Grammy Winning "Superheroes" Reviews
Updated: Feb 12, 2019
Randy Waldman / SUPERHEROES
LISTEN/BUY Superheroes: https://song.link/album/us/i/1431979390
November 14, 2018
The Aquarian by Mike Greenblatt
“… with way-out jazz arrangements and jazz-hero superstars like Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, Steve Gadd, Randy Brecker, Eddie Daniels, George Benson, Joe Lovano and Arturo Sandoval. Leave it to longtime Barbra Streisand Music Director Randy Waldman to amass these names. … THIS is excellent entertainment.”
https://www.theaquarian.com/2018/11/14/rantnroll-42/
2018
The JazzPage
“A truly super effort by Waldman and all involved.”
https://thejazzpage.com/album/randy-waldman-superheroes/
November 8, 2018
Jazz Weekly by George W. Harris
****RINGER OF THE WEEK****
“This album is an absolute gas, a joy and all that’s missing is to listen to it on a Saturday morning in your pajamas!”
http://www.jazzweekly.com/2018/11/ringer-of-the-weekrandy-waldman-superheroes/
October 11, 2018
Something Else Reviews by Preston Frazier
“Superman (Movie Theme) is just a hint of how brilliantly Waldman ties the original theme into a lovely jazz piece which is fresh and vibrant.”
https://somethingelsereviews.com/2018/10/11/yellowjackets-randy-waldman-marquis-hill/
September 2, 2018
The JW Vibe by Jonathan Widran
“Capturing our jazz-clectic fantasies in the sweet spot between the 80th Anniversary of Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1 and Batman’s debut in Detective Comics #27, this imaginatively arranged, freewheeling 11 track set is the brainchild of Grammy winning pianist/arranger Randy Waldman, who creates a Quincy Jones’ size session to execute his vision.”
https://www.jwvibe.com/single-post/2018/09/02/RANDY-WALDMAN-SuperHeroes
L.A. Jazz Scene by Scott Yanow
Superheroes is one of the most unusual jazz recordings of the past year. Pianist Randy Waldman wanted to pay tribute to the television and movie superheroes of his youth along with some of the jazz superheroes of today. He and Justin Wilson wrote arrangements to 11 TV and movie theme songs and then, over time, he was able to gather together many of his favorite jazz artists.
The result is a set that includes such songs as “The Adventures Of Superman” (both the television and movie theme), “Mighty Mouse Theme,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Six Million Dollar Man” and even the “Super Chicken Theme.” While the melodies often appear at the beginning of each performance, the arrangements give the jazz artists plenty of room to stretch out and take the music to new places.
Along with the rhythm section (pianist Waldman, guitarist Michael O’Neill, bassist Carlitos Del Puerto, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and percussionist Rafael Padilla), featured along the way are such major players as trumpeters Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval and Till Bronner, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, tenor-saxophonists Joe Lovano and Chris Potter, guitarist George Benson, drummer Steve Gadd (who plays next to Colaiuta on three numbers), pianist Chick Corea, trombonist Bob McChesney and even Wynton Marsalis.
Superheroes will be of greatest interest to those who are familiar with such pieces as the “Underdog Theme” and the “X-Men TV Theme” although there are enough heated solos that even those who avoid television will find the music to be worthwhile. It is available from www.bfmjazz.com.