The only release for Charles Mingus 'Debut "Blue Moods" is Miles Davis' second LP 12 "and was recorded on July 9, 1955 and released the same year. The style is Cool Jazz, which is a very relaxed and relaxing Jazz more pushed towards the listener than to demonstrate skills and complicated and, in some cases, incomprehensible solos, typical of other forms of Jazz. One of the things to note about "Blue Moods" is the fact that none of the musicians who join Miles Davis on this album are true Cool Jazz experts and, admittedly, this fact can hear it. In fact it is precisely this having to adapt to a genre that is not really that makes "Blue Moods" really explosive and that still makes it fresh and engaging today.

Musically "Blue Moods" consists of four tracks arranged by Teddy Charles (except "Alone Together" which is arranged by Charles Mingus, who also produces the album). As mentioned "Blue Moods" is made up of very relaxed compositions which are easy to listen to and which feature great work by the band and not by a soloist or group of soloists. I don't see it as a Miles Davis album but a band where Miles Davis is the head of operations.

"Blue Moods" is an album, therefore, also suitable for those who are not an expert in Jazz but are looking only for a relaxed and relaxing music and do not want the complexity of certain Jazz. And, because it is the truth, it would have in front of it an authentic masterpiece for how fresh and engaging it is still.

George Benson is a fantastic guitarist and, author. He has won several "Grammys" and is also known in the Rock world. Also because he is really a musician who knows how to combine Jazz with Rock, Funky and Soul and he always knows how to be himself.

In 1978 the compilation "Space" was released which opens with a "Funky" version (even if only as an arrangement) of "Hold On, I'm Coming" by Sam & Dave which is an unreleased (from the sessions of "Good King Bad ") and that I really like it a lot because of the Funky component, which makes it very Rock. But, with "summertime" (like all other songs it is live from "In Concert-Carnegie Hall" as "Sky Dive" which is unreleased as a recording), Soul comes to the surface. A Motown Soul. And the two aspects of George Benson are placed side by side without fear of making it appear that they are different genres or artists. However, what is surprising is the extreme versatility of a unique artist."Space" continues, after the first two pieces, in favor of a very linear and technical Jazz with a gram warmth that came to us fresh and not at all aged and flows away perfect and relaxing in its very recognizable sounds.

I don't rate "Space" as a proper compilation. To me it sounds more like a studio & live album, due to the two unreleased albums and I can say it's a really good album. Which I really recommend to all lovers of good music.

I can't find a true identity for this second Jeff Beck Group.I know it's common thing but I'm a Cozy Powell fan and Jeff Beck is one of my favorite guitarists. Also here plays Max Middleton, one of the best keyboard players of that era. Bob Tench is too underrated a singer and bassist, Clive Chaman, is certainly no fallback. It must be said that Jeff Beck was a fantastic innovator and without him there would be no Heavy Metal. But it is equally true that here, in this "Rough and Ready", he drastically breaks with the past to devote himself to a sort of POP Jazz Rock that has Soul and Funk moments that I don't mind at all. Only that POP component does not help to understand this choice.And today it also destabilizes the fact that the next album, "Jeff Beck Group", is a really beautiful and compelling Blues Rock album and more in line with what Jeff Beck was known for.

Musically I think that "Rough and Ready" is more interested in an audience open to certain contaminations of Progressive Soul and certainly Blues Rock than a Jazz audience, although it is, in truth, a Jazz Rock album with various digressions in other musical genres (and well blended). In my head, although "Rough and Ready" is certainly a good album ... It just doesn't convince me as an album. Great music in general. Which convinces me, as single songs. But that leaves me very bitter in my mouth. And that makes me say "Rough and Ready" is a wrong album.