Friday, December 11, 2009
AIMC (Albums In My Collection)
Quincy Jones: "Smackwater Jack" was released in 1971 on A&M Records. Smackwater Jack, knocked purist jazz fans on their heads with its killer meld of pop tunes, television and film themes, pop vocals, and big-band charts. The personnel list is a who's-who of jazzers including Monty Alexander, Jim Hall, Pete Christlieb, Joe Beck, Bobby Scott, Ernie Royal, Freddie Hubbard, Jerome Richardson, Ray Brown, Jaki Byard, Toots Thielemans, and many others. It also hosted the talents of new school players who dug pop and soul, such as Grady Tate, Bob James, Joe Sample, Chuck Rainey, Paul Humphries, Eric Gale, and others. The title cut is a reading of the Gerry Goffin and Carole King number, done in a taut, funky soul style with Rainey's bassline popping and bubbling under the entire mix and James' Rhodes and Thielemans' harmonica leading the back until the funky breaks by Tate, and some tough street guitar by Arthur Adams host an enormous backing chorus and a "mysterious" uncredited male lead vocal. Other highlights include a rocking version of the television theme from Ironside, and "Hikky-Burr," the now infamous theme from the Bill Cosby Show with a guest vocal from Bill. Smackwater Jack, is one of Q's true masterpieces, recorded during an era when he could do no wrong, and when he was expanding not only his musical palette, but ours.
Miles Davis "Tutu" Album Artwork
Miles Davis released the album "Tutu" in 1986. The album was named in tribute to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whom was the first black Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa. The album heavily utilized electronic instruments and synthesizers, and was yet another Miles Davis album that set the cat among the pigeons. The amazingly strong artwork was done by Irving Penn. The artwork helped represent the bold and modern music. Irving Penn’s photography is incredible: stark, bold, and fearless. Penn's artwork can be seen below:
Monday, December 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
