thomas Quasthoff is one of the leading bass baritones in today's classical world. What is also phenomenal about this German lieder singer is the ease with which he crosses over into the world of pop and jazz. I have never heard a classical artist do this with such total spontaneity and the ability to not only swing you to death but scatting with titillating aplomb. (See him on Youtube - Thomas Quasthoff - All Blues.) Since German is his native tongue it is all the more impressive that he has mastered not only the English language but many of the nuances of the language as well. Although I would not label this a true jazz album, it is nonetheless a lovely vocal album of jazzy tunes. Quasthoff's musical inflections are reminiscent of Sinatra, Bennet and Sammy Davis Jr. and yet he brings to the table something totally his own.
I was made aware of Quasthoff from alto saxophonist, Gary Foster, who appeared on Thomas Quasthoff - The Jazz Album on Deutsche Grammophon. This is a delightful musical journey with swinging standards and lush, gorgeous ballads - beautifully scored by Nan Schwartz. Thomas' voice is exquisite in all regards. (Listen to some of his Schubert lieder!!!)
In a world full of wanna-be jazz singers and second-rate imitation crooners, when this million-dollar instrument sings Gerswhin, Wonder and LeGrand, you will simply melt! Check it out!
Review by Andrea Baker aka Andrea Wilkerson
 Wallowing in the worst register of his voice... June 6, 2007
Charles G. Johnson (San Francisco, CA)
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
Thomas Quasthoff must have reached a certain benchmark in sales at Deutsche Grammophon to be allowed this indulgence, another unnecessary crossover CD from a media-feted classical singer.
Oy, but a great classical singer he's not. And he's even a worse jazz singer. As this collection shows, he has listened to his Ella Fitzgerald records faithfully enough to imitate her breathy, conversational delivery in the middle register, while lacking her innate sense of coloring and rubato. His is a dull, foursquare delivery, which he consciously tries to loosen by issuing a pathetic growl now and then to prove he's gettin' down. And just the SOUND of his voice, its timbre, in this conversational register is patently unpleasant. As mentioned above, his overcompensation with r's and with certain vowels makes his delivery even more studied and stilted.
However, when he soars above the staff, as he does in "You and I," his voice gains considerably in power and beauty. This happens all too infrequently, unfortunately.
The song program contains some real clunkers, such as "Secret Love," "There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York," and the execrable "My Funny Valentine." Just compare Thom's "What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" to Barbra's (from the "Way We Were" album) to see how straight and uninspired our German friend's rendition is. "In My Solitude" is almost unlistenable.
To this CD's credit, I must compliment the luscious, clear sound of the recording and the judiciously crafted orchestral arrangements. Ultimately, though, this is just another one of those vocal crossover albums that will end up in the cut-out bins with scores of others already gathering dust.
Good job Quasthoff! May 30, 2007
Herbjoern or arson (Egilsstadir, Iceland)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Is your opinion that classical singers can't sing jazz?
Being a classical singer my self I know how hard it can be to sing jazz.
Quasthoff proves with this CD that he is a true musician and separates the two different ways of singing very well.
Simply wonderful! March 20, 2007
Penet Guy
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
Being a great admirer of T. Quasthoff in his classical performance and a jazz lover, I didn't hesitate to order this cd. Moreover, the jazz impro bonus on The Voice let me think that Mr Quasthoff's voice could match perfectly the jazz style. The result is beyond the expectations. Mr Quasthoff sings these jazz standards as if he had done that all his life long, and the result is astonishing. It is even further enhanced by the great recording! So, order this CD without hesitation....
Not jazz March 11, 2007
Andy Rogers (Austin, Texas)
4 out of 15 found this review helpful
Quasthoff has a phenomenal voice, but he should keep his day job. He is not a jazz singer. Although this may be some German idea of jazz, it isn't jazz, and the musicians do not seem to understand jazz at all. The songs are not sung or played like jazz, and many of the songs are nowhere near jazz at all. If "Secret Love" is jazz, Doris Day must be Billie Holiday in disguise. This is a novelty piece, but one listening is a gracious plenty; I stopped sooner.
|
|
|
Used CDs | |
