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

As cities begin to open back up I am remaining vigilant in my social distancing and trust you are doing the same. Wary of large groups or crowded public transportation, I am staying to my schedule of grocery, doctor visits, home.

I’ve selected Jazz in Film, a studio album by trumpeter Terence Blanchard released on March 2, 1999 on Sony Records. The recording was split into two sessions, the first on March 17~18, 1998 at Signet Soundelux in Los Angeles, Californiaand the second on April 7, 1998 at Clinton Recording Studios, Studio B, New York City.

The album was meant to be a portrait of jazz in cinema history, a way to chronicle the evolution of jazz score from the late 1940s to present day. It featured highly influential themes from classics like Anatomy of a Murder, Taxi Driver and seminal noir The Man With the Golden Arm. Blanchard has carved out a little space for himself, revisiting one of his compositions written for Spike Lee’s Clockers.

The album features an all-star lineup backed by a string orchestra arranged by Blanchard. Steven Mercurio and J.A.C. Redford were the conductors for the sessions.

1. A Streetcar Named Desire (Alex North) ~ 7:55
2. Chinatown (Jerry Goldsmith) ~ 8:23
3. The Subterraneans (André Previn) ~ 9:08
4. Anatomy of a Murder (Duke Ellingtn) ~ 8:25
5. The Pawnbroker (Quincy Jones) ~ 7:02
6. Taxi Driver (Bernard Herrmann) ~ 7:12
7. Degas’ Racing World (Ellington) ~ 7:57
8. Man With The Golden Arm (Elmer Bernstein) ~ 4:13
9. Clockers (Terence Blanchard) ~ 8:01

• Terence Blanchard – trumpet, arranger
• Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone (3, 6, 7, 8, 9)
• Steve Turre – trombone (1, 4, 8)
• Donald Harrison – alto sax (1, 4, 5)
• Kenny Kirkland – piano
• Reginald Veal – bass
• Carl Allen – drums

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The Quaratined Jazz Voyager

Still not all that anxious to mingle as safeguards are being lifted and society is comfortable in bigger groups. I am staying to my schedule of grocery, doctor visits, home.

The album I’ve chosen for this week is the 1970 Blue Note album Fancy Free by trumpeter Donald Byrd. It was recorded May 9, and June 6, 1969 at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The album was produced by Duke Pearson.

This album has Byrd leading a large ensemble that prominently featured Frank Foster on tenor, Lew Tabackin and Jerry Dodgion on flute, along with several percussionists. This date has Duke Pearson playing electric piano and marks the first time Byrd utilized the instrument. On this project the trumpeter concentrated more on grooves and beats, accompanying them on his trumpet rather than being driven by them.

1. Fancy Free (Donald Byrd) ~ 12:06
2. I Love the Girl (Donald Byrd) ~ 8:48
3. The Uptowner (Mitch Farber) ~ 9:16
4. Weasil (Charles Hendricks) ~ 9:00

• Donald Byrd – trumpet
• Julian Priester – trombone
• Frank Foster – tenor and soprano saxophone
• Jerry Dodgion (#1, 3) – flute
• Lew Tabackin (#2, 4) – flute
• Duke Pearson – electric piano
• Jimmy Ponder – guitar
• Roland Wilson – bass guitar
• Joe Chambers (#2, 4), Leo Morris (#1, 3) – drums
• Nat Bettis – percussion
• John H. Robinson Jr. – percussion

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Home but not alone because I have the voices of so many musicians and vocalists to keep me company. I’ve been noticing all the positive things that are coming out of this pandemic experience with people becoming more relaxed with being by themselves, spending less money on things they don’t need, watching more documentaries and movies and more comfortable and stress free relaxing in the confines of their homes.

In my listening room I’ve selected this week’s next choice is the 1997 album Why Are We Here! Live At Agape by vocalist and actor Carl Anderson. The album was released on the Abu Khalil Productions/Music label. The executive producer is Carl Anderson, the producer is Michael Beckwith and the live concert was mixed and recorded in the Agape Sanctuary Concert Hall at 8440 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California.

1. Daybreak ~ 5:38
2. Lover’s Mask ~ 7:35
3. Who Can I Turn To ~ 4:52
4. Sophisticated Lady ~ 5:57
5. 5. Round Midnight ~ 5:45
6. How Do You Keep The Music Playing ~ 4:33
7. How Deep Does It Go ~ 6:13
8. It Is The Law! ~ 5:34
9. My Ship ~ 3:14
10. My Funny Valentine ~ 3:46
11. Hot Coffee ~ 5:35
12. Heavy Weather ~ 6:01

• Carl Anderson ~ vocal
• Michael Paolo ~ Saxophone
• Alphonso Johnson ~ Bass
• Freddie Ravel ~ Keyboards

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

The pandemic has me comfortably relaxing in my listening room selecting my next choice which is the 1956 album Playboys by trumpeter Chet Baker and saxophonist Art Pepper. The album was their third collaboration between Pepper and Baker, following the successes of The Route and Chet Baker Big Band, all three recorded in 1956.

Playboys was reissued in 1961 under the name Picture of Heath after the fifth track (itself a reference to Jimmy Heath, composer of all but two of the tracks). The tracks themselves were presented in a slightly different order, starting with the new title track.

Hugh Hefner reportedly objected to the original album cover (clearly inspired by Playboy magazine with its near-identical wordmark and pinup photo) and threatened to sue. For Picture of Heath, the original cover was replaced with a photo of the artists in the recording studio.

The 1990 Blue Note/Pacific Jazz CD reissue of Playboys used the pin-up cover, but the same label’s 1998 CD reissue returned to the Picture of Health cover.

1. For Minors Only ~ 4:00
2. Minor~Yours (Art Pepper) ~ 6:44
3. Resonant Emotions ~ 5:41
4. Tynan Tyme (Pepper) ~ 5:32
5. Picture of Heath ~ 6:44
6. For Miles and Miles ~ 6:25
7. C.T.A. ~ 5:12

1998 CD Release

1. Picture of Heath
2. For Miles and Miles
3. C.T.A.
4. For Minors Only
5. Minor Yours
6. Resonant Emotions
7. Tynan Tyme

• Chet Baker ~ trumpet
• Art Pepper ~ alto saxophone
• Phil Urso ~ tenor saxophone
• Carl Perkins ~ piano
• Curtis Counce ~ bass
• Larance Marable ~ drums

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