Music Two Men With The Blues
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Waiting For Volume 2!!
A small-club setting and appreciative audience, a set that cooks, two laid back super cool music makers having fun, some funky blues with a generous helping of rocking traditional jazz and jive = 5 stars!

Willie's voice sounds like he's sung the blues more than a few times and, like the older Johnny Cash, sounds like a man who's been around the long block a few times and is now completely comfortable in his skin. The backing musicians add some wonderful solo and ensemble work; Wynton Marsalis rollicks and wails, and Willie's guitar work is subdued but stills grabs you.

Fun and entertaining from track 1, and I'm hoping for another pairing to maybe give us a Volume 2 next year!

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Rating: - A Great Idea, that flops
I looked forward to a collaboration of two of my favorite artists on some great tunes. Willie has done some fantastic duets over the years. This one doesn't work. The production values are terrible. Willie's voice is covered up by the instrumentals. You can barely hear him. Assuming he had his own mike, that was a producer's choice ---a bad decision.

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Rating: - Wish other musicians were as talented as Marsalis and Nelson
This is a CD you have to work to love. Not that it isn't worth loving. It is. Marsalis plays the trumpet sparingly and with a kind of precision that can sound as much like soul as the blues. Nelson matches the trumpet with his voice--he isn't trying too hard, he's not laying off because of his age, he's entering the song when he has to, when he should, and offering his voice as one of the instruments. It's hard not to like both of these guys. The backing, though, is not something I enjoy. When Marsalis is comped by the saxophonist, I find it annoying. The piano is tinny. I sort of wish they had Marsalis, Nelso, a trumpet, a guitar, a set of drums, and that's it. Caldonia is my favorite on the whole album. It's a kind of set-your-feet-back and think of times when New Orleans wasn't forsaken tune. Make no mistake, there is mourning here. That's what drives the blues of this album. It is of a piece with NOLA by Connick and other albums from those who call that unfairly besmirched city home. Thanks for this album, guys. I hope it motivates people to do right by others.

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Rating: - Both Great But Not Together
I love Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis, but unfortunately not together. I was very excited when I heard this CD was coming out and couldn't wait to purchase it. I am still very happy that they teamed up together and I'm sure there are some that will enjoy it...I however am very disappointed.