Bill Evans - Escape

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:09
Size: 171,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Swing Hop
(5:59)  2. Escape
(6:19)  3. Reality
(6:00)  4. The Sunday After
(4:38)  5. Rattletrap
(5:15)  6. Flash In Dreamland
(7:39)  7. Coravilas
(4:55)  8. Easilee
(5:27)  9. Undercover
(5:55) 10. La Di Da
(4:38) 11. Armsakimbo
(6:15) 12. Aftermath
(5:30) 13. Undercover (Remix - Marcus' Mad Flav)

From Miles Davis' Doo-Bop to albums by Greg Osby and Steve Coleman, much of the "jazz/rap fusion" released has been more hip-hop than jazz essentially, hip-hop with jazz overtones. Bill Evans, however, has featured rappers in much the way a hard bopper would feature a singer -- on "Reality" and the poignant, reggae-influenced "La Di Da," rapper Ahmed Best successfully interacts with an actual, spontaneous, improvisatory band instead of merely pre-recorded tracks. Best's rapping style a cerebral approach akin to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest instead of more hardcore rappers like Tupac Shakur and Ice-T  is well-suited to this challenging and complex jazz-fusion setting. On the instrumental side, Escape's triumphs range from the hard-edged jazz-funk pieces "Undercover" and "Rattletrap" to the sensuous, Brazilian-influenced "Coravillas." Though capable of tenderness and vulnerability, Evans has the good sense to avoid bloodless "smooth jazz" altogether. ~ Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/escape-mw0000647830

Personnel: Bill Evans (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, background vocals); Mark Ledford, Loni Groves, Robin Beck, M.C.900 FT JESUS (vocals); Ahmed Best (rap vocals); Wallace Roney (trumpet); Ken Meccia (trombone); Chelsea Orchestra (strings); Jim Beard (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, bass, drums, programming, loops, background vocals); Jon Herington, Gary Poulson, Lee Ritenour, Nick Moroch (guitar); Ron Jenkins, Victor Bailey, Mark Egan, Marcus Miller (bass); Max Risenhoover, Billy Kilson, Steve Ferrone (drums); Manolo Badrena (percussion, background vocals); Nalini (background vocals). .

Escape

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