12 Songs

I have spent years disliking Neil Diamond. Too 'Las Vegas', too much Mr. Showbiz, too much of nothing as Bob Dylan would say. But going back to the days of Sweet Caroline & Cracklin' Rosie I used to love him. What happened in-between? 12 Songs means it doesn't matter anymore what happened. This album has completely blown me away. It is direct, sincere, has the Rubin “less is more” approach and each song is brilliantly sung and communicated. He writes from the heart here and sings like it all matters. If you felt like I did don't ignore this CD as I was tempted to. Even when I laid my hands on it I was in a 'why' frame of mind. Why? Just listen. It is a magnificent record. All great songs but if I had to pick ones it would have to be "Evermore" and the additional version of "Delirious Love" with Brian Wilson as backing vocalist which made the hairs on my back stand up. Fantastic!

John W. Duarte (1919-2004) was educated at the Manchester University Faculty of Technology. He worked as a professional chemist until 1969, then abandoned chemistry in favor of full-time dedication to music, after having been persuaded by Len Williams, father of John Williams. His only formal musical education consisted in jazz guitar lessons with Terence Terry Usher, the rest he learned by self-instruction. He also worked professionally as a player of the trumpet and double bass, and regularly worked as a jazz musician, among others with Coleman Hawkins and Django Reinhardt.

12 Songs is the twenty-sixth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 2005. It was his first studio album since 2001's Three Chord Opera. It was produced by Rick Rubin.

A Christmas album of amazing beauty, from the deep and expressive voice of the mature (60 yo in 1998) Etta James. You will recognize immediately the well known Etta's passionate blues style, with an added jazz flavor. The album contains 12 timeless multi-heard xmas carols, but Etta sings them from the depths of her soul. "Silent night" may bring tears especially backed by excellent musicians in the guitar and sax. A superb CD for those who want something special for Christmas.

Neil Diamond Ayant démarré sa carrière dans les années 1960, Neil Diamond devient un artiste éminent, avec de nombreuses tournées internationales couronnées de succès, et un compositeur dont les oeuvres, écrites pour lui et pour d'autres, deviennent des tubes. Il commence à être reconnu en tant que compositeur associé à l'ère Brill Building de Tin Pan Alley au début des années 60. Mais il se diversifie rapidement dans l'enregistrement et le spectacle et au début des années 70, il est à la tête des hits-parades. Il devient également un artiste de scène dynamique, comme le prouve son album de 1972, Hot August Night. En même temps cependant, sa musique s'adoucit, d'une façon générale.

(Guitar Solo). A dozen jazz classics have been arranged by Sean McGowan in standard notation and tab, and recorded in downloadable audio full demonstration tracks for this collection. Includes: All Blues * Confirmation * Get Me to the Church on Time * I'm Old Fashioned * My Romance * On the Street Where You Live * Polka Dots and Moonbeams * Prelude to a Kiss * Ruby, My Dear * Stolen Moments * There Will Never Be Another You * Where or When.