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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Requisites

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 25^th Anniversary of The Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society, plus President and CEO, Bob Levi’s 70^th 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

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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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