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

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,piano,preserving,restaurant,travel

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

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel,vocal

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)

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel,vocal

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

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel,trumpet

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

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel,trumpet