Dianne Reeves, Patti Austin, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Take 6, Al Jarreau - Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration

This recording rocks my musical world!!

Quincy Jones already rocks my world. I have nothing but respect for him and the level of musical excellence that has always surrounded anything he put his considerable mind and talent to. But this re-imagining of Handel's Messiah from an African-American perspective is exceptional, extraordinary, unabated joy--especially in "And He Shall Purify" and "Hallelujah!" I am a middle-aged white musician/pianist/voice teacher in New York City. I got my Master's at Indiana University in voice. I was raised a Southern-Baptist even! I only offer up this information to suggest what an unlikely candidate I might be to enjoy this CD. I can't stop smiling and moving with these extraordinary performances when I put this CD on. God bless Michael O. Jackson for these vocal arrangements. I bow to the unsurpassed musical expertise, as well as the heart and soul demonstrated throughout the recording. And the mixing is something else--out of this world, truly!
This is one amazingly-inspired recording. Do yourself a huge favor and buy it for yourself and everyone you know. And get ready to rock out. October 9, 2008

Love the Cd

I don't listen to all the tracks on this recording, but I've all but worn out 8, 12 and the final track, the Halleluia Chorus. Stevie with Take 6 is masterful, as well as Al Jarreau on the all-star big band session. The one disapointment that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the recording quality. I wanted to use Why Do the Nations... with Jarreau to audition a pair of high-end stereo speakers in the store, and the band sounded like they were recorded in a shoe-box. Unfortunate for such great musicianship and arranging. February 27, 2008

Lively, joyful CD

I heard this CD at a friend's house once, years ago, and spent five years searching for it since. It showed up in Amazon this year, and I now, finally!, own it for myself.

I LOVE this CD! It pays homage to the original, but brings a lively, joyful, unique sound to the musical ideas Handel started with. It modernizes it without degrading it in any way. I still love the original (Tafelmusik's is my favourite rendition, as true to the original ideas as possible), but I love this adaptation equally as much. Some top-name musicians perform here, too, and I love hearing them add their creative ideas to this project.

5 stars, for sure! February 9, 2008

The best cut is the Hallelujah Chorus

I had heard the Hallelujah Chorus before (it was played in my spinning class at Christmas time) so I knew how great a song it is. I was hoping that the rest of the album was close to that level of inspiration and excitement - but I was disappointed. I liked the first cut (a short history of Black music in America) and a couple other cuts, but the Hallelujah Chorus is definitely the best. Most of the others are just so - so, in my opinion. Still the album is worth getting, just for the Hallelujah Chorus! January 24, 2008

Soulful Dance

I have always loved the dance rhythms, especially in the Overature. It is a really wonderful collage of all the kinds of African American music through history. I do recommend this product for a different feel of Handel's Messiah. January 8, 2008

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