Comments on: Two Men With The Blues in stores now!

By: John Mitchell

John Mitchell — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:39:41 +0000

The pairing of neoclassical-jazz maestro Wynton Marsalis with outlaw-country kingpin Willie Nelson is only confusing on the surface. The conceit behind Two Men With the Blues is that they have much more in common than just that, demonstrated via a joyous live performance of blues and standards. Circumstances favor Marsalis: The summit is on his turf (Jazz at Lincoln Center), with his full quintet (saxophonist Walter Blanding, pianist Dan Nimmer, bassist Carlos Henriquez, and drummer Ali Jackson). They perform “Caldonia,” for example, as a hard-swinging jump blues; even Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s longtime harmonica player, solos in that gutbucket fervor. Yet when Nelson unfurls his sonorous drawl, defying the instrumentalists’ rhythmic precision, it could suddenly be an Ernest Tubb tune.

Far from downplaying these contrasts, Marsalis and Nelson exploit them. On the slow blues “Night Life,” the trumpeter opens with an impassioned plunger-mute wail that could take paint off the walls; Nelson follows with a relaxed, conversational delivery. Willie also softens “Georgia on My Mind,” crooning along, barely above a whisper, to the band’s gospel jubilee. But if Blues is about melding (and flaunting) disparate approaches, it’s also about chemistry. The group’s mutual humor is apparent in Hank Williams’s “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It” (Blanding and Nelson trade “sobbing” clarinet and guitar solos) or the sly honky-tonk “Bright Lights, Big City”; a shared sentimentality suffuses “Stardust” and “Basin Street Blues.” In that sense, this is an experiment to see how far musical bonds can stretch. Sure, the novelty helps, and if it recurs too often, the glee of hearing Nelson and Marsalis mesh will diminish. But hearing once how they play with and against each other is a real treat.

By MICHAEL J. WEST
villagevoice.com

By: Karol

Karol — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:36:23 +0000

Peak of the album: the heady, hard-core blues-ballad rendition of “Night Life”, “Caldonia”, which swings amiably and “Bright Lights, Big City”, which exudes the requisite swagger.

By: Stephen Brantley

Stephen Brantley — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:14:44 +0000

I have followed Willie Nelson since 1975 and he obviously has had a legendary career. This album excites me as much as Stardust did, and that album sold over 5 million copies. Wynton Marsalis is unbelievable as is his band along with Micky Rapheal from Willie’s band. This is one of the greatest albums of all time in my opinion.

By: Kathy Holmes

Kathy Holmes — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:03:06 +0000

This is an awesome album! I first heard it on KUNV in Las Vegas and I’m so inspired, I’m getting in touch with my own love of singing and connecting with a voice coach. As a music lover, what else could I do listening to this album?

By: Luigi

Luigi — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:42:04 +0000

As posted in the forum:

Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis’s acclaimed collaboration Two Men with the Blues debuted today at #20 on the Billboard Top 200 chart with first week sales of 21,650, marking a career-high for both of these legendary artists. That ranking is Willie’s highest of the Soundscan era, and his highest since 1982 when his album Always on My Mind hit #2 on the charts (Stardust peaked at #30 in 1978).

For Wynton the charting is a career best. Previously, his album Hot House Flowers reached #90 on the Top 200 back in 1984.

Released July 8, 2008, by Blue Note Records, Two Men with the Blues has also been garnering rave reviews from critics across the musical spectrum. The Boston Globe called it “an unmitigated, ear-tickling success,” while Billboard remarked that the album’s “enviably assured vibe pretty much drips out of the speakers.” The duo gave a stunning performance of “Bright Lights Big City” on NBC’s The Tonight with Jay Leno on July 10 [www.nbc.com] and NPR’s All Things Considered broadcast a fantastic 11-minute interview segment on July 12 [www.npr.org]

Jazz at Lincoln Center has also just announced a return engagement to the site where the album was recorded live in January 2007. On February 9, 2009, Willie & Wynton will reunite, this time in JALC’s Rose Theater to help celebrate the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. Tickets will be available for purchase thru JALC’s box office beginning August 13.
For more information please visit [www.jalc.org]

By: PATRICIA WHITTINGTON

PATRICIA WHITTINGTON — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:29 +0000

just saw this and had to post it here. i have never been so excited about this and very happy for both
willie & wynton.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Albums&f=Top+Jazz+Albums

By: Luigi

Luigi — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:52:32 +0000

Barbara,
for now there’s one date only.
February 9, 2009, at Rose Theater (New York)

We’ll let you know through the TOUR section, if other dates will be posted.

By: Barbara Stevens

Barbara Stevens — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:25:08 +0000

Will you be bringing your Two Men With the Blues performance to Chicago?

By: valentin

valentin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:48:55 +0000

This album is really Great, but how couldn’t it be?? Thanks to both musicians, they are fantastic!
I disscovered Wynton at the “festival de marciac” (I am from France) and I can’t help stoping listening to his Jazz!! Carry on making us dream, Guys!

By: Luigi

Luigi — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:59:16 +0000

Check the review of the concert at Hollywood Bowl, on Los Angeles Times

The DVD will be released this fall.
Stay tuned about updates…

By: Patricia Whittington

Patricia Whittington — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:55:12 +0000

this is without a doubt the most up lifting and beautiful collaboration of all, i have ever heard.
the variations in the choices of music is outstanding, from jazz and blues to country. this is the ultimate in listening enjoyment. i look forward to the dvd coming out in the fall. i was not able to get a ticket to the performance last year at the Lincoln center and am happy to hear their will be a repeat performance coming up next february, 2009. i pray i make it this time, and will keep all the positive thoughts with me.
their is nothing like seeing a live performance of this high distinction. bravo many times over.

By: Paula Maxwell

Paula Maxwell — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:01:48 +0000

I saw Willie and Wynton playing together last night at the Hollywood Bowl. I was totally blown away! The Jazz at the Lincoln Center musicians were phenomenal! And then when the two of them started playing together in the last part of the show, it was like the music was coming straight from heaven. They both had these big smiles on their faces, their two styles blending seamlessly. It transcended any preconceived notions a person might have had. It was moving, exciting, inspirational. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to see these great artists perform together.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:03:23 +0000

I love this album; it’s so beautiful. So glad to hear they continue to play together. I think a dvd will be out in fall?

By: Karol

Karol — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:17:06 +0000

just got my files from iTunes music store.
Simply excellent! thanks Willie and Wynton. This is a magic release.
I hope to be at Rose Theater next year!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Neil King

Neil King — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:14:03 +0000

I got a pre release copy of these sides..they really are great! This will introduce Wynton to a whole other audience….He is the MAN!!!

By: Trent Kreitler

Trent Kreitler — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:07:57 +0000

I just finished watching the video clip for Two Men with the Blues and it was so unexpectedly beautiful that tears started rolling down my cheek. Part of the beauty is the music is terrific, part of it is the amount of respect I have for both you and Willie. At a deeper level, it is a great example of human relations. You and Willie are different in many ways. Instead of saying “we are too different from one another to work together”, you created a synergetic slant on some old songs.

Best wishes,

Trent Kreitler