The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Remaining vigilant as the city and country are open to unmasking and an honor system that I don’t trust, this week I’m pulling out the seventh album by pianist Mulgrew Miller titled From Day To Day.

The trio album was recorded on March 14~15, 1990 at BMG Studios in New York City. It was released the same year on Landmark Records. It was produced by Orrin Keepnews and engineered by Paul Goodman.

1. La Chambre ~ 7:35
2. What A Diff’rence A Day Made ~ 8:08
3. Four ~ 7:53
4. From Day To Day ~ 7:26
5. Playthang ~ 7:01
6. Farewell To Dogma ~ 5:06
7. One Notch Up ~ 4:50
8. More Than You Know ~ 6:15

• Mulgrew Miller ~ piano
• Robert Hurst ~ double bass
• Kenny Washington ~ drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

I REMEMBER MILES 6.10.21

As I continue to be vigilant in my social distancing, masking, and avoiding the unasked that no one is checking I take down off the shelf a favorite vocalist who I used to see perform at the Bohemian Caverns in Washington, DC. This week the album I have selected is the 1998 studio album I Remember Miles by Shirley Horn. It was recorded in tribute to Miles Davis and covers songs that showed the sensitive side of the musicians..

The album’s cover art is a drawing Davis had once done of them both. The album design and artwork was by Chika Azuma, and Ira Gitler wrote the liner notes. Horn’s performance on this album won her the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards.

The production team was composed of producer Richard Seidel, assistant producer Sheila Mathis, production coordination by  Camille Tominaro, Dave Baker engineered and mixed the album, and mastering was performed by Duncan Stanbury.

Track List | 52:54

1. My Funny Valentine (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) ~ 5:33
2. I Fall in Love Too Easily (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) ~ 5:39
3. Summertime (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward) – 4:59
4. Baby Won’t You Please Come Home (Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams) ~ 7:21
5. This Hotel (Johnny Keating, Richard Quine) ~ 3:37
6. I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’ (Gershwin, Gershwin, Heyward) – 3:39
7. Basin Street Blues (Williams) ~ 5:28
8. My Man’s Gone Now (Gershwin, Gershwin, Heyward) ~ 10:39
9. Blue in Green (Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Al Jarreau) ~ 5:59

• Shirley Horn ~ piano, vocals, producer
• Ron Carter ~ bass guitar
• Roy Hargrove ~ flugelhorn, trumpet
• Toots Thielemans ~ harmonica
• Buck Hill ~ tenor saxophone
• Charles Ables ~ double bass
• Steve Williams ~ drums, percussion
• Al Foster ~ drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Politics, unfortunately, are an integral ingredient in getting their idea of bringing financial stability back to America. Let us continue to practice the use of common sense when it comes to the future of society. As I observe, public companies are following the suggestions of governors to allow entry without masks and without checking. I can’t get with the honor system.

So in maintaining social distancing, this week I have selected the 1998 album Pure Imagination by pianist and composer Eric Reed, released through Impulse! Records. The album contains reinterpretations of traditional songs from classic Broadway and Hollywood productions.

Reed recorded the album on July 28~29, 1997 and was produced by Tommy LiPuma. The musicals from which the songs were taken are (2) West Side Story, (3) The King & I, (4) Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, (5) 42nd Street, (6) A Little Night Music, (7) Porgy & Bess, and (9) Carousel.

It peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Album charts. All songs are written by famous songwriters of said productions except for the opening and closing tracks that were composed by Reed.

Track Listing | 49:52

1. Overture ~ 2:02
2. Maria (Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, & Stephen Sondheim) ~ 6:35
3. Hello, Young Lovers (Rodgers and Hammerstein) ~ 5:16
4. Pure Imagination (Leslie Bricusse, & Anthony Newley) ~ 4:04
5. 42nd Street (Harry Warren & Al Dubin) ~ 4:07
6. Send in the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim) ~ 4:54
7. My Man’s Gone Now/Gone, Gone, Gone (DuBose Heyward, George & Ira Gershwin) ~ 8:15
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It (George & Ira Gershwin) ~ 3:58
9. You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers and Hammerstein) ~ 2:18
10. I Got Rhythm (George & Ira Gershwin) ~ 5:05
11. Finale (Last Trip) ~ 3:40

• Eric Reed – Piano
• Brian Bromberg – Bass
• Reginald Veal – Bass
• Gregory Hutchinson – Drums

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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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