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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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
We have not yet recognized when or how we will emerge from this pandemic, but as we collectively continue to navigate our way maintaining social distancing it is the perfect time to put on some headphones, earbuds, or just turn up the volume and listen to some big band. So today, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager is not going to the big band standards of yesteryear, nor is he choosing to feature one of the many led by men but is selecting the perfect album released this year by vocalist Lenora Zenzalai Helm & Tribe Jazz Orchestra. It is titled For The Love Of Big Band.
The album was recorded over a two day period in March 26th ~ 27th in front of a live audience and employed 20 musicians, a dozen music and music business professionals, four generations of renowned veteran musicians, as well as emerging and student musicians. It has been released under the Zenzalai Music label.
Track Listing | 76:00- Blues For Mama (N. Simone) ~ 4:42
- Bebop (d. Gillespie/D. Brown) ~ 6:22
- Chega de Saudade/No More Blues (A. Jobim, J. Cavanaugh, V. de Moraes, J. Hendricks) ~ 6:39
- It Could Happen To You (J. Van Huesen, J. Burke) ~ 5:26
- Soul Eyes (M. Waldron) ~ 5:24
- Everything But You (D. Ellington, H. James) ~ 4:30
- I Didn’t Know About You (D. Ellington, B. Russell) ~ 5:50
- Sandu (C. Brown, D. Townsend) – 9:00
- But Not For Me (G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin) ~ 5:26
- A Conversation With God (Dear Lord) (J. Coltrane, L. Helm, M. Myers) ~ 7:25
- Mississippi Goddam (N. Simone) ~ 6:06
- Stella By Starlight (V. Young, N. Washington) ~ 8:23
- Lenora Zenzalai Helm ~ Voice
- Ernest Turner, Lydia Salett Dudley, Ed Paolantonio ~ Piano
- Baron Tymas ~ Guitar
- Ginnae Koon ~ Bass
- Thoma Taylor, Dorien Dotson, ~ Drums
- James “Saxmo” Gates, Sam King, Brian Miller, Matt York, Ariel Kopelove, Shaena Ryan Martin ~ Reeds
- Lynn Grissett, Al Strong, Zoe Smith, Tyler Perske ~ Trumpets
- Robert Trowers, Isrea Butler, Tenay Harrell, Reggie Greenlee, Cameron MacManus ~ Trombones
- Brian Horton ~ Conductor, Composer, Arranger, Saxophone
- Lenora Zenzalai Helm ~ Conductor, Voice
- Ed Paolantonio ~ Piano
- Baron Tymas ~ Guitar
- Timothy Holley ~ Cello
- Salome Serena Wiley ~ Tenor Saxophone
- Lance E. Scott, Jr. ~ Acoustic Bass
- Thoma Taylor ~ Drums
- NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble ~ Guest Artist
- Joey Calderazzo ~ Piano
- Ameen Saleem ~ Acoustic Bass
- Maurice Myers ~ Special Guest Vocal Soloist | A Conversation With God
As you 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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Three Wishes
Cedar Walton gave his three wishes to Pannonica and they were:
- “I don’t know how to word this… I’d like to have immediate access to the world, you know? Anywhere I want to go.”
- “To have my own band and to be able to swing no matter what. Playing with Art* demands that.”
- “I wish jazz was accepted like everything else.”
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