Time: 45:08
Size: 103.3 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Contemporary jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front
[3:17] 1. My Way Is Better
[3:21] 2. Everyday I Have The Blues
[5:12] 3. Georgia On My Mind
[2:59] 4. Bad Attitude
[2:52] 5. Sweet Georgia Brown
[5:43] 6. Honeysuckle Rose
[4:06] 7. Manha De Carnaval
[3:04] 8. Mum Is The Word
[5:10] 9. Trouble With Larry
[2:35] 10. Rhythm Method Blues
[3:43] 11. Lazy River
[3:00] 12. Avalon
Chris Cortez (acoustic guitar), Sam Bruton (piano), Larry Panella (tenor sax, alto sax, flute), Humphrey Davis Jr. (tenor sax, vocals), John Brinson (organ), John Reid (fluegel horn), Billy Bargetzi (trombone), Edwin Livingston (bass), James Singleton (bass), John Wooton (percussion), Jeff Mills (drums).
More often than not, when a musician tries to explore many different elements on a single disc – jazz, blues, vocals, instrumentals, varying personnel, etc. – the result is an album that is uneven and lacking any real cohesiveness. However, on “Mum Is The Word,” guitarist Chris Cortez attempts to do exactly that and succeeds, in spades, on every level.
Altogether, there are 11 musicians that make appearances on this album, with songs that run the gamut from sambas to blues to bebop and yet it consistently has a warm, uniformly ‘small group’ feel about it. The first thing I have to say about Chris Cortez is that he is a phenomenal guitar player – whether he’s playing straight-ahead jazz, Latin or gut bucket blues, he does it at an extremely high level and at the same time in a manner that makes it sound totally relaxed and natural. He has a fantastic feel and sense of rhythm, with a gorgeous tone. Many times, when a player switches styles on an album like this, it is very apparent which style they are most comfortable with, but Cortez seems equally at home in all settings.
I often cringe at the thought of a great jazz instrumentalist actually singing on an album. So many recordings (and concerts) have, to my ears, been marred by someone thinking that just because they are a great sax or guitar player that they must surely be a great vocalist as well. Many of them are sadly mistaken. But Cortez again proves to be the exception to the rule! He is as naturally gifted a singer as he is as a guitarist, with a beautiful voice that is especially suited for the blues (as he proves here with his rendition of “Everyday I Have The Blues”.) As if all these talents weren’t enough, Cortez proves to also be a masterful songwriter and arranger, as well as a great producer and engineer. This album features five of his originals (along with seven standards) and was completely produced and engineered by Cortez. It’s amazing that one person can wear so many hats and wear them all so well. ~from the artist's site
More often than not, when a musician tries to explore many different elements on a single disc – jazz, blues, vocals, instrumentals, varying personnel, etc. – the result is an album that is uneven and lacking any real cohesiveness. However, on “Mum Is The Word,” guitarist Chris Cortez attempts to do exactly that and succeeds, in spades, on every level.
Altogether, there are 11 musicians that make appearances on this album, with songs that run the gamut from sambas to blues to bebop and yet it consistently has a warm, uniformly ‘small group’ feel about it. The first thing I have to say about Chris Cortez is that he is a phenomenal guitar player – whether he’s playing straight-ahead jazz, Latin or gut bucket blues, he does it at an extremely high level and at the same time in a manner that makes it sound totally relaxed and natural. He has a fantastic feel and sense of rhythm, with a gorgeous tone. Many times, when a player switches styles on an album like this, it is very apparent which style they are most comfortable with, but Cortez seems equally at home in all settings.
I often cringe at the thought of a great jazz instrumentalist actually singing on an album. So many recordings (and concerts) have, to my ears, been marred by someone thinking that just because they are a great sax or guitar player that they must surely be a great vocalist as well. Many of them are sadly mistaken. But Cortez again proves to be the exception to the rule! He is as naturally gifted a singer as he is as a guitarist, with a beautiful voice that is especially suited for the blues (as he proves here with his rendition of “Everyday I Have The Blues”.) As if all these talents weren’t enough, Cortez proves to also be a masterful songwriter and arranger, as well as a great producer and engineer. This album features five of his originals (along with seven standards) and was completely produced and engineered by Cortez. It’s amazing that one person can wear so many hats and wear them all so well. ~from the artist's site
Mum Is The Word