Herbie Hancock’s Grammy win has made it safe for undercover jazz fans to come in from the cold. It is now officially hip—again—to love the classic African American art form that some say is the only true original music to be born and bred in this country. This roundup looks at six albums that run the gamut from jazz to gospel to world beats. Music lovers can look forward to a swinging spring indeed:
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CD: Karibu
Artist: Lionel Loueke
Release date: March 25, 2008
Globalize this, but don’t call it world music. Lionel Loueke is simply a spectacular composer and straight-on jazz artist who can sing and finger-pick a guitar unlike anybody else. In this, his first appearance on the Blue Note label, he plays, sings and uses mouth percussion as part of a tight trio that’s been together for eight years. The group shows out on the complex and oddly metered title track, “Karibu,” which is Swahili for “welcome.” Renowned and celebrated (finally) Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter make guest appearances throughout. “Zala” showcases Loueke’s hypnotic hum of a voice and some lightnin’ fast guitar-picking that’s absolutely masterful yet sounds really, really good. After Loueke’s soulful strut through “Agbannon Blues,” it’ll be clear why Hancock has declared: “Lionel can play anything.”
CD: Sacred Major 7th
Artist: Jeff Majors
Release date: March 7, 2008
Folks probably won’t realize how much they’ve been missing Gerald LeVert until they hear “Beggar.” That husky, tear-stained baritone, on this, Gerald’s final recording, captures you in its embrace. Including this cut was an inspired move on Jeff Majors’ part. But in addition to being a helluva harpist, Majors is a gifted songwriter and producer who is building a monumental 12-CD Sacred series—this is number seven—that he’s performing on his 11-city Second Annual National Homeless Tour. If you like a little salsa with your gospel, push play on “Latin Praise.” But to understand how Majors acquired his harpist cred, turn to “Quiet Time.” It’s breathtaking.
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CD: Love Songs, Ballads and Standards
Artist: Irvin Mayfield and Ellis Marsalis
Release date: April 1, 2008
The venerable Ellis Marsalis, who’s 74, doesn’t collaborate with anyone outside of his family, except Irvin Mayfield. And trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, who’s on the left side of 30 and is Marsalis’s student, with exquisite artistry and technique, proves himself worthy of the distinction. From the first note of “Yesterday,” each cut just gets better and better. When these two play the classic “In a Sentimental Mood,” it’s so beautiful, it’s almost as if it had never been done before. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra provides a stirring backdrop to “Superstar” and one of the CD’s two versions of “Yesterday.” Worthy of constant repeats: “Mo Bettah Blues,” “Round Midnight” and “Blame It on the Sun.”
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CD: Marcus
Artist: Marcus Miller
Release date: Spring 2008
For Marcus, the highly proficient Miller takes a little poetry, a lot of funk, adds some old school and a venerable standard, and winds up with an hour of popping rhythm and soul. Miller could roll with Miles Davis and kick it with Eric Clapton, so it was no stretch for him to record spoken word with Taraji P. Henson, who recites and sings her version of the Robin Thicke hit “Lost Without U.” “’Cause I Want You” blends R&B with a sweetly explosive yet smooth rap of Shihan the Poet from Def Poetry Jam. The standard “When I Fall in Love” is just plain pretty. And just put “Ooh” on repeat, over and over again.
CD: State of Nature
Artist: Stanley Jordan
Release date: April 22, 2008
He’s a poetry man—on the guitar. But Stanley Jordan’s no one-trick pony. He has been known to play two instruments at a time—even two guitars; the innovative virtuoso is fairly revolutionary. He does it all here on his first release in more than a decade. A surprisingly elegant addition to the collection is 19-year-old cellist Meta West on “Forest Garden.” From the hard-driving beats in “A Place in Space” to the bossa nova-ish “Insensatez (How Insensitive)” to the venerable “Song for My Father,” this album moves Jordan into a state of grace.
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CD: When You Know
Artist: Dianne Reeves
Release date: April 15, 2008
Crystal-clear notes, perfectly-enunciated phrasing, sugar-sweet melody—that’s Dianne Reeves. None of today’s vocalists can touch her. This is her first offering since the Grammy Award–winning soundtrack from Good Night and Good Luck, and it’s authoritative and perfect Dianne. The incredible “Over the Weekend” was once sung by Nancy Wilson, who encouraged Dianne to record it. The Reeves rendition ends with a keening Minnie Ripperton-like note, which, in a nice touch, carries her right into Minnie’s hit, “Loving You.” In short: It’s damn near impossible to find anything to complain about with Dianne Reeves.
What jazz album are you most looking forward to this spring? Share your thoughts below.
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