Charlie Haden - Land of the Sun

From free jazz and protest songs to American folk tunes, eclecticism has been bassist Charlie Haden's stock-in-trade. On his previous recording, Nocturne, Haden, Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, and percussionist Ignacio Berroa explored the Latin ballad tradition. Here, save for Augstin Lara's "Solamente Una Vez (You Belong to My Heart)" (previously recorded by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra) and Armando Manzanero's "Esta Tarde Vi Llover (Yesterday I Heard the Rain)," Haden focuses on the work of little-known Mexican composer Jose Sabre Marroquin. Haden's vivid and vibrant bass lines are augmented by Rubalcaba's transcendent arrangements, featuring Lovano and alto saxophonist Miguel Zenon. Marroquin's romantic boleros and canciones, especially "Nostalgia" and "Paola's Song," exemplify the softer syncopations of the Latin sound. --Eugene Holley, Jr. Amazon.com

Beautiful and Relaxing, but too sopoforic for all but bedtime

Ten relaxing and beautiful compositions from bassist Charlie Haden featuring pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Soft, slow and delicate, this disc makes a perfect choice for bedtime, but it's hard to imagine when else you'd want to play it. Track three is an actual lullaby, but that seems hardly necessary - my eyelids were already drooping just sixty seconds into the first track, and nothing that follows is likely to disturb your slumber. Truthfully, the only thing really wrong with this release is that it's being marketed as "jazz". To me that means it ain't got a thing if it ain't got that swing and this music definitely does not. What is does have is a quiet, soothing, contemplative quality featuring lots of woodwinds and the very gentlest piano playing, creating a sound that might be better marketed as `ambient'. Fans of such might consider this a terrific recording, but listeners like myself who prefer driving rhythms and explosive solos most certainly won't. The background music on the weather channel is far more invigorating. Not to be played while driving or operating heavy machinery. August 21, 2008

Relaxing, Sweet and Fresh.

This is how I describe "Land of the Sun":
Soft, mellow and relaxing, without any musical instruments confusion; every note and every sound from these fine 10 musicians is so well heard and appreciated. The Bongo played by Juan De La Cruz is a beautiful sound addition on every track and the Stereo recording is very well distributed. Charlie Haden is not trying to show what a great player he is; he is simply making a great soft Jazz album full of taste and sweet melodies.
Pour yourself a glass of wine, put this album in your CD player and enjoy this beautiful relaxing jazz masterpiece of Charlie Haden. "Land of the Sun"
January 12, 2007

Really Listen to the music, and you will understand

I agree with the amazon.com editorial review and with "Longboard Jazzer." Those who are only giving this album 1 star just aren't getting it. The emphasis in this album is on the songs themselves, which makes this album a little different from others. Every song is interesting and beautiful, in a subtle kind of way. With songs like this being the unifying factor of the album, the arrangements and solos should serve to complement them - and they do. Rubalcaba has some very fine arrangements that, again, are interesting in a very subtle kind of way. Really listen, and you'll get it. There is fine playing throughout that is very sensible and appropriate for the music. Rubalcaba's playing demonstrates these qualities throughout, and I must argue that Zenon's solo on the opening track is perhaps the best on the album. He is a player who has a lot of great things going for him. This is a must-have... but it warrants some serious, careful listening, or else you'll miss the importance of this album. June 29, 2006

Dull music for elderly people, why the 5 stars?

I bought this album because I love Charlie Haden's tone, and was impressed by the inclusion of the very fast playing alto saxist Miguel Zenon and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba in the credits.
But why were they hired? There's hardly any need in the bland arrangements for more than competent amateurs. It certainly needs a singer and a rocket up the band.
I am so puzzled by the five star reviews that I went back and switched on the CD. The track I picked at random was nice, but I couldn't face a second, and played a Fall record instead to wake me up. I shall try again, but it seems a bit dreary.
October 7, 2005

big letdown

after the beauty of "nocturne", i expected this to be , at least comparable, since many of the same people are on this date...sorry...this is a sad, boring excuse for music, let alone jazz, and i'm at a loss how such gifted musicians could sound so lifeless...maybe its the material, which may sound great sung by a decent vocalist, but leave nothing much to an arranger but dull, boring melodies, void of emotion, and inspiring (?) the most insipid playing ...despite this, some solos get slightly off the ground, but over all, this is an awful , boring, deadly dull record, and all connected to this should go back to the wooodshed. September 26, 2005

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