The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Do what you desire to or not protect your health but be responsible for the health of your fellow man. This is my request. The children are spreading this far more than adults as I continue to hear reports from friends that they caught Covid from children who have greater exposure.

The album It’s A Quiet Thing from vocalist Morgana King is taken from the stacks representing the need for silence and reflection during this time of uneasiness. Produced by Jimmy Bowen, the album was recorded and released on the Reprise label in 1965 with arrangements by Torrie Zito brings us music reflective of the title.

Noise is not required to transport us to destinations that conjure memories. It’s class and sophistication that makes this an elegant compendium of songs. The arrangements and orchestration are equally soft and complimentary to her voice. Her incredible vocal range is backed by a menu of textured strings, guitar, French horn and bossa nova.

Artistry is something one has and when two purveyors connect we become privy to an excellent outcome. This happens to fill that order. So sit back, relax and listen.

1. It’s a Quiet Thing (Fred Ebb, John Kander) ~ 3:02
2. Dindi (Ray Gilbert, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Aloysio de Oliveira) ~ 4:00
3. Useless Landscape (Gilbert, Jobim, de Oliveira) ~ 3:12
4. Gone with the Wind (Herbert Magidson, Allie Wrubel) ~ 2:58
5. Little Girl Blue (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) ~ 3:35
6. Mountain High, Valley Low (Bernie Hanighen, Raymond Scott) ~ 2:09
7. How Insensitive (Norman Gimbel, Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes) ~ 3:14
8. Here’s That Rainy Day (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) ~ 2:38
9. Deep Song (George Cory, Douglass Cross) ~ 3:38
10. If You Should Leave Me (E Se Domani) (Arthur Altman, Giorgio Calabrese, Al Stillman) ~ 3:01

• Morgana King ~ vocals
• Torrie Zito ~ arranger

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit ~ Cyrus Chestnut

Remain safe and healthy and be responsible for your health and others. That is all I request.

This week we listen to the music from There’s a Sweet Sweet Spirit, an album by pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Recorded on February 27, 2017 at Systems Two Recording Studios in Brooklyn, New York, the album was released on the HighNote label on Julyu 14, 2017.  

1. The Littlest One of All (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:20
2. Chopin Prelude (Frédéric Chopin) ~ 6:53
3. Nardis (Miles Davis) ~ 7:33
4. Little B’s Poem (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:50
5. Christina (Buster Williams) ~ 4:51
6. CDC (Cyrus Chestnut) ~ 6:23
7. You Make Me Feel Brand New (Thom Bell, Linda Creed) ~ 6:07
8. Easy Living (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) ~ 8:32
9. Rhythm-a-Ning (Thelonious Monk) ~ 4:51
10. There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (Doris Akers) ~ 5:36

The Players

• Cyrus Chestnut ~ piano
• Buster Williams ~ bass (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Lenny White ~ drums (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Steve Nelson ~ vibraphone (tracks 1, 4 & 8)
• Charlotte Small, Djoré Nance, Keesha Gumbs ~ vocals (track 7)

Tracks | 59:56

1. The Littlest One of All (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:20
2. Chopin Prelude (Frédéric Chopin) ~ 6:53
3. Nardis (Miles Davis) ~ 7:33
4. Little B’s Poem (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:50
5. Christina (Buster Williams) ~ 4:51
6. CDC (Cyrus Chestnut) ~ 6:23
7. You Make Me Feel Brand New (Thom Bell, Linda Creed) ~ 6:07
8. Easy Living (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) ~ 8:32
9. Rhythm-a-Ning (Thelonious Monk) ~ 4:51
10. There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (Doris Akers) ~ 5:36

The Players

• Cyrus Chestnut ~ piano
• Buster Williams ~ bass (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Lenny White ~ drums (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Steve Nelson ~ vibraphone (tracks 1, 4 & 8)
• Charlotte Small, Djoré Nance, Keesha Gumbs ~ vocals (track 7)

The album was produced by the pianist who pulls from a multitude of generations for his song choices. From Monk and Miles to Chopin, Thom Bell and Linda Creed, blending them perfectly for our listening pleasure.This tight knit group of musicians carry the musical conversation forward never overstepping or interrupting but supporting whoever is speaking.

Tracks | 59:56

1. The Littlest One of All (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:20
2. Chopin Prelude (Frédéric Chopin) ~ 6:53
3. Nardis (Miles Davis) ~ 7:33
4. Little B’s Poem (Bobby Hutcherson) ~ 4:50
5. Christina (Buster Williams) ~ 4:51
6. CDC (Cyrus Chestnut) ~ 6:23
7. You Make Me Feel Brand New (Thom Bell, Linda Creed) ~ 6:07
8. Easy Living (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) ~ 8:32
9. Rhythm-a-Ning (Thelonious Monk) ~ 4:51
10. There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit (Doris Akers) ~ 5:36

The Players

• Cyrus Chestnut ~ piano
• Buster Williams ~ bass (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Lenny White ~ drums (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Steve Nelson ~ vibraphone (tracks 1, 4 & 8)
• Charlotte Small, Djoré Nance, Keesha Gumbs ~ vocals (track 7)

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

I can only appeal to your sense of fair play that you quarantine, social distance and wear masks whenever you are out around people during this period of increased variants. It is a responsible person who takes the effort to protect others even when they do not have the desire to protect themselves.

This week I’m pulling from the stacks one of Tony Bennett’s highest selling albums of his career I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Released in 1962 on Columbia Records, it peaked at #5 on the Billboard pop albums chart, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. Tony Bennett won two 1962 Grammy Awards for the title song: Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male.

The album was produced by Ernie Altschuler and assembled around unused singles from earlier sessions. The previously released songs included the Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh songs The Best Is Yet to Come/Marry Young as well as Close Your Eyes/Rules of the Road, which were A&B sides respectively. Candy Kisses and Have I Told You Lately? were recorded in 1961. Tender Is the Night was later used in the 1962 film, while Charlie Chaplin’s Smile from Modern Times peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the only other single that charted with San Francisco.

Three additional tracks were taken from sessions spanning 1957 to 1960. Taking a Chance on Love from the musical Cabin in the Sky, Love for Sale from The New Yorkers, and I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” from Oh, Look!. Bennett’s rescue of Once Upon a Time from All American gave him San Francisco instead, his signature song.

Tracks | 32:20

Side 1

1. I Left My Heart In SanFrancisco (Douglass Cross, George Cory) ~ 2:52
2. Once Upon A Time (Charles Strouse, Lee Adams) ~ 2:57
3. Tender Is The NIght ( Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) ~ 2:38
4. Smile (Charlie Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John Turner) ~ 2:49
5. Love For Sale (Cole Porter) ~ 3:09
6. Taking A Chance On Love (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) ~ 2:28

Side 2

1. Candy Kisses (George Coleman) ~ 2:25
2. Have I Told You Lately (Harold Rome) ~ 2:39
3. Rules Of The Road (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) ~ 2:42
4. Marry Young ((Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) ~ 2:20
5. I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Harry Carroll, Joseph McCarthy) ~ 2:40
6. The Best Is Yet To Come ((Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) ~ 2:28

• Tony Bennett ~ vocals
• Ralph Sharon ~ piano; arrangements on Love for Sale
• Candido Camero, Sabu Martinez, Billy Exiner ~ percussion on Love for Sale
• The Count Basie Orchestra ~ instruments and arrangements on Taking A Chance on Love
• Marty Manning ~ arrangements on San Francisco, Once Upon A Time, Tender is the Night, Candy Kisses, Have I Told You Lately?
• Cy Coleman ~ arrangements on Marry Young, The Best Is Yet to Come
• Ralph Burns ~ arrangements on Smile, Rules of the Road
• Frank De Vol ~ arrangements on I’m Always Chasing Rainbows

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Life is full of choices and the choice not to protect yourself should only impact you. As another surge is underway it is your responsibility to protect others from your irresponsible choices. For those of us who remain vigilant I say well done. So with that in mind, I feel I am selecting the right choice to open up this 2022 year.

Out of the stacks comes the studio album The Natural Soul by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. It was recorded on May 9, 1962 at the Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and released on Blue Note Records in March of 1963. The producer was Alfred Lion and the cover design was by Reid Miles of Capital Punishment. His use of lower case letters give this funky, greasy, soul jazz album suitably comfortable and informal.

Donaldson leaves his hard bop world to continue delving into the soul~jazz foray. He likes to groove and on this one he does just that. So sit back and enjoy the ride!

Tracks | Original LP ~ 41:54 w/CD Bonus Track ~ 49:07 All compositions by Lou Donaldson except where noted

1. Funky Mama (Big John Patton) – 9:08
2. Love Walked In (Gershwin, Gershwin) – 5:12
3. Spaceman Twist – 5:38
4. Sow Belly Blues – 10:13
5. That’s All” (Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes) – 5:36
6. Nice ‘n’ Greasy (John Adriano Acea) – 5:27
7. People Will Say We’re in Love (Hammerstein II, Rodgers) – 7:53 (CD Bonus Track)

• Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone
• Tommy Turrentine – trumpet
• Grant Green – guitar
• Big John Patton – organ
• Ben Dixon – drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

History has proven that it took three plus years to eradicate the Spanish flu because people back in 1918 took the same stance of not wanting to abide by the wisdom of professionals to mask, social distance and quarantine. We are heading towards another tipping point as we see a rise in Delta and Omicron running rampant through the country. People are walking around unmasked like it’s 1999, and I remain vigilant in protecting myself. It’s a choice and a responsibility to self.

This week I’m reaching back to the Seventies for one of my favorites and pulling off the shelves the jazz~funk~fusion album Street Lady by trumpeter Donald Byrd. Recorded on June 13~15, 1973 at The Sound Factory in Hollywood, California, the album was released on the Blue Note label in July 1973. Once again Byrd steps away from his jazz purity and engages producer Larry Mizell on the heels of his successful production of its predecessor, Black Byrd.

The vocal arrangements were by Fonce Mizell, Fred Perren and Larry Mizell and George Butler executive produced this project.

Tracks | 42:12 All compositions by Larry Mizell/Byrd except as indicated

1. Lansana’s Priestess ~ 7:39
2. Miss Kane ~ 6:20
3. Sister Love ~ 6:11
4. Street Lady (Larry Mizell, Fonce Mizell) ~ 5:40
5. Witch Hunt” – 9:42
6. Woman of the World (Larry Gordon, Larry Mizell) ~ 6:51

• Donald Byrd – trumpet, flugelhorn, solo vocals
• Roger Glenn – flute
• Jerry Peters – piano, electric piano
• Fonce Mizell – clavinet, trumpet, vocals
• Fred Perren – synthesizer, vocals
• David T. Walker – guitar
• Chuck Rainey – electric bass
• Harvey Mason – drums
• King Errisson – congas and bongos
• Stephanie Spruill – percussion
• Larry Mizell – vocals, arranger, conductor

• Mike Salisbury ~ Art Direction, Cover
• Norman Seeff ~ Liner Photography
• Reggie Andrews ~ Electronic Consultant
• Chuck Davis ~ Technical Director
• Chuck Davis, John Arias ~ Engineer Assistant
• John Mills ~ Recording Engineer
• Chuck Davis, John Arias, John Mills ~ Remix Engineer

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