"DIGGIN' THE CLASSICS": BOBBI HUMPHREY EDITION

April 1, 2008. Posted by Stevan Smith.

Add new comment | Filed under: blacks and blues, bobbi humphrey, cool jazz, funk, funk classic, fusion, harlem river drive, jasper country man, jazz, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, Jazz Education, jazz funk, mizell, true jazz

This edition celebrates: Bobbi Humphrey- Blacks and Blues (1973)

Tracklisting:
01. Chicago, Damn
02. Harlem River Drive
03. Just a Love Child
04. Blacks and Blues
05. Jasper Country Man
06. Baby's Gone

A true jazz-funk classic, and Humphrey's biggest hit, Blacks and Blues is a lesson in "cool jazz". Composed, produced, and partly arranged by the fantastic Mizell brothers (Larry & Fonce), this is an Lp that trend sends generations. Humphrey is never drowned out by her collaborators. Her performance as flautist (if you didn't know) fits snug in each melodic masterpiece. Bobbi even makes her vocal debut on the tracks, "Just A Love Child" and "Baby's Gone".

"....Yeah, it's kind of like that".

Some of my favorite tracks include "Chicago, Damn", "Harlem River Drive", and the title-track "Blacks and Blues".

Here is an updated version of "Harlem River Drive" (Sorry no embed available). This had to be the late 80's or early 90's. Lol.

Look what else I found: [display_podcast]

Though this is not an album that would delight a purist, it is an excellent addition to any jazz collection. The moods are laid-back, soothing, and romantic. This is in heavy rotation on my (insert plug). If you haven't had the opportunity to check this album out. Please do. It is worth every minute (hint...ladies...hint...fellas).

Perfect soundtrack for the Spring weather....well when it finally gets here.

Peace....

© 2008 WBGO

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Interview - Frank Foster with Gary Walker

March 13, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: ascap, frank foster, gary walker, Interviews, Jazz Community, jazz host, Masters, morning jazz

Morning Jazz Host Gary Walker spoke with Frank Foster this morning.

Click here to listen to the interview.

And did you miss our IAJE coverage of the ASCAP Commissions, honoring Uncle Frank?
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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About Last Night - SF Jazz Collective at SOPAC

March 12, 2008. Posted by Joshua Jackson.

Add new comment | Filed under: bias, caliber, collective performance, commissions, Jazz Alive, Jazz Community, jazz composer, modern jazz, musicians, new yorkers, newark, Notes, Places and Spaces, preconceptions, pride, saxophonist, seeing eye, set of circumstances, sf jazz, user viewprofile, wayne shorter, wbgo

I am a city dweller, plagued by the New Yorker bias. That is, I very rarely go to New Jersey for anything other than to work at WBGO. However, I am not so entrenched that I won't shake my preconceptions for the right set of circumstances. So last night, I ventured to SOPAC for a performance from the SF Jazz Collective, a pride of eight musicians of the highest caliber.

Each year, the collective features original commissions, as well as arrangements of a noted modern jazz composer. This season, the band turns their all-seeing eye on composer and saxophonist (and Newark native) Wayne Shorter.
The end of time was the beginning of the set. Saxophonist Miguel Zenon's arrangement of Shorter's "Armegeddon" set us on the trailhead.
Here's what followed:
This That and the Other - a Joe Lovano original
The Angel's Share - penned by Matt Penman, a New Zealand import
Diana - from Shorter's Native Dancer, arranged by Renee Rosnes
Go - Stefon Harris arranged this Shorter composition with some backbeat boom bap. Great way to end the first half.

The second set pushed ahead into the abstract, modern aesthetic that makes the collective such a great band to hear. Drummer Eric Harland's "The Year 2008" set the tone, a composition built around a recorded vocal chant, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Rosnes' "Aurora Borealis" followed. Trumpeter Dave Douglas contributed "Secrets of the Code," an original work that used snippets of Wayne Shorter's music as source code embedded as a thread throughout the composition. Great stuff. The newest member of the collective, trombonist Robin Eubanks, ended the evening with his arrangement of Shorter's "Black Nile."

Only two complaints. The piano monitor levels in the house made the trombone articulation inaudible. That's just the music nerd in me. The other issue is this: I could not hear all of the band's repertoire in a single night. The SF Jazz Collective had more music in the kitty, but I'll have to see them again to hear the rest. Will do.
-Josh

© 2008 WBGO

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