Quincy Jones - Back On The Block

Styles: R&B, Crossover Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:55
Size: 134,8 MB
Art: Front

(1:04) 1. Prologue (Q's Rap)
(6:34) 2. Back On The Block
(5:11) 3. I Don't Go For That
(4:54) 4. I'll Be Good To You
(0:31) 5. The Verb To Be
(3:31) 6. Wee B. Dooinit
(6:28) 7. The Places You Find Love
(2:53) 8. Jazz Corner Of The World
(5:34) 9. Birdland
(5:04) 10. Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)
(3:44) 11. One Man Woman
(4:46) 12. Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)
(0:54) 13. Prelude To The Garden
(6:40) 14. The Secret Garden

Back on the Block is a 1989 studio album produced by Quincy Jones. The album features legendary musicians and singers from across three generations, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Ray Charles and a 12-year-old Tevin Campbell.

Multiple singles were lifted from the album and found success on Pop and R&B radio, including "I'll Be Good to You", "I Don't Go for That", "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)", and "Tomorrow (A Better You, Better Me)" which was originally an instrumental track on the Brothers Johnson's Look Out for #1 set. "Tomorrow" is also noteworthy for introducing a young Tevin Campbell to the music scene. Back on the Block won the 1991 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Jones' track, "Setembro (of brazilian composers Gilson Peranzzetta and Ivan Lins)" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. Back on the Block topped the R&B Albums chart at number-one for twelve weeks, and topped the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart as well.

Back on the Block featured the last studio recordings of jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Fitzgerald and Jones had previously worked together on her 1963 album with Count Basie, Ella and Basie!. Jones had produced three albums with Sarah Vaughan when they both worked for Mercury Records. At the 33rd Grammy Awards, Back on the Block won seven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

In arranging, Jerry Hey, Quincy Jones, Ian Prince and Rod Temperton won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for "Birdland", and Glen Ballard, Hey, Jones and Clif Magness won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for "The Places You Find Love". Jones also won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance for "Birdland", and the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Bruce Swedien won the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for his work on the album. Ray Charles and Chaka Khan won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "I'll Be Good To You". The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group went to Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, Quincy Jones III and Jones for "Back on the Block".https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_on_the_Block

Personnel includes: Quincy Jones (vocals, keyboards, programming); Bobby McFerrin (vocals, bass, percussion); Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warrick, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Barry White, Take 6, Tevin Campell, James Ingram, El DeBarge, Al B. Sure! (vocals); Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel (rap vocals); James Moody, Gerald Albright (alto saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis (trumpet); Herbie Hancock, George Duke (keyboards); George Benson, Steve Lukather, Paul Jackson, Jr., (guitar); Nathan East (bass); Harvey Mason (drums); Steve Porcaro, Josef Zawinul, Rod Temperton (programming); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Back On The Block

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Bobby McFerrin - Beyond Words

Styles: Vocal, Keyboards, Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:43
Size: 129,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:10)  1. Invocation
(3:40)  2. Kalimba Suite
(4:28)  3. A Silken Road
(4:39)  4. Fertile Field
(2:15)  5. Dervishes
(5:20)  6. Ziggurat
(1:22)  7. Sisters
(1:14)  8. Circlings
(1:30)  9. Chanson
(4:01) 10. Windows
(4:08) 11. Marlowe
(2:40) 12. Mass
(2:11) 13. Pat And Joe
(4:22) 14. Taylor Made
(3:47) 15. A Piece, A Chord
(2:48) 16. Monks/The Shepherd

How does one write about the ineffable? It is, after all, Beyond Words ... We must, however, reflect on Bobby McFerrin’s Beyond Words. There is a certain degree of serendipity in the fact that this recording is being capitalized upon, in the best economic system the world has ever known, through the marketing efforts of both Blue Note and Angel Records as in Classical music, the "grace note" is what in Jazz is known as a "blue note." Beyond Words is an album from the world to the world, encompassing the fleeting hallowedness that structures the allure and effect of a graceful blue note. Hence, it is not for the faint of sensibility and intelligence. Although not a difficult work, without recurring to popish sentimentality or facility in its accessibility, it does require a certain level of engagement in order to disengage the listener from preconceptions and expectations that would mar the delight on musical idioms beyond any evocative or explanatory measure. McFerrin’s latest is “deep,” as musicians are fond of saying when referring to outstanding music. It would be rather tempting to play a game of “Where’s Waldo?” when trying to document the various musical, cultural or aesthetic influences present in this compact disc, although that would be infelicitous and beside the point. 

As mentioned before, this is an album from the world to the world. Creative, or so-called creative endeavors, nonetheless, often times end up as mere masturbatory efforts that have more to do with inbred narcissism than true originality. McFerrin is not affianced in self-pleasure in this Blue Note/Angel release. He wants to gratify his audience with an anointing dipped into one of the widest palettes available for worldwide consumption in contemporary musical markets. Beyond Words has a wide and fun emotional range that swings in saintly depth. The arrangements, vocalizations, and compositions, as well as the performances of the musicians, have a refreshing sense of cultural innocence and curiosity in their tales. With the exception of “Windows,” a Chick Corea composition, reinterpreted here in historical fashion by McFerrin, the rest of the oeuvre was penned by him. Having Corea playing in this recording was a prudent decision as he has an authentic and imaginative record of accomplishment in various musical worlds. The same is true of most of the rest of the crew that gave rise to the beautiful blessing that is Beyond Words. McFerrin’s latest also hits the mark with the integrity of the 16 pictorials poured in this recording. From the short-lived “Circlings,” to the beefier “Invocation,” Beyond Words manages to say what needs saying without recourse to vocal or instrumental logorrhea. The whole of Beyond Words is known through its wholesome parts, duration notwithstanding. All told, Beyond Words says a lot. You had better listen...~ Javier AQ Ortiz https://www.allaboutjazz.com/beyond-words-bobby-mcferrin-review-by-javier-aq-ortiz.php

Personnel: Bobby McFerrin: Vocals, Keyboards;  Richard Bona: Bass; Cyro Baptista: Percussion; Chick Corea: Piano & Keyboards; Gil Goldstein: Accordion & Fender Rhodes; Omar Hakim: Drums; Taylor McFerrin: Beatbox; Keith Underwood: Flutes.

Beyond Words

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Bobby McFerrin - Simple Pleasures

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:50
Size: 78,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Don't Worry Be Happy
(2:56)  2. All I Want
(2:44)  3. Drive My Car
(2:08)  4. Simple Pleasures
(2:58)  5. Good Lovin'
(3:38)  6. Come To Me
(2:51)  7. Susie Q
(3:58)  8. Drive
(3:55)  9. Them Changes
(3:44) 10. Sunshine Of Your Love

This CD will always be remembered for including Bobby McFerrin's surprise hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Actually, overall, this album is not quite up to the level of his previous two, for instead of taking unaccompanied vocals, the remarkable singer overdubbed his voice many times, which reduces the miraculous nature of his talents. 

However, McFerrin's renditions of "Drive My Car," "Drive," and "Sunshine of Your Love" (the program is quite diverse), plus the catchy "Don't Worry," are generally unique and worth hearing. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/simple-pleasures-mw0000199391

Personnel: Bobby McFerrin - vocals

Simple Pleasures

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