RAY CHARLES & MILT JACKSON - SOUL BROTHERS MEETING
Recorded
in New York on between 1957 & 1958. Includes original release liner notes
by Gary Kramer & Bill Randle. Originally released separately as SOUL
BROTHERS (Atlantic 1360) and SOUL MEETING (Atlantic 1279).2 LPs on 2 CDs. Both
are available separately on cassette. These records are "cool" in the
classic sense of the word: they swing, groove, whisper and discuss with the
sophisticated yet down-home relaxation of a late-night session. While Milt
Jackson's work with the Modern Jazz Quartet represents a kind of bebop
perfection, the truism about the MJQ has always been that it's Jackson the
irrepressible soloist and blues spirit that provides the ballast to John Lewis'
more cerebral explorations of form and composition. At the same time, Ray
Charles' reputation as the definitive gospel-inspired R&B shouter and
bandleader overshadows the facts of his jazz background and impressive
musicianship. This is a guy, after all, who early in his career wanted to sound
as much like Nat Cole as possible--and did, for a time, as both a singer and a
pianist. So while these giants meet on the common turf of the blues on these
two records, they bring a sharp jazz sensibility to the numerous and varied
twelve-bar grooves here. Charles' stompin' bebop lines on the bonus track
"Charlesville" are only one of the many revelations of this session.
Reissue producer: Bob Porter. Personnel: Skeeter Best, Kenny Burrell (guitar);
Ray Charles (alto saxophone, acoustic & electric pianos); Billy Mitchell
(tenor saxophone); Milt Jackson (piano, vibraphone); Oscar Pettiford (bass);
Connie Kay (drums); Percy Heath, Art Taylor. Producers: Nesuhi Ertegun, Jerry
Wexler. ~ CD Universe
AUDREY MARTIN - LIVING ROOM
For some
jazz singers, a song is a point of departure, a launching pad for extended
improvisational flights with a band of fellow explorers. For Audrey Martin,
songs are revelatory texts ripe for interpretation. Not every song, mind you.
In building her repertoire, the Bay Area singer has gathered a treasure trove
of material that resonates with her on a bone-deep level. Living Room, her consistently
inspired ballad-centric debut album, finds Martin delving deeply into a highly
personal array of material with a particular focus on groundbreaking women
artists like Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Abbey Lincoln, and Blossom Dearie. The
first thing that stands out about Martin is her warm, luxuriant sound and
supple phrasing. But what sets her apart is the probing emotional intelligence
that she brings to the lyrics. It's rare indeed for a jazz artist to arrive on
the scene as such a mature and fully realized artist. In Martin's case, it's
because she's taken a long, indirect path to finding her voice. While still practicing as a psychotherapist,
she plunged back into her early love of singing in the late 1990s, studying at
the Jazzschool in Berkeley. The key to her exponential growth as a performer
was finding pianist Larry Dunlap, a master accompanist who provides lustrous
support as a player and arranger. He connected her with the superlative rhythm
section tandem of bassist John Shifflett and drummer Jason Lewis, who both
share Martin's less-is-more aesthetic. A work of remarkable but unforced
intimacy, Living Room introduces a singer who makes you hear familiar songs
anew. -Andrew Gilbert (Andrew Gilbert writes for The San Francisco Chronicle,
San Jose Mercury News, and other publications).~ CD Universe
RICHARD "GROOVE" HOLMES - SOUL MESSAGE
This
mid-1960s soul-jazz collection features the trio of the organist Richard
"Groove" Holmes, who, despite having been a working musician since
the late 1950s, only came to public attention with his first hit, an uptempo
reading of "Misty," included here. Holmes also performs a
Latin-tinged version of Horace Silver's classic "Song For My Father,"
and the hip, swinging title track is a further display of his remarkable
invention. Recorded on August 3, 1965. Originally released on Prestige (7435).
Personnel includes: Richard "Groove" Holmes (organ); Jimmie Smith
(drums); Gene Edwards. ~ CD Universe
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