The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

The Delta variant is causing a rise in new cases of Covid~19 and is much easier to contract. The modus operandi of the day is continuing my exercise of social distancing, quarantining myself at home and wearing my mask whenever I am in public places. I hope you are doing the same.

I offer up my latest selection is the tenth album and sixth on Concord from Nnenna Freelon. It is her 2005 album Blueprint Of A Lady: Sketches Of Billie Holiday. It was her tribute to the late great vocalist. The album was recorded March~April 2005 at the Fantasy Studio in Berkeley, California, and released on the Concord Jazz label that same year.

Though her arrangements may not reflect the melodies we are historically familiar with, Freelon has an inimitable way of taking us on a journey that brings her own sensibilities to interpret these songs with refreshing renditions that may appeal to old fans and hopefully garner new enthusiasts.

Track Listing | 1:02:46

1. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) ~ 4:18
2. What a Little Moonlight Can Do (Harry M. Woods) ~ 5:13
3. Don’t Explain (Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.) ~ 4:03
4. God Bless the Child (Holiday, Herzog) ~ 5:21
5. Strange Fruit (Abel Meeropol) ~ 2:20
6. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) ~ 2:52
7. Balm in Gilead (Traditional) ~ 4:49
8. Them There Eyes (Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracey) ~ 5:09
9. Only You Will Know (Nnenna Freelon, Brandon McCune) ~ 3:41
10. You’ve Changed (Bill Carey, Carl Fischer) ~ 5:24
11.  Now or Never (Billie Holiday, Curtis Reginald Lewis) ~ 2:55
12. Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Roger (Ram) Ramirez, James Sherman) ~ 4:14
13. Left Alone (Billie Holiday, Mal Waldron) – 5:02
14. Little Brown Bird (Interlude) (Nnenna Freelon, Brandon McCune) ~ 1:32
15. All of Me (Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons) ~ 5:53

• Nnenna Freelon ~ arranger, producer, vocals
• Brandon McCune ~ arranger, fender rhodes, Hammond B3, piano, trumpet
• Beverly Botsford ~ arranger, percussion
• Wayne Batchelor ~ arranger, acoustic bass guitar, acoustic bass
• Kinah Boto ~ drums
• André Bush, Julian Lage ~ guitar
• Doug Lawrence ~ tenor saxophone
• Christian Scott ~ trumpet
• Jessica Ivry ~ cello
• Mary Fettig ~ alto flute, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, rhythm arrangements
• John Clayton ~ horn arrangements

• Nnenna Freelon/Ed Keane – producer
• Josiah Gluck – engineer, audio engineer, mixing 
• Jesse Nichols – assistant engineer, mixing
• Nick Phillips – audio production, producer
• George Horn – mastering

• Abbey Anna – art direction
• Terri Apanasewicz – hair stylist
• Rudy Calvo – make-up
• Danielle Brancazio – package design
• Randee Saint Nicholas – photography

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Travis Sullivan was born in 1971 in New York City and founded his 18 piece genre bending jazz orchestra Björkestra in New York City in 2004. Led by the alto saxophonist, musical arrangements are by Sullivan, Kevin Schmidt, and Kelly Pratt. The Björkestra performs the music of eclectic musician Björk.

Since its debut at the Knitting Factory in New York City, the group has performed around the country. In 2007 Sullivan conducted his arrangements with the Sicilian Jazz Orchestra in Palermo, Sicily.

Members of the orchestra, that includes vocalist Becca Stevens, have performed with Arcade Fire, Dr. Dre, Charlie Hunter, Avishai Cohen, Ana Cohen, Jane Monheit, Clark Terry, Rachel Z, Phil Woods, The Spam All Stars, Maria Schneider, and the Saturday Night Live Band, as well as, with Donny McCaslin, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Ben Monder.

His project Altois: The Masters Of Alto Sax interprets the music of the most influential alto saxophonists of the bebop era. Alto saxophonist, pianist, composer and arranger Travis Sullivan continues to further his exploration of jazz.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Politics, business and society are taking another foreboding step towards the past normal by allowing people who have been vaccinated to move unmasked. Ther are, however, no checks and balances as no one is checking these people as they come into stores. Thinking this is too early, I remain safe and comfortable in my home.

On that note, this week I am listening to another favorite of mine, male baritone vocalist by the name of Andy Bey and I have chosen his 2001 Tuesdays In Chinatown release. The horns were arranged by Geri Allen, engineered and mixed by Dave Kowalski, mastered by Ron McMaster, and produced by Herb Jordan. The photography was taken by Frank Stewart.

1. Tuesdays In Chinatown ~ 6:52
2. Fragile (Sting) ~ 4:50
3. Bridges (Milton Nascimento) ~ 4:58
4. Saidas E. Bandeiras (Fernando Brant / Milton Nascimento) ~ 5:36
5. In A Mist (Bix Beiderbecke) ~ 7:06
6. I’ll Remeber April (Gene DePaul / Pat Johnston / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye) ~ 5:35
7. Invitation (Bronislaw Kaper / Paul Francis Webster) ~ 7:01
8. Little Girl Blue (Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers) ~ 6:17
9. Just Friends (John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis) ~ 2:40
10. Feelin’ Lowdown (Big Bill Broonzy) ~ 6:18

• Andy Bey ~ piano, vocal
• Peter Washington, Ron Carter ~ Bass
• Peter Sanders ~ Cello (2)
• Marty Ehrlich ~ Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Alto Flute
• Victor Lewis ~ Drums
• Earl Gardner, John Sneider ~ Flugelhorn, Trumpet
• Paul Meyers ~ Guitar
• Mino Cinelu ~ Percussion
• Steve Turre ~ Trombone
• Barry Finclair ~ Viola
• Andy Stein ~ Violin, String Arrangements
• Laura Seaton ~ Violin

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

But Beautiful | Jimmy Scott

Society is taking another  step towards mingling as governors are relaxing the mask requirement and several major cities are following their lead and people are celebrating. Thinking it too early and comfortable in my home I remain vigilant with my social distancing and trust you are doing the same.

So this week we take a trip down memory lane with Jimmy Scott and his 2002 recording titled But Beautiful. It was recorded at The Studio in New York City on August 16~19, 2001.released on the German label Milestone and was arranged by Freddy Cole (Track 7), Joe Beck (Track 8), Renee Rosnes (Track 1,4,6,7,9) and Robert Sadin (Track 5,10). The album was mixed by Dave Luke at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California. It was produced by Todd Barkan and recorded by Katherine Miller. Track Listing | 54:05

1. You Don’t Know What Love Is (Gene DePaul/Don Raye) ~ 4:59
2. Darn ThatDream (Edddie DeLange/James Van Heusen) ~ 6:35
3. It Had To Be You (Isham Jones/Gus Kahn) ~ 4:17
4. This Bitter Earth (Clyde Otis) ~ 5:21
5. Please Send Me Someone To Love (Percy Mayfield) ~ 5:31
6. But Beautiful (Johnny Burke/James Van Heusen) ~ 5:50
7. When You Wish Upon A Star (Leigh Harline/Ned Washington) ~ 5:18
8. Bye Bye Blackbird (Mort Dixon/Ray Henderson) ~ 5:18
9. I’ll Be Seeing You (Sammy Fain/Irving Kahal) ~ 6:01
10. Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey) ~ 4:37

• Jimmy Scott ~ vocal
• Freddy Cole ~ vocal (track 7)
• Renee Rosnes ~ piano
• George Mraz ~ bass
• Lewis Nash ~ drums
• Joe Beck ~ guitar (track 1,3,5,6, & 8)
• Wynton Marsalis ~trumpet (track 2)
• Lew Soloff ~ trumpet (track 8)
• Eric Alexander ~ tenor saxophone (track 3, 5 & 6)
• Bob Kindred ~ tenor saxophone (track 4 & 9)

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

We have not yet recognized when or how we will emerge from this pandemic, but as we collectively continue to navigate our way maintaining social distancing it is the perfect time to put on some headphones, earbuds, or just turn up the volume and listen to some big band. So today, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager is not going to the big band standards of yesteryear, nor is he choosing to feature one of the many led by men but is selecting the perfect album released this year by vocalist Lenora Zenzalai Helm & Tribe Jazz Orchestra. It is titled For The Love Of Big Band.

The album was recorded over a two day period in March 26th ~ 27th in front of a live audience and employed 20 musicians, a dozen music and music business professionals, four generations of renowned veteran musicians, as well as emerging and student musicians. It has been released under the Zenzalai Music label.

1. Blues For Mama (N. Simone) ~ 4:42
2. Bebop (d. Gillespie/D. Brown) ~ 6:22
3. Chega de Saudade/No More Blues (A. Jobim, J. Cavanaugh, V. de Moraes, J. Hendricks) ~ 6:39
4. It Could Happen To You (J. Van Huesen, J. Burke) ~ 5:26
5. Soul Eyes (M. Waldron) ~ 5:24
6. Everything But You (D. Ellington, H. James) ~ 4:30
7. I Didn’t Know About You (D. Ellington, B. Russell) ~ 5:50
8. Sandu (C. Brown, D. Townsend) – 9:00
9. But Not For Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) ~ 5:26
10. A Conversation With God (Dear Lord) (J. Coltrane, L. Helm, M. Myers) ~ 7:25
11. Mississippi Goddam (N. Simone) ~ 6:06
12. Stella By Starlight (V. Young, N. Washington) ~ 8:23

• Lenora Zenzalai Helm ~ Voice
• Ernest Turner, Lydia Salett Dudley, Ed Paolantonio ~ Piano
• Baron Tymas ~ Guitar
• Ginnae Koon ~ Bass
• Thoma Taylor, Dorien Dotson,  ~ Drums
• James “Saxmo” Gates, Sam King, Brian Miller, Matt York, Ariel Kopelove, Shaena Ryan Martin ~ Reeds
• Lynn Grissett, Al Strong, Zoe Smith, Tyler Perske ~ Trumpets
• Robert Trowers, Isrea Butler, Tenay Harrell, Reggie Greenlee, Cameron MacManus ~ Trombones
• Brian Horton ~ Conductor, Composer, Arranger, Saxophone

• Lenora Zenzalai Helm ~ Conductor, Voice
• Ed Paolantonio ~ Piano
• Baron Tymas ~ Guitar
• Timothy Holley ~ Cello
• Salome Serena Wiley ~ Tenor Saxophone
• Lance E. Scott, Jr. ~ Acoustic Bass
• Thoma Taylor ~ Drums
• NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble ~ Guest Artist

• Joey Calderazzo ~ Piano
• Ameen Saleem ~ Acoustic Bass
• Maurice Myers ~ Special Guest Vocal Soloist | A Conversation With God

As you 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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