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