kulturnews.de
Was verbindet Äpfel und Birnen? Beide wachsen auf Bäumen - und schmecken lecker als Obstsalat. Gilt im übertragenen Sinne auch für dieses Album. Die alterslose Countrylegende Willie Nelson (74) trifft im ruhmreichen New Yorker Lincoln Center auf den Trompetentraditionalisten Wynton Marsalis (46). Beide spielen mit einer fünfköpfigen Jazzband den Blues - Standards vor allem, Sachen wie "Bright Nights, big City" oder "Georgia on my Mind". Das Ganze macht ihnen (und dem Publikum) einen Heidenspaß. Marsalis röhrt in "Night Life" wie ein Elefant, der sich eine Pappnase aufgesetzt hat, Nelson lässt vokal durchweg den Coolen raushängen, das konnte er schon immer grandios, und wenn in "Caldonia" unter Führung von Dan Nimmers quickem Klavier die Post abgeht, dann vergisst man alle Fragen nach Äpfeln und Birnen und genießt einfach diese untypische Deutung des Blues als witzig-schmissige Abendunterhaltung. Ein Album für Leute, die gern Äpfel mit Birnen vergleichen und einen Fransenhut zum Frack lächelnd tolerieren. (mw)

Product Description
The event was simply billed as "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues," but the historic two-night stand on January 12 and 13, 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center was far more than that. Call it a summit meeting between two American icons, Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, two of the most significant figures in modern-day country and jazz, who discovered common ground in their love for jazz standards and the blues. Their performance stirred the sounds of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and New York City into a brilliantly programmed mix that was equal parts down-home and cosmopolitan, with plenty of swing and just a touch of melancholy. To say that these shows were a hot ticket would be an understatement. Luckily, the tapes were rolling and the results of this unique collaboration now constitute the Blue Note album Two Men With The Blues for everyone who couldn't cram into The Allen Room. Featuring great playing from one of the hottest bands around these classic tracks are given new life by the extraordinary dual talents of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. At a time when most people are thinking of retirement, Willie has never been busier. His profile has been high in recent weeks with his various career retrospective releases and sold out tour and this album can rightly stake it's place alongside anything else he has done. Wynton rarely sounds so relaxed and both of these musical giants are clearly having the time of their lives together on these new interpretations of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century.