The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
The pandemic has given me time to indulge in listening to a variety of music but for this post, Soul Finger is the album I’ve chosen for this week’s edition of The Quarantined Jazz Voyager. The album was recorded by drummer Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers recorded on May 12 & 13, 1965 in New York City and its original release date was in August of the same year on the Limelight label. The sessions were produced by Jack Tracy.
On the 2009 CD edition, Gary Bartz, whose recording debut this was, was left off the credits – he is the alto saxophonist for 5 of the 6 cuts. Lucky Thompson is only on one cut, playing soprano saxophone on Spot Session with the quartet of Blakey, John Hicks, and Victor Sproles.
A sixth cut from the Bartz sessions was used on the later Hold On, I’m Coming album. This recording was trumpeter Lee Morgan’s last recording with Art Blakey after a seven-year association; Freddie Hubbard would return to tour with Blakey’s group again in the 1980s.
Track Listing | 36:42
- Soul Finger (Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan) ~ 3:17
- Buh’s Bossa (Morgan) ~ 5:33
- Spot Session (Lucky Thompson) ~ 7:21
- Freedom Monday (Art Blakey) ~ 6:15
- A Quiet Thing (Fred Ebb, John Kander) ~ 6:56
- The Hub (Hubbard) ~ 7:20
- Art Blakey ~ drums
- Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan ~ trumpet (except on “Spot Session”)
- Gary Bartz – alto saxophone (except on “Spot Session”)
- Lucky Thompson – soprano sax (on “Spot Session”)
- John Hicks – piano
- Victor Sproles – bass
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your vigilance of social distancing, wear your masks, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to this lineup of talented musicians and enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
POWER TO THE PEOPLE 11.12.20
As I sit socially distanced from the rest of the world ever vigilant of this pandemic, the next choice from the library is Power To The People by jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson. The album was recorded on May 23 and May 29, 1969 at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City and released on Milestone Records the same year.
Produced by Orrin Keepnews, all songs are written by Henderson except Opus One-Point-Five and Lazy Afternoon. It was his first to feature an electric instrument with Hancock playing the electric piano. This Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to this lineup of talented musicians.
Track Listing | 42:27- Black Narcissus ~ 4:50
- Afro-Centric ~ 7:00
- Opus One-Point-Five (Ron Carter) ~ 4:56
- Isotope ~ 4:53
- Power to the People ~ 8:42
- Lazy Afternoon (Moross, Latouche) ~ 4:33
- Foresight and Afterthought (An Impromptu Suite in Three Movements) ~ 7:33
- Joe Henderson — tenor saxophone
- Mike Lawrence — trumpet (2, 5)
- Herbie Hancock — piano (3, 4, 6), electric piano (1, 2, 5)
- Ron Carter — bass
- Jack DeJohnette — drums
As you listen I hope you enjoy this great addition to the jazz catalog. Continue your social distancing, wear your masks and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
In preparation for the next wave of the pandemic to hit our shores, continual social distancing is a requirement for me as I hope it will be for you. This Quarantined Jazz Voyager is looking forward to listening to the talents of pianist Eric Reed and an album that encompassed some of Broadway’s finest compositions titled Pure Imagination.
Produced by Tommy LiPuma, all songs are written with lyrics by famous songwriters of said productions except for the opening and closing tracks composed by Reed himself, who chose to perform and record them as instrumentals.
This 1998 album was recorded on July 28~29, 1997 and released by Impulse! Records. It contains reinterpretations of traditional songs from classic Broadway and Hollywood productions such as The King & I, Porgy and Bess, and A Little Night Music, among others. Pure Imagination and peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Top Jazz Album charts.
Track Listing | 49:52- Overture
- Maria (Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, & Stephen Sondheim)
- Hello, Young Lovers (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
- Pure Imagination (Leslie Bricusse, & Anthony Newley)
- 42nd Street (Harry Warren & Al Dubin)
- in the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim)
- My Man’s Gone Now/Gone, Gone, Gone (DuBose Heyward, George, & Ira Gershwin)
- Nice Work If You Can Get It (George & Ira Gershwin)
- You’ll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
- Eric Reed – Piano
- Brian Bromberg – Bass
- Reginald Veal – Bass
- Gregory Hutchinson – Drums
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Continuing to social distance, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager has decided he requires some vocals and has selected an album by Helen Merrill titled Clear Out Of This World. Her haunting voice gives this cool vocal jazz album a consistent and memorable session full of subtle surprises.
The album was recorded in Manhattan, New York on August 1st, & 2nd and September 3, 1991 in Los Angeles, California. It was released in 1992 on Polygram’s French label Gitanes. Making appearances are Wayne Shorter on tracks 1, 9; and Tom Harrell on tracks 3, 4, 8.
The album was produced by Jean-Philippe Allard, engineered by Brian Scheubl, mixed by J. Newland. The cover photography was shot by Carol Friedman, the liner photography of Wayne Shorter was taken by Amy Cantrell, and the liner photography was by Cheung Ching Ming.
Track Listing | 49:19- Out Of This World | Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer ~ 6:17
- Not Like This | Jeremy Lubbock ~ 3:03
- I’m All Smiles | Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin ~ 7:09
- When I Grow Too Old To Dream | Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg ~ 6:35
- Maybe | Shelton Brooks ~ 6:35
- Some Of These Days | Shelton Brooks ~ 3:58
- A Tender Thing Is Love | Torrie Zito ~ 4:16
- Soon It’s Gonna Rain | Tom Jones / Harvey Schmidt ~ 4:40
- Willow Weep For Me | Ann Ronell ~ 7:44
- Helen Merrill ~ vocals
- Roger Kellaway ~ piano, arrangements
- Red Mitchell ~ bass
- Terry Clarke ~ drums
- Wayne Shorter ~ tenor saxophone
- Tom Harrell ~ Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Listen and enjoy this wonderful addition to the jazz catalog, continue to social distance, and stay healthy. During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, enjoy the listen and know that the world and I will be back.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
As we approach November 3, VOTING in this very important election is this Quarantined Jazz Voyager’s top priority and I hope it is yours. Having received my absentee ballot, I will be delivering it this coming week. In the meantime, while remaining secluded and social distancing I’m pulling out an 2011 album by Pee Wee Ellis titled Tenoration.
It is a twelve-track jazz and funk double album by that is an all-instrumental album. Its subtitle, From Jazz to Funk and Back reflects Ellis’ affection to both jazz and funk music. On this production, he uses two different rhythm sections. CD1 emphasizes funk, and on CD 2 he’s bringing jazz.
The album was recorded in November 2010 and released the following year in April on the Art Of Groove label. The producer on the session was Joachim Becker.
Track Listing | 73:39 Disc 1- Slanky P (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Jim Payne) ~ 7:15
- Gittin’ A Little Hipper (James Brown /(Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Bud Hobgood) ~ 3:01
- Bon Bonn ((Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 7:00
- Sticks (Cannonball Adderley) ~ 10:42
- Zig Zag (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis / Paul Rusky / Jim Schneider) ~ 7:01
- At Last (Mack Gordon / Harry Warren) ~ 6:04 #Out Of The Blue (Wright, Terry) ~ 2:15
- You’ve Changed (Bill Carey / Carl Fischer) ~ 4:30
- Sticks (Cannonball Adderley) ~ 4:11
- Parlayin’ (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 4:30
- Sonnymoon For Two (Sonny Rollins) ~ 8:37
- Now Go On (Pee Wee “Alfred” Ellis) ~ 6:01
- Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris) ~ 4:47
- Guitar: Tony Remy (1-6)
- Keyboards: Dan Moore (1-6)
- Piano: Gareth Williams (7-12)
- Bass: Patrick Scales (1-6)
- Bass: Laurence Cottle (7-12)
- Drums: Guido May
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