The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Kicking back in my quarantined room I have a hankering to listen to one of my favorite voices of our time in recent years. My indulgences are taking me to pull down from the stacks Sound Of Red by René Marie for this week’s listening session. The album is filled with personal insights and wisdom that cross the emotional borders of human consciousness, allowing us to investigate our own frailties and rejoices.
Recorded in 2016 and produced by Marie and Quentin Baxter, and released on the Motéma Music label. This is her first album of entirely self-penned, provocative originals, that has garnered her a Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy nomination. Drawing from jazz, folk, R&B, and country, proves to be a compelling exploration in sound.
The album is produced by René Marie and Quentin Baxter who also plays drums on the album. Sound of Red contains all original songs by René Marie.
Track Listing | 64:34 1. Sound Of Red ~ 6:00 2. If You Were Mine ~ 6:33 3. Go Home ~ 5:46 4. Lost ~ 10:36 5. Stronger Than You ~ 4:36 6. Certaldo ~ 7:04 7. Colorado River Spring ~ 3:21 8. This Is Not A Protest Song ~ 5:41 9. Many Years Ago ~ 4:50 10. Joy Of Jazz ~ 4:12 11. Blessings ~ 5:55 Personnel
- René Marie ~ Vocal, Producer
- John Chin ~ Piano
- Elias Bailey ~ Bass
- Quentin E. Baxter ~ Drums, Producer
- Sherman Irby ~ Alto Saxophone (tracks: 1)
- Romero Lubambo ~ Guitar (tracks: 6)
- Etienne Charles ~ Trumpet (tracks: 2, 10)
- Shayna Steele ~ Backing Vocals (tracks: 8, 11)
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your vigilance of social distancing, wear your masks, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager will enjoy it with you and know that the music, world and I have not gone anywhere.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
The pandemic has given me time to indulge in listening to a variety of music but for this post, Soul Finger is the album I’ve chosen for this week’s edition of The Quarantined Jazz Voyager. The album was recorded by drummer Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers recorded on May 12 & 13, 1965 in New York City and its original release date was in August of the same year on the Limelight label. The sessions were produced by Jack Tracy.
On the 2009 CD edition, Gary Bartz, whose recording debut this was, was left off the credits – he is the alto saxophonist for 5 of the 6 cuts. Lucky Thompson is only on one cut, playing soprano saxophone on Spot Session with the quartet of Blakey, John Hicks, and Victor Sproles.
A sixth cut from the Bartz sessions was used on the later Hold On, I’m Coming album. This recording was trumpeter Lee Morgan’s last recording with Art Blakey after a seven-year association; Freddie Hubbard would return to tour with Blakey’s group again in the 1980s.
Track Listing | 36:42
- Soul Finger (Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan) ~ 3:17
- Buh’s Bossa (Morgan) ~ 5:33
- Spot Session (Lucky Thompson) ~ 7:21
- Freedom Monday (Art Blakey) ~ 6:15
- A Quiet Thing (Fred Ebb, John Kander) ~ 6:56
- The Hub (Hubbard) ~ 7:20
- Art Blakey ~ drums
- Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan ~ trumpet (except on “Spot Session”)
- Gary Bartz – alto saxophone (except on “Spot Session”)
- Lucky Thompson – soprano sax (on “Spot Session”)
- John Hicks – piano
- Victor Sproles – bass
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your vigilance of social distancing, wear your masks, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to this lineup of talented musicians and enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
POWER TO THE PEOPLE 11.12.20
As I sit socially distanced from the rest of the world ever vigilant of this pandemic, the next choice from the library is Power To The People by jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson. The album was recorded on May 23 and May 29, 1969 at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City and released on Milestone Records the same year.
Produced by Orrin Keepnews, all songs are written by Henderson except Opus One-Point-Five and Lazy Afternoon. It was his first to feature an electric instrument with Hancock playing the electric piano. This Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to this lineup of talented musicians.
Track Listing | 42:27- Black Narcissus ~ 4:50
- Afro-Centric ~ 7:00
- Opus One-Point-Five (Ron Carter) ~ 4:56
- Isotope ~ 4:53
- Power to the People ~ 8:42
- Lazy Afternoon (Moross, Latouche) ~ 4:33
- Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite in Three Movements) ~ 7:33
- Joe Henderson — tenor saxophone
- Mike Lawrence — trumpet (2, 5)
- Herbie Hancock — piano (3, 4, 6), electric piano (1, 2, 5)
- Ron Carter — bass
- Jack DeJohnette — drums
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your social distancing, wear your masks and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
In preparation for the next wave of the pandemic to hit our shores, continual social distancing is a requirement for me as I hope it will be for you. This Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to the talents of pianist Eric Reed and an album that encompassed some of Broadway’s finest compositions titled Pure Imagination.
Produced by Tommy LiPuma, all songs are written with lyrics by famous songwriters of said productions except for the opening and closing tracks composed by Reed himself, who chose to perform and record them as instrumentals.
This 1998 album was recorded on July 28~29, 1997 and released by Impulse! Records. It contains reinterpretations of traditional songs from classic Broadway and Hollywood productions such as The King & I, Porgy and Bess, and A Little Night Music, among others. Pure Imagination and peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Album charts.
Track Listing | 49:52- Overture
- Maria (Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, & Stephen Sondheim)
- Hello, Young Lovers (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
- Pure Imagination (Leslie Bricusse, & Anthony Newley)
- 42nd Street (Harry Warren & Al Dubin)
- in the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim)
- My Man’s Gone Now/Gone, Gone, Gone (DuBose Heyward, George, & Ira Gershwin)
- Nice Work If You Can Get It (George & Ira Gershwin)
- You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
- Eric Reed – Piano
- Brian Bromberg – Bass
- Reginald Veal – Bass
- Gregory Hutchinson – Drums
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Continuing to social distance, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager has decided he requires some vocals and has selected an album by Helen Merrill titled Clear Out Of This World. Her haunting voice gives this cool vocal jazz album a consistent and memorable session full of subtle surprises.
The album was recorded in Manhattan, New York on August 1st, & 2nd and September 3, 1991 in Los Angeles, California. It was released in 1992 on Polygram’s French label Gitanes. Making appearances are Wayne Shorter on tracks 1, 9; and Tom Harrell on tracks 3, 4, 8.
The album was produced by Jean-Philippe Allard, engineered by Brian Scheubl, mixed by J. Newland. The cover photography was shot by Carol Friedman, the liner photography of Wayne Shorter was taken by Amy Cantrell, and the liner photography was by Cheung Ching Ming.
Track Listing | 49:19- Out Of This World | Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer ~ 6:17
- Not Like This | Jeremy Lubbock ~ 3:03
- I’m All Smiles | Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin ~ 7:09
- When I Grow Too Old To Dream | Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg ~ 6:35
- Maybe | Shelton Brooks ~ 6:35
- Some Of These Days | Shelton Brooks ~ 3:58
- A Tender Thing Is Love | Torrie Zito ~ 4:16
- Soon It’s Gonna Rain | Tom Jones / Harvey Schmidt ~ 4:40
- Willow Weep For Me | Ann Ronell ~ 7:44
- Helen Merrill ~ vocals
- Roger Kellaway ~ piano, arrangements
- Red Mitchell ~ bass
- Terry Clarke ~ drums
- Wayne Shorter ~ tenor saxophone
- Tom Harrell ~ Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Listen and enjoy this wonderful addition to the jazz catalog, continue to social distance, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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