Album of the Week: Jazz After Dark

Good days deserve good music. Today is a very good day, hence, I will recommend some very good music. This week's album is Playboy Jazz After Dark.

When people think Playboy, jazz does not typically first come to mind. I mean, it doesn't for me either. But if you listen to this album, I think you'll agree that it should. Or at least jazz should accompany the rest of what you think Playboy is about.

Now, normally, I don't advocate compilation albums, especially "best of" discs. I prefer buying music in the format of the original album because then you get a better picture of what overall musical statement the artist was trying to make. However, sometimes compilations are so sublime, they must be noted. Here is such an example. I think part of the reasons for its success is that they compiled everything with a certain aim in mind. Obviously, that aim is music to be played "after dark." Any idiot can see that's not the actual aim though. I'm going to take a stab at Playboy's mindset here, and reason "after dark" really translates to "getting it on with a significant other." But don't get fooled into thinking that you need to be listening to this "after dark" or "getting it on with a significant other" to enjoy this music though.

The lineup of artists here is a proverbial all-star team. Ellington, Evans, Monk, Getz, Bennett. The real nice thing is it isn't other musicians rehashing their work though, it's the actual composers and performers. Thus, when you listen to "Prelude to a Kiss" (which is worth buying the album for on its own), you are actually hearing Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. And it is absolutely sublime. Thelonious Monk also rocks it out with an excellent solo rendition of "'Round Midnight." And for those of you in the mood for some Brazilian flair, check out Charlie Byrd doing "Corcovado" (I was there). I mean, this is the cream of the crop of the great romantics of jazz history. You listen to this, you can't help but feel good about love, no matter how bitter or hurt you are. Conversely, I'm sure if you were sitting at home with a bottle of wine watching "Sleepless in Seattle" by yourself, it would probably also make you extremely sad. So, there's a disclaimer.

The fun thing is, out of the two discs, the first is all instrumental whilst the second is vocal. So, there's quite a nice mix of different styles and songs. There's some hauntingly whispery vocal stylings courtesty of Mr. Tony Bennett, a little slow and sweet Basie-esque swing with Patti Austin singing "Our Love is Here To Stay," and some modal fun with Bill Evans doing "Blue In Green." Admittedly, some of the vocal pieces are overly schmaltzy, and pile it on a little thick for me. So it's not as if everything is perfect or anything. But the ones that do work hit it right on the head, more than making up for any deficiencies. I'd say the gold standards on the vocal side are Karrin Allyson doing "How Long Has This Been Going On" and Diana Krall singing "Body and Soul." If you've never heard Diana Krall, go out and buy her stuff right now. And of course, there's "Solitude" by Billie Holiday.

I can't stress enough, this disc is not only for the purposes I discussed above. I listen to this all the time during the day without a significant other, and I don't feel one bit ashamed of saying that. I can only imagine what the intended effect would be, however. Probably a home run.

Time to reconsider Playboy. Good day, good music, go listen to this.