Search - Mike Mainieri :: Wanderlust

A treasure found.

D. P. Randolph | Arizona, USA | 11/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It amazes me that I am the first to review this album. Perhaps all those who are familiar with it wrote theirs long ago. Well, this recording has a special place in my collection. A friend gave me a home recorded compilation cassette back in the mid '80s and there were a couple of songs on the tape that didn't have names. When I asked the person who taped it, he told me that he thought it was Mike Mainieri, but didn't know the album name. Seven years of trying to find this recording went by without success (remember, we didn't have Amazon in those days). One night, I was listening to the radio and heard "Crossed Wires". I called the station instantly and they told me it was from the CD "Wanderlust". I headed straight for the record shop and bought it (the only copy they had). That's how I got introduced to "Wanderlust". Now here's why I like it so much...the review.



Mike Mainieri is certainly up there with the greats like Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton and Cal Tjader, to name a few. This album attests to that implicitly. The piano accented "Sara's Touch" moves your soul softly, the ethereal "L'Image" is reminiscent of the peacefulness of the early morning and "Pep's" is flat out sensuous. Bamboo is a bit brash with heavy overtones, but it's a killer piece. "Flying Colours" is heart a pumping tune and the sax adds, rather than detracts from this one. "Bullet Train" reminds me of Donald Fagen and Steely Dan's intricate music. As to "Wanderlust" and "Crossed Wires" there is no way I can pick a favorite, but these two are worth the price of the CD alone. The undefinable quality of these pieces (don't think for a second that the tiny sound clips you hear on this site give the the whole picture) cause me to stop, listen and be mesmerized. Yeah, the old "What CDs would you want with you on a deserted island?" is kind of kitch, but this CD would go with me...guaranteed."

Finally I found you

Richard Dysinger | 02/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great album. Heard it first from a friends private collection of promo discs (believe on the Warner Label.) One of the most consistently listenable Jazz Albums ever. MM Really strectched the instruments capabilities into whole new areas of mood and melody and rhythmic complexity. Great players in the cast many of whom were just coming up the NYC studio ladder and were just kicking it, trying to make their names in what was a golden area of studio playing in the Big Apple. Cant wait to get this on disc."