Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    
    Does anybody else have any of the GRP Records CD's.  I am interrested
    in listening to Lee Retinour (sp) and some others.  I heard one
    of his songs on MTV *once* and really liked it.  
    
    I've also heard the GRP is in the lines of Telarc, Windham Hill
    etc... as far as recording quality is concerned.  Is this true?
    
    						.dave.

    I have Dave Gruisin's "Night-lines" (with St. Elsewhere theme) and
    "Mountain Dance", as well as "In the Digital Mood." They're all
    superbly recorded. There is at least one sampler-type recording
    in their catalog - "GRP Live" - with at least one each of their
    artists.
    
    -Tom

    
    The outer box my CD came in (the long cardboard thing that the jewel
    box is in) had a catalog of their titles on the back.
    
    Dave W.

    I second (or is it third?) the recommendation for IN THE DIGITAL
    MOOD. From what I understand, the GM Orchestra duplicated the
    original recordings right down to the mistakes (since I can't
    tell the mistakes, I can't corroborate that personally).
    
    --- jerry

    
    re .2
    
       GRP has a Jazz Sampler Vol. 1 released about two years ago and
    a Vol. 2 released earlier this year.
    
    re .1
    
       Lee Ritenour has a CD titled "On The Line" which I think was
    originally released as a direct-to-disk LP. It's a good album. Another
    album, "The NY LA Dream Band" also features Ritenour and Grusin.
    The "GRP Live" CD is also available in VHS Hi Fi.
    
    bb

    I have Billy Cobham's "WARNING" and "POWER PLAY" on GRP. Let's just
    say "AWESUM"
    
    Jeff
    

    I played "In the Digital Mood" for my father who is a big band era
    aficionado. Since he remembers the original Glen Miller Band as well as
    the Modenaires, I consider him to be my most accessible expert. 
    
    His opinion: "Best recording of Miller music I've heard". I had
    him entranced for several hours, just listening again and again.
    
    My advice: If you've got parents in their 60's, it's a treat they'll
    never forget, and it's worth much more than the cost of the CD (sorry
    to be schmaltzy but.......)
    

    re .1:  I have "Harlequin" on CD... very enjoyable, but I really
    don't care for the vocal tracks... good CD for a programmable player.
    (very nice recording job...)
    
    					...tek

    I bought "In the Digital Mood" on the basis of the great reviews
    I've read (like the ones in this topic).  I've been a big band fan
    for many years and was prepared to be blown away.  I wasn't.
    
    When I played it recently for my father-in-law (in his 60's),
    he said what I'd been thinking - the recording is great, but the
    band just doesn't duplicate the spirit of the original Glenn Miller
    band.
    
    -- Ward

    I have a Glenn Miller DD (Direct Disk) and have the same feeling
    as Ward. Very precise playing but without the feeling of energy
    you can hear thru the scratches in the old 78's.   
    
    The lights are on but nobodys home.
    
    Walt

    Tried out "In the Digital Mood" this weekend.
    
    All the right notes, but no (enthusiasm, drive, tension, spirit
    -- pick one).  Disappointing.  That's the bad news.
    
    The good news -- if you want to check out big band music consider
    the Smithsonian Big Band Jazz collection, a six (vinyl) record set
    from the beginning to about 1950.  [I borrowed both this weekend
    from the Winchester (MA) library].
    
    They have done an INCREDIBLE job of creating decent sound from the
    old 78's.  Being above the commercial fray, they have managed to
    get contributions from RCA *and* Columbia, as well as smaller labels.
    
    Personally, I would MUCH rather listen to the old "In The Mood"
    or "String of Pearls" from the Smithsonian collection than the
    (admittedly better-sounding) "In the Digital Mood".
                                   
    In addition to which, you get the REAL bands -- Benny Goodman,
    Count Basie, Duke Ellington, etc.
    
    dq
    

    I've heard a number of the Smithsonian collections, and they all
    seem to be great.  Now, when are they going to start putting the
    stuff on CD?

     Benny Goodman's 'Let's Dance' is real Benny Goodman, recorded in 
1985, DDD, I think.  It sounds even closer to live than In the Digital 
Mood.