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.
Track Listing | 76:00- Blues For Mama (N. Simone) ~ 4:42
- Bebop (d. Gillespie/D. Brown) ~ 6:22
- Chega de Saudade/No More Blues (A. Jobim, J. Cavanaugh, V. de Moraes, J. Hendricks) ~ 6:39
- It Could Happen To You (J. Van Huesen, J. Burke) ~ 5:26
- Soul Eyes (M. Waldron) ~ 5:24
- Everything But You (D. Ellington, H. James) ~ 4:30
- I Didn’t Know About You (D. Ellington, B. Russell) ~ 5:50
- Sandu (C. Brown, D. Townsend) – 9:00
- But Not For Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) ~ 5:26
- A Conversation With God (Dear Lord) (J. Coltrane, L. Helm, M. Myers) ~ 7:25
- Mississippi Goddam (N. Simone) ~ 6:06
- 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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Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 2 | By Eddie Carter
I’d reached the end of a very long day and was ready to relax and unwind with some piano jazz. I went to the library and came across Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 2 (Yarlung Records YAR71621-161V). The second LP from the trio’s live performance at The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall with bandmates, Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums. The concert honored the 25th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, plus President and CEO, Bob Levi’s 70th Birthday. My copy used in this report is the 2018 45-rpm Stereo Audiophile release.
Yuko starts Side One with a trio of solo standards, All The Things You Are by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, Take The “A” Train by Billy Strayhorn, and Satin Doll by Duke Ellington, Strayhorn, and Johnny Mercer. She begins with a stunningly beautiful interpretation capturing the song’s romanticism. Yuko then takes a vivaciously playful ride on The “A” Train with zestful excitement. She wraps up the trilogy with an invigorating interpretation of Satin Doll receiving an ovation from the audience at the song’s end.
The ensemble begins a Japanese Medley trilogy next, Hazy Moon by Teiichi Okano, Cherry Blossom, the Japanese folk tune from the Edo period, and Look At The Sky by Hachidai Nakamura. Yuko opens with a gentle introduction developing into a subtle collective theme. The mood of this first melody is incredibly tender, and the soothing splendor of her solo is purely captivating. She also dominates on the second segment, bringing out the musical substance and expressive beauty in an attractive reading culminating with a regal coda. The finale picks up the pace with the trio fitting together like fingers in a glove on the lively theme. Her technique is assured and quite confident in a dazzling exhibition against the backdrop set up perfectly by Del and Bobby.
Side Two starts with Sona’s Song, the pianist’s very touching tribute to a beautiful young girl in her family. The threesome makes the most of this original with seamless pacing and execution. Yuko demonstrates a mature elegance and heartfelt love in every note of her reverently lush performance before a serene summation. The group takes the audience and listener to the Caribbean on Sonny Rollins’ signature song, St. Thomas with a festive holiday atmosphere right from the start. Yuko invites everyone to enjoy the ride on a jubilantly cheerful lead statement with Atkins and Breton sustaining the rhythm. The drummer adds some buoyant brushwork for a propulsive reading before Yuko puts the finishing touches on a memorable, jazz-filled celebration.
Like its companion, Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 2 has an outstanding soundstage across the highs, midrange, and low end, making it a good choice to show off a high-end audio system. This album was engineered by Bob Attiyeh and Arian Jansen, and mastered by Attiyeh, and Steve Hoffman. The 45-rpm remastering is by Bernie Grundman. The trio’s musicianship is excellent throughout the album and they shift gears as smoothly as a sports car. I’ll leave you with what I think is an ideal ending for my report, it comes from an old 1960 LP by The Joyce Collins Trio: Girl Here Plays Mean Piano. Yuko Mabuchi does this very well and if you’re discovering her for the first time, you’re in for a treat!
~ All The Things You Are, Satin Doll, Girl Here Plays Mean Piano (Jazzland JLP 24), Take The “A” Train – Source: Discogs.com
~ St. Thomas – Source: Wikipedia.org
© 2020 by Edward Thomas Carter
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
The Quarantined Jazz Voyager’s next selection from his library is a studio album by Eddie Higgins titled Bewitched on Venus Records. It is part of the Venus Jazz Giants series was recorded at The Studio in New York on January 20 and 31, 2001. It was produced by Tetsuo Hara and Todd Barkan, engineered by Katherine Millerand was mastered by Shuji Kitamura and Tetsuo Hara.
A limited-edition Japanese released album in 2009, it was reissued as a replica mini-LP paper sleeve with obi strip and insert in Japanese.
Track List | 61:12
What A Difference A Day Made ~ 6:01; Detour Ahead ~ 5.28; Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered ~ 4:13; You Must Believe In Spring ~ 5:04; Beautiful Love ~ 3:39; Alice In Wonderland ~ 5:04; Angel Eyes ~ 5:21; The Philanthropist ~ 5:56; Estate ~ 3:38; Blue Prelude ~ 4:39; I Hear A Rhapsody ~ 4:39; As Time Goes By ~ 5:02; Autumn Leaves ~ 4:28
Personnel
- Piano – Eddie Higgins
- Bass – Jay Leonhart
- Drums – Joe Ascione
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Requisites
The Yuko Mabuchi Trio, Volume 1 is a 2017 live recording by the trio at The Brain and Creativity Institute’s Cammilleri Hall in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 2017. It was recorded in honor of the 25th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, and their President, Bob Levi who was celebrating his 70th Birthday and released on the Yarlung Records label. The executive producer was Randy Bellous.
Track List |- What Is This Thing Called Love?
- Valse Noire
- On Green Dolphin Street
- Seriously
- Yuko Mabuchi ~ piano
- Del Atkins ~ bass
- Bobby Breton ~ drums
Review by Eddie Carter
On the stage, a beautiful young woman sits at a baby grand piano unleashing an aggressive flood of sound into the audience. Behind her are two elegantly dressed gentlemen, Del Atkins on bass and Bobby Breton on drums, who match her creativity, precise timing, and articulation with their own musical artistry note-for-note. Her name is Yuko Mabuchi.
The four-song album opens with one of Cole Porter’s most recorded compositions, the 1929 classic, What Is This Thing Called Love?, composed for the Broadway musical, Wake Up and Dream. It is followed by the very pretty ballad Valse Noire by Cincinnati, Ohio composer Mark Lehman who originally wrote the tune for solo piano. The pace slows down as the second side begins with the 1947 popular song On Green Dolphin Street by Bronislaw Kaper and Ned Washington. It was composed for the film Green Dolphin Street released that year and became a jazz standard after Miles Davis recorded it on his 1958 Columbia album, Jazz Track. The album closes with Seriously by singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles who wrote it for fellow singer Leslie Odom, Jr., who appeared on the weekly public radio program and podcast, This American Life.
Source: Jazztracks by Eddie Carter | Excerpt: 12/2018 | atlantaaudioclub.org
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Requisites
Butch Warren French 5Tet was recorded in 2011, two years prior to his passing away. The double bassist was joined by a cohesive collection of four French musicians ~ saxophonist Pierrick Menuau, pianist Pierre Christophe, with Mourad Benhammou on drums and Jean Philippe Bordier playing guitar.
Unfortunately for the jazz world, this was his debut and only album as a leader, however, it was worth the wait. Warren brings a total of eight songs to this recording – four original compositions to this live recording, adding a classic from Johnny Mercer and David Raksin, one by Hank Mobley, and two from Kenny Dorham, having recorded regularly with the latter two.
Tracks:
- A Little Chipie (Warren)
- East of the Village (Mobley)
- Laura (Mercer/Raksin)
- I Remember Monk (Warren)
- Barack Obama (Warren)
- Eric Walks (Warren)
- The Theme (Dorham)
- Blue Bossa (Dorham)
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