JOSE
JAMES – YESTERDAY I HAD THE BLUES – THE MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY
A
sublime take on the music of Billie Holiday – served up in the tremendous
vocals of Jose James! In the notes, James recalls that the music of Holiday is
one of his first memories of childhood – and goes onto explain how much her
music has meant to him over the years – a relationship we can clearly hear in
the love and care he brings to the music! The setting is one of the most
straight jazz that James has ever worked with – and backing is by a hip trio
that features Jason Moran on piano and Fender Rhodes, John Patitucci on bass,
and Eric Harland on drums – all of whom usually lay back with this
slow-stepping vibe that's wonderful – and very different than the kind of
accompaniment you'd hear on Holiday's original recordings. Yet Jose's raspy
vocals really get at the same sort of heartbreaking feel in the lyrics, but
from a different masculine perspective – an approach that's simple, subtle, and
extremely effective. Titles include "God Bless The Child",
"Strange Fruit", "Body & Soul", "Good Morning
Heartache", "Lover Man", "Tenderly", and "Fine
& Mellow". (SHM-CD pressing!) ~
Dusty Groove
AKIRA
JIMBO JIMBO DE CTI
A sweet
little tribute to the legendary CTI Records – done here by drummer Akira Jimbo,
with a trio style that's even leaner than the label's classic albums from the
70s! The tracks are all older gems you'll know from the rich legacy of CTI
jazz, funk, and soul – and Jimbo works with bassist Abraham Laboriel and
keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz to craft cool new takes on the tunes – often just
reduced to their core rhythms and sweet keyboard parts, with some occasional
other elements thrown into the mix. The whole thing's great – very much in the
best spirit for such a project, and packaged just the right way too – and
titles include "Red Clay", "Stone Flower", "Spirit Of
Summer", "Carly & Carole", "Tomba In 7/4",
"Skycrapers", "Super Strut", and "2001". ~ Dusty Groove
THE REBIRTH –
BEING THRU THE EYES OF A CHILD
Rebirth
really stunned us with their massive debut – This Journey In – and nearly a
decade later, they win us all over again with this long-awaited follow-up
album! The set's got the group even sharper and more soulful than before –
really steeped in that classic brew of righteous soul and jazzy funk – served
up in a mode that puts them right in a legacy that includes the coolest cats
from way back – like Roy Ayers, George Duke, or Norman Collors – with a similar
blend of all the best elements at once, shaped at a level that few other
artists could get this right! The set's not just a welcome breath of fresh air
in the contemporary soul underground, but a record that easily matches your
favorites from decades back – one of those rare instant classic records we hear
these days – and a set that's got us really excited. Titles include "This
Is Coming To", "Wasteland", "Religion To Me",
"Show Em", "Come On Over", "Halfway",
"Surrender The Pretender", and "Caterpiller". ~ Dusty Groove
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