After the swinging opening Without Further Ado throws a curveball by rendering funkily ‘Back in Love Again’ by L. T. D. (Love Tenderness and Devotion) – an American group whose hitmaking days were largely the 1970s and sung here by Jeffrey “On the Wings of Love” Osborne who used to be in L. T. D. in his pre-mega solo fame days singing and playing drums. It’s a terrific version of the song. What a singer Osborne is.
There’s great trumpet and trombone work in the introduction to the Willard Robison & Dedette Lee Hill classic from the late-1930s ‘Old Folks’ which is far more core jazz.
This treatment has the wonderful jazz singer Samara Joy – recently at the Proms – on it. I think of Sarah Vaughan’s Sassy (1956) version from the 50s as a good companion listen. The difference on the McBride treatment is the absence (though no obvious diminution in outcome at that) of strings.
Anyone who has seen Christian McBride live or talked to the man himself will know he is a joyful kind of person, full of optimism and energy (mad about James Brown I seem to recall from all those years ago too) and you get that passion here on the big band’s treatment of Bobby Timmons evergreen ‘Moanin’.’
José James who sometimes can be a bit hit (at Ronnie’s with Jef Neve and on The Dreamer) and miss (eg when he sang live with McCoy Tyner and Chris Potter at the Barbican) certainly happily lands a bull’s eye for his hip street swagger added to the opening lines which contain incredible walking bass from McBride who let’s be frank is one of the world’s great jazz bassists. The other nine, just in case you think I am talking complete bollocks, completing our top 10: Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Marcus Miller, Buster Williams, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Patitucci, John Clayton, Stanley Clarke.
The 1930s Cole Porter song ‘All Through the Night’ has a fine vocal by Cécile McLorin Salvant. I wonder was McBride thinking of fellow bass great the much missed Charlie Haden’s Quartet West treatment found on 1990s album Now is the Hour a little although this is quite differently sculpted. The peerless McLorin Salvant whose Oh Snap is nevertheless disappointing sends me to thoughts of Shirley Horn’s breathtaking version of the song on her I Love You Paris album put out in the 1990s. It’s that good.
The most momentous inclusion on the album and the track with the best woodwinds is the treatment of Carole King and Gerry Goffin classic ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’ sung way down low at the beginning in a very unusual key by Dianne Reeves. It’s a world away from the Shirelles.
There are lots of big songs here. I suppose the danger was that they could overshadow the interpretations. Fear not they don’t. Big band members include trumpeters Freddie Hendrix, recently a draw in Sligo, and Nabaté Isles, trombonist Steve Davis, percussionist Pedrito Martinez, the buzzing Kenny Garrett drummer McLenty Hunter, vibist Warren Wolf (who is on Rachael and Vilray’s excellent West of Broadway out recently as is saxist Steve Wilson also here), flautist Todd Bashore, bass clarinettist Carl Miraghi and tenorist Ron Blake who is name checked by McBride in the Newport video above.
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Jarrod Lawson, Just Let it, Dome ***
Laugh at Yourself stands out most, where Eric Roberson duets winningly.
Wynton Marsalis and Vince Giordano, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Blue Engine **** recommended
Vibrant trad jazz intimations of Satch wail, smear and ache.
Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble, Distant Plains: The Planets Revisited, Caliban Sounds/One Little Independent ***1/2
Two become one in the moment
