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.
Track Listing | 68:19- A Streetcar Named Desire (Alex North) ~ 7:55
- Chinatown (Jerry Goldsmith) ~ 8:23
- The Subterraneans (André Previn) ~ 9:08
- Anatomy of a Murder (Duke Ellingtn) ~ 8:25
- The Pawnbroker (Quincy Jones) ~ 7:02
- Taxi Driver (Bernard Herrmann) ~ 7:12
- Degas’ Racing World (Ellington) ~ 7:57
- Man With The Golden Arm (Elmer Bernstein) ~ 4:13
- 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.
Track Listing | 39:10- Fancy Free (Donald Byrd) ~ 12:06
- I Love the Girl (Donald Byrd) ~ 8:48
- The Uptowner (Mitch Farber) ~ 9:16
- 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.
Track Listing | 62:03- Daybreak ~ 5:38
- Lover’s Mask ~ 7:35
- Who Can I Turn To ~ 4:52
- Sophisticated Lady ~ 5:57
- 5. Round Midnight ~ 5:45
- How Do You Keep The Music Playing ~ 4:33
- How Deep Does It Go ~ 6:13
- It Is The Law! ~ 5:34
- My Ship ~ 3:14
- My Funny Valentine ~ 3:46
- Hot Coffee ~ 5:35
- 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.
Track Listing | 40:07 All compositions by Jimmy Heath except as indicated- For Minors Only ~ 4:00
- Minor~Yours (Art Pepper) ~ 6:44
- Resonant Emotions ~ 5:41
- Tynan Tyme (Pepper) ~ 5:32
- Picture of Heath ~ 6:44
- For Miles and Miles ~ 6:25
- C.T.A. ~ 5:12
1998 CD Release
- Picture of Heath
- For Miles and Miles
- C.T.A.
- For Minors Only
- Minor Yours
- Resonant Emotions
- 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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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Having completely adapted to a new modus operandi for living this glorious life, I remain vigilant in my social distancing and reminding myself of music I haven’t listened to in a long time. This week I’m pulling out the late great Roy Hargrove who had the vision to record With The Tenors of Our Time. It’s a 1994 release on the Polygram Record label that was recorded at Teatro Mancinelli and Giani Grascinelli Sound Service with executive producer Richard Seidel. The album’s art direction and design is by David Lau, photography by James Minchin, liner notes by Jimmy Katz.
>Others in the team contributing to the production of this album were Larry Clothier ~ production, engineering, mixing; Ed Rak ~ engineering, mastering, mixing; Robert Friedrich ~ assistant engineering; Troy Halderson ~ mastering; Camille Tominaro ~ production coordination; and Nelly Muganda ~ make-up and hair stylist.
Track Listing | 72:56- Soppin’ the Biscuit (composer Roy Hargrove, featuring Stanley Turrentine) ~ 7:59
- When We Were One (composer Johnny Griffin, featuring Johnny Griffin) ~ 5:59
- Valse Hot (composer Sonny Rollins, featuring Branford Marsalis, Ron Blake) ~ 6:57
- Once Forgotten (composer Pamela Watson, featuring Ron Blake on tenor and soprano saxophone) ~ 5:45
- Shade of Jade (composer Joe Henderson, featuring Joe Henderson) ~ 5:24
- Greens at the Chicken Shack (composer Cyrus Chestnut, featuring Johnny Griffin) ~ 5:45
- Never Let Me Go (composer Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, featuring Rodney Whitaker) ~ 5:36
- Serenity (composer Joe Henderson, featuring Joe Henderson) ~ 5:35
- Across the Pond (composer Roy Hargrove, featuring Joshua Redman) ~ 6:47
- Wild Is Love (composer Robert Mickens and G. Brown, featuring Stanley Turrentine) ~ 6:50
- Mental Phrasing (composer Roy Hargrove, featuring Ron Blake, Joshua Redman) ~ 6:25
- April’s Fool (composer Ron Blake) ~ 3:54
- Roy Hargrove – trumpet, flugelhorn (2,4,7,10), production
- Cyrus Chestnut – piano
- Rodney Whitaker – bass
- Gregory Hutchinson – drums
- Ron Blake – soprano, tenor saxophone
- Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
- Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
- Branford Marsalis – tenor saxophone
- Joshua Redman – tenor saxophone
- Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone
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