The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Adapting and accepting the mask wearing, social distancing and self-quarantining has made life so much easier from this jazz voyager’s perspective. As we experience continued spikes in the coronavirus as the vaccine is rolled out, we still need to make the conscious effort to do our individual part to stave the spread.

So continuing my uninterrupted time to kick back, relax and listen to music, the album I have chosen The Sting Variations by vocalist Tierney Sutton. The recording session was arranged and produced by Trey Henry at LAFX Recording Services, The Doghouse Studio in May 2016, and released on September 9, 2016 for BFM Records.

The album was engineered and mixed by Zackary Darling, mixed and mastered by Michael Aarvold– mastering, mixing and earned the Tierney Sutton Band a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

1. Driven To Tears ~ 5:47
2. If You Love Somebody Set them Free ~ 5:53
3. Seven Days ~ 6:17
4. Shadows In The Rain ~ 4:37
5. Walking In Your Footsteps ~ 3:50
6. Fragile/Gentle Rain (Sting/Luis Bonfa/Matt Dubey) ~ 4:37
7. Message In A Bottle ~ 4:27
8. Fields Of Gold ~ 4:45
9. Fortress Around Your Heart ~ 4:04
10. Language Of Birds (Sting/Rob Mathes) ~ 5:09
11. Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic ~ 3:02
12. Every Breath You Take ~ 4:46
13. Synchronicity ~ 4:11
14. Consider Me Gone ~ 5:35

• Tierney Sutton – vocals
• Christian Jacob – piano
• Ray Brinker – drums, percussion
• Kevin Axt – double bass
• Trey Henry – double bass, bass guitar

This pandemic is here for the long haul. In the meantime, stay vigilant, wear masks and remain healthy and we’ll all be jet setting sooner than we think.

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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

As we approach November 3, VOTING in this very important election is this Quarantined Jazz Voyager’s top priority and I hope it is yours. Having received my absentee ballot, I will be delivering it this coming week. In the meantime, while remaining secluded and social distancing I’m pulling out an 2011 album by Pee Wee Ellis titled Tenoration.

It is a twelve-track jazz and funk double album by that is an all-instrumental album. Its subtitle, From Jazz to Funk and Back reflects Ellis’ affection to both jazz and funk music. On this production, he uses two different rhythm sections. CD1 emphasizes funk, and on CD 2 he’s bringing jazz.

The album was recorded in November 2010 and released the following year in April on the Art Of Groove label. The producer on the session was Joachim Becker.

1. Slanky P (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Jim Payne) ~ 7:15
2. Gittin’ A Little Hipper (James Brown /(Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Bud Hobgood) ~ 3:01
3. Bon Bonn ((Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 7:00
4. Sticks (Cannonball Adderley) ~ 10:42
5. Zig Zag (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Paul Rusky / Jim Schneider) ~ 7:01
6. At Last (Mack Gordon / Harry Warren) ~ 6:04 #Out Of The Blue (Wright, Terry) ~ 2:15

1. You’ve Changed (Bill Carey / Carl Fischer) ~ 4:30
2. Sticks (Cannonball Adderley) ~ 4:11
3. Parlayin’ (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 4:30
4. Sonnymoon For Two (Sonny Rollins) ~ 8:37
5. Now Go On (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 6:01
6. Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris) ~ 4:47

• Guitar: Tony Remy (1-6)
• Keyboards: Dan Moore (1-6)
• Piano: Gareth Williams (7-12)
• Bass: Patrick Scales (1-6)
• Bass: Laurence Cottle (7-12)
• Drums: Guido May

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Review: Kathleen Bertrand | Katharsis

In many ways the task of the music critic is anything but easy. We tediously wade through the multitudes that dub themselves singers, seeking storytellers who transport us to new and exciting destinations. To truly hear music, we must divorce prejudices and likes, and in doing so, permit the customary to wane to make way for nuance and subtlety.

As our collective musical tastes evolve, we constantly anticipate the arrival of fresh and exciting sounds, and to that extent our wait has run its term. Kathleen Bertrand’s latest offering Katharsis lingers between meaningfulness and elation as thoughts about you wrap around her finger, relate grandma’s hands that are stronger than pride and ushers a younger generation of lyricists and composers into the pantheon of the great American songbook.

We are blessed to be in the presence of a vocalist who understands interpretation, not only of classic songs and original compositions but is also equally adept at hearing orchestration and arrangement. Without too much fanfare or divulging too many delights, suffice it to say you will hear the Kathleen Bertrand you have come to know and love in a new light.

As you listen to Katharsis, you will uncover its many moods that tempt you to dance, move and realize your own indulgences. Katharsis will not be limited to wonderful, extraordinary, marvelous or exceptional, nor will these words designate it so simply because they are written. These are merely cautionary pronouncements describing the pleasure I received as I drove down the highway on a warm summer night. You, like I, will be challenged to find your own words for this unexpectedly delightful exposé and return hungry for more. Why, you may ask… because it’s what he likes!

carl anthony | notorious jazz | may 24, 2011
host, serenade to the city, jazz 91.9fm

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