Blue Bolero (Bonus Track Version)

Love the order and mood that is set with this one. I am loving it

I really like listening to this album. Some of the songs remind me of the songs from the Sims series, while others feel like background music to a movie, tv show, or video game. My favorites are Overture, Fast Train to Everywhere, and Lost in Angels.

Fast Train To Everywhere is so well packaged and tight. Musically and harmonically the piece touches a deep note in my sould. It is my musical coffee and my adrenaline. Very few songs have this effect on me. Take time to listen to this song with a good pair of headphones and chase every note. You'll see it all come together with your eyes closed. Do it a few times and you'll understand. Chris is in fact taking smooth Jazz to a new level and I like where he's going and how he's getting there.

Oh my! Wonderful sounds and beats. "Fast Train..." and "March of the Bowler..." are so catchy and fun, I hum them all day long. The other melodies take you right to the movies. Great CD!

Wow!!!!!!!! This is the cd I was waiting for. The first number I heard, from Chris was Liquid Soul (Love&Paragrahs). I was breathles. Bleu Bolero, is for me the first time I downloaded a cd from Itunes and I like the cd verry much. Chris Standring in one word FABULOUS !!!!!!!!!!!!

Chris Standring has accomplished something few in the smooth jazz trade today have done, or even attempt. He has branched out of the usual smooth jazz m.o. and challenged himself by creating a set of songs, all of which are set to beautiful string/keybaord backings. The results are outstanding! The backing strings and keyboards on this album, which of course feature Standring weaving his guitar across these beautiful aural backdrops, provides us with an album that evokes many vivid, beautiful moods. See if you don't find yourself humming along to "Train To Everywhere" and "Blue Bolero". Bottom line, if you're looking for something different, something that evokes a number of different musical moods and landscapes, this album is it. It was a very, very pleasant surprise, and you will find yourself listening to it over and over. Hats off to Standring for stepping out of the his smooth jazz comfort zone and giving us this awesome album.

First, I want to thank you, Mr. Standring, for bringing such aural joy into my life! And you even gave us an 8-minute masterpiece in "Overture" which improves my Los Angeles drive times more than you can imagine. While I thought "Love and Paragraphs" was greatness, and I still play the heck out of it, this new cd is a crowning achievement. The album is beginning to play like one long song; that's how many times I've already listened to it! I hope you never stop making music, Chris.

This is the second time I have heard someone doing a jazz version of Bolero, with the first by Stanley Jordan. This work is very hard to do any other way except classical, and you have to really love classical to appreciate what the artist has done with it. Whether somooth or avant-garde you have to get it right and Chris has here.

Chris Standring is taking smooth jazz where smooth jazz has never gone before. He has definately stepped away from the well established formulas on this album, venturing into fresh, new, creative and expressive territory. The result is a great album with a lot of wow factor. More smooth jazz musicians need to step out of the box and try new things. Be free and come up with something truly special. I don't buy whole albums on iTunes very often, but I bought this one. The bottom line is, this is quality music that isn't watered down. Great job Chris and crew!

March 2 finally got here and I downloaded this album shortly after midnight. This is the first I have EVER downloaded a full album from iTunes since I am a religious cherry picker to stretch my music dollar, feed my habit and avoid tunes I'll never listen to. No cherry picking here. This album is that good!!! Chris' addition of strings and cinamatic touches with many haunting emotions are outstanding! "Contemplation", "Fast Train To Everywhere", "Bossa Blue", "At The End Of The Day" and "Hole In My Shoe" are immediate jewels in my book. As I've read, this will definitely be one of the most talked about jazz releases of 2010 and clearly in first place for Jazz Album Of The Year at this early juncture. ENJOY!!!!