Starman (1985) Repost

Best Moves brings together the strongest singles from Chris de Burgh's first five albums, making for a short but pleasant collection of early material. Not all the tracks are ballads though, and the album is greatly benefited by the eerie "Spanish Train" and the whimsical air of "Patricia the Stripper." A live version of "Broken Wings" appears here as well, with its album version coming from 1977's At the End of a Perfect Day.

Taken from a concert in Stockholm, Sweden, this well-recorded CD mostly features trumpeters Cootie Williams and Cat Anderson, tenor-saxophonist Paul Gonsalves and altoist Johnny Hodges as the main soloists in a set with Duke Ellington's orchestra. "The Opener," "Blow by Blow" and "The Prowling Cat" have rarely been recorded and even the more familiar pieces are given new life, highlighted by a definitive rendition of "Harlem."

Tracks 1-3 recorded on 1957-1958, Europe. Tracks 4-5 recorded on 1960, France. First three tracks of this album are from legendary pianist/composer/theorist Thelonios Monk; with Thad Jones on trumpet and Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone. And the last two tracks are from drummer Max Roach; with Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, and Julian Priester on trombone. Although Monk and Roach doesn't perform together in any track; this album can be recommended to the collectors; because of the great names, and also for the Denon label.