Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos/Rebecca Martin/Larry Grenadier - After Midnight

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2022
Time: 52:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 120,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:00) 1. The Space in a Song to Think
(5:48) 2. In the Nick of Time (state of the Union)
(4:02) 3. Brother Can You Spare a Dime
(3:47) 4. Kentucky Babe
(4:50) 5. After Midnight
(4:20) 6. Portrait
(4:47) 7. Don’t Mean a Thing at All
(6:15) 8. Willow Weep for Me
(4:20) 9. All Day Long She Wrote
(3:37) 10. Lush Life
(5:16) 11. Joey

Portugal’s Orquestra Jazz De Matosinhos was created in 1997 as a non-profit institution, and through the years it has worked with such American artists as Carla Bley, Lee Konitz, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Maria Schneider, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Fred Hersch. For After Midnight, which was recorded right before the pandemic, they are joined by singer/songwriter Rebecca Martin and her husband, bassist Larry Grenadier.

While Martin is a skilled songwriter and lyricist, her pitchy voice is an acquired taste, as is her bland delivery. One should concentrate on the messages of her lyrics rather than her tone. On After Midnight, she makes that a little easier by having her 11 songs with the big band followed by bonus cuts: solo readings of the lyrics by 11 different women. The big band performs arrangements by their director Pedro Guedes, Carlos Azevedo and two from Guillermo Klein.

There are occasional solos such as by an altoist on “The Space In A Song To Think,” drum breaks from Marcus Cavaleiro on “In The Nick Of Time,” guitarist Andre Fernandes during “After Midnight” and Grenadier on several pieces. But the orchestra is mostly in a subsidiary role, and the lack of mood and tempo variations is unfortunate. There are some who enjoy Bob Dylan’s singing while others find him difficult to sit through. For me, the latter is true of this Rebecca Martin showcase.
By Scott Yanow https://downbeat.com/reviews/detail/after-midnight

After Midnight

---

Hank Mobley - Messages (Reissue)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:15
Size: 175,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:57)  1. Bouncing With Bud
( 5:41)  2. 52nd Street Theme
( 6:15)  3. Minor Disturbance
( 7:32)  4. Au Privave
( 8:42)  5. Little Girl Blue
( 6:37)  6. These Are The Things I Love
( 6:04)  7. Message From The Border
( 5:37)  8. Xlento
( 5:49)  9. The Latest
(10:01) 10. I Should Care
( 6:56) 11. Crazeology

With the exception of Hank Mobley's original "Alternating Current," which was left out due to lack of space, this single CD has all of the music from the two Prestige LPs Mobley's Message and Hank Mobley's Second Message; a two-LP set from 1976 which had the same Messages title and catalog number, but also the complete program, is actually the preferred acquisition, but will be difficult to locate. The first session mostly features the fine tenor Hank Mobley jamming on four superior bop standards, including "Bouncing with Bud," "52nd Street Theme" and "Au Privavem" and his own "Minor Disturbance" in a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor; altoist Jackie McLean has a strong cameo on "Au Privave." The second set, recorded a week later, is less of a jam session, with Mobley, trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Walter Bishop, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor essaying three of Mobley's now-obscure compositions, Benny Harris's "Crazeology" and the standards "These Are the Things I Love" and "I Should Care." The two dates give one a good example of Hank Mobley's playing prior to becoming a regular Blue Note artist, where he would create his greatest work. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/messages-mw0000201086

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley; Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean; Bass – Doug Watkins; Drums – Art Taylor; Piano – Barry Harris, Walter Bishop; Trumpet – Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham 

Messages (Reissue)

---