Bruce Hornsby - Intersections 1985-2005

Amazing collection!!!

I bought this anthology to "prepare" for a live concert with Bruce Hornsby in the coming months. I love the music- I always have - but I'd stopped listening and never was much of a buyer.

This collection is so thoughtful and thorough. Hornsby does an amazing job of showing his musical journey over the course of his career. There's a little 80's stuff, some Dead, a lot of jazz, and lots of beautiful, meandering piano solo work.

If you're looking to reconnect with the music of your past *and* enjoy the work of a phenomenally talented artist - this is for you! June 24, 2008

ROCK STAR FERRARI

Bruce is like a Ferrari that wants to be a rock star & leaves the other cars in a whirlwind of dust as it speeds by, slowing down only briefly to show off some spins, flips and other amazing feats of magic to the awestruck cars on the race to the Rock Star Finish Line on Candy Mountain Road.

This musician is phenomenal! Bruce may be too good for the pop scene, but thanks for being there! By himself or with a group of other musicians, masterpieces are to be found in this 4 CD mix (plus 1 DVD and 1 booklet w/pictures, details on the songs, articles written about Bruce--one states he's too good for his own good!) The CDs are an eclectic mix of styles and songs--some never before released, and many are live performances that are truly fantastic and astonishing renditions at the very least, and they sound like the best in studio recordings. Many of them should blow you away, they are that good. Some "classical" piano solos written by Bruce--I really LOVE Song H (done with orchestra). Lots of jazz improvs here and there--he's in his element w/jazz. They are so well done--he only improves everything, and unless you really hate jazz altogether, you will LOVE what Bruce does to it all. Crown of Jewels, White Wheeled Limosine-Long Black Veil, Resting Place--Ah!!! This is absolutely SUPERB--a super masterpiece--listen to his amazing piano between 3.5 and 5 minutes into the song, Sneaking Up On Boo Radley--a truly ASTONISHING melodious jazz song, and Candy Mountain Run (unbelievably good) are among my very favorites. Crown of Jewels is also unbelievable (among others)!!! I was really surprised to see that he wrote such masterpieces like Crown of Jewels and Candy Mountain Run (among other pieces). I had to check if Candy Mountain Run was an old blues ballad because it sounds like an original Southern blues ballad of long ago, but HE WROTE IT! Amazing. (excuse my ignorance in the various technical definitions of types of music.) What I can guarantee is that this guy is totally amazing. My eyes got moist more than a couple of times listening to the songs. He is just too good. After I listened to all the songs, I saw the DVD and you just about had to peel me off the floor because I saw a 30+ or so Bruce at the piano for the first time, and I was really SURPRISED see this guy is GORGEOUS! He plays the original sounds to the songs, and you can see him just having fun--this Virginian--just being part of the group and having a great time.

It's not possible not to find at least some songs that are really worth listening to over and over. I skipped over Backhand that I didn't like, but Bruce didn't write it.

ONE VERY HOT NOTE: The quality of stereo equipment makes all the difference in the music enjoyment. The lesser the quality, the more sounds get shuffled. Bruce truly does a heart-stopping, jaw-dropping peformance on Pastures of Plenty (I was saying Oh My God!--many times during the song), but to hear all the subtle sounds and delicate piano notes, you need excellent equipment. If you don't have the very best at home, good portable CD players do simulate excellent stereo equipment.

Bruce is truly amazing.

Only one thing: he wrote that he had a Bison head delivered. Oh God I do hope that was not the REAL thing as I am deeply compassionate toward non-humans.

June 2, 2008

Great set for existing fans

Great stuff for people who already have a collection of Bruce Hornsby. This has more of alternative, b-side, live versions of great songs and covers. The live & videos DVD is great addition too. The included book gives some interesting insight into what was going on with each song and video. I will continue to enjoy this set as an additon to my collection of Bruce Hornsby. I would not really recommend this for someone who wants all the radio versions of the songs that they have been wanting to hear. May 12, 2008

A Worthy Deep Dive

Like a lot of people, I remember Bruce Hornsby from his top 40 radio days. I always liked his music on the radio but never really made any significant effort to get to know his work better. The other day I found myself listening to a boot-legged recording of him singing Hendrix's "Little Wing" that he just sort of improvised on the fly. It was a pretty incredible work of improvisation. Clearly, there is more to this guy than I had known before. So, kind of on a whim, I ordered this box set to take a little deeper dive into an artist I had basically overlooked for years.

It has been a very long time since I've enjoyed an album this much. Hornsby is so much more than that top 40 artist you remember. There are all the radio favorites you remember, reworked and reinterpreted with great skill. But there is a lot of other great stuff here. Wonderful instrumental piano work, and a bunch of new gems every bit as good as the songs you know. He is so versatile, and plays in so many different styles, and it's all really, really good.

There are plenty of artists that put out "box sets" that could easily be squeezed onto a single disc. This isn't one of those dubious efforts. Hornsby is a serious and talented artist and his work amply deserves this extended treatment. If you like the Hornsby you know, get to know the one you don't. You won't be sorry.
March 31, 2008

Outstanding!!

Many have stated already how good this collection is so I won't go on & on, suffice it to say that all the timless songs are here as well as beautiful solo pieces... the dvd is just iceing on the cake... If you are a Bruce fan you can't miss this collection... February 29, 2008

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