With
Afro Blue, his second album for Smoke Sessions Records, Harold Mabern has taken
a compelling new angle on his exceptionally creative musical vision. But for
those who are truly familiar with this extraordinary pianist's talents, it is a
project that is long overdue. While he may be best known for his powerful
playing while soloing or driving so many of jazz' finest hornmen to spectacular
heights of fire and thunder, Mabern has enjoyed a reputation among vocalists as
one of the music's most sensitive and stimulating accompanists for more than 50
years - ever since his early days playing with the unparalleled Betty Carter.
On this
album, Mabern has selected five of his favorite vocalists -- who also just
happen to be some of the most popular and respected singers on today's scene --
and is featuring them as special guests in the company of his own outstanding
ensemble. Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling and Alexis
Cole perform individually alongside Mabern's regular ensemble of Eric Alexander
on tenor sax and the bass/drums tandem of John Webber and Joe Farnsworth; plus
additional guests, trombonist Steve Turre and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt on four and
six tracks respectively. Eminent guitarist Peter Bernstein is featured on one
track as well.
"I
love to play for singers," explains the pianist. "I feel honored and
flattered that these wonderful vocalists would want to be part of my little
project. I feel good when singers say they love the way you play. That's a very
special compliment."
Despite
the wide variety of personnel, the album is fully cohesive and artfully
conceived, with Mabern's soulful, blues-rooted style of piano expression as its
radiant nucleus. The repertoire of 14 pieces is a fascinating assemblage of
standards, jazz classics, Mabern originals and a couple of unexpected
contemporary hit songs - all performed in captivating fashion and constructed
upon marvelous arrangements. Of the four Mabern originals, three are
dedications to jazz immortals.
The
album opens and closes with two of the homages - both instrumentals. "The
Chief" (for John Coltrane) is for quintet, appropriately modal and fiery;
and the trio piece "Bobby, Benny, Jymie, Lee, Bu" closes with a
tribute to that edition of Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the funky hard bop
flavor those five giants brought to their classic version of Bobby Timmons'
"Moanin'". The trio is also featured on a sizzling rendition of John
'Moz' Farnsworth's "Mozzin'" fired up by his brother's drumming. The
other instrumental, Steely Dan's biggest hit "Do It Again," is a
feature for Bernstein's guitar wizardry. A third Mabern original, "Such Is
Life," features Alexis Cole deftly handling Mabern's lyrics and infectious
melody, with the three horns providing a backdrop somewhere between calypso and
highlife.
Gregory
Porter is featured on two pieces, a vividly smoking take on the Mongo
Santamaria/Oscar Brown Jr. title cut, with Mabern stoking in classic Afro-Cuban
piano mode; and in a delightful easy groove on the fourth Mabern original
"The Man from Hyde Park" - a dedication to Herbie Hancock. Norah
Jones brings her highly personal style to Bloom & Mercer's "Fools Rush
In," smoothly swinging over Blakey-ish horns; and in an enchanting,
intimate duet with Mabern on Gordon Parks' lovely "Don't
Misunderstand." Jane Monheit is buoyantly spirited on Oakland &
Hammerstein's "I'll Take Romance," and mesmerizing on Wood &
Mellin's gorgeous "My One and Only Love." Bird's bop icon
"Billie's Bounce" is a rip-roaring sojourn in scat by the remarkable
Kurt Elling, while the acclaimed vocalist aptly demonstrates his ballad mastery
with a most poignant take on Robinson & Burdge's exquisite "Portrait
of Jennie." A fortunate serendipity on the Anne Murray mega-hit, Randy
Goodrum's "You Needed Me" - which was slated to be an instrumental
feature for Alexander's robust tenor - caused Mabern to call an audible when he
heard Elling sing the first few words as he was about to depart the studio. The
deeply moving results show how magic can be born by chance.
Mabern
is unequivocally enthusiastic about this new album: "Wow! I can't believe
we pulled all of it off. Everybody involved did a ten-star job. Simply
beautiful!"
Dazzling
vocal artistry, impeccable musicianship, imaginative soloing, and that elusive
substance of true synergy focused by the singular vision of a brilliant artist
make Afro Blue a truly special experience. For Harold Mabern, whose enormous
accomplishments as a leader are sometimes eclipsed by his reputation for
helping so many Jazz heavyweights realize their own musical visions, Afro Blue
is further testimony to his own legend.
Harold
Mabern · Afro Blue
Smoke
Sessions Records · Release Date: April 14, 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment