Released in late 1993, Blue Light ‘Til Dawn was a game-changer. It did not win Cassandra Wilson a Grammy (those came later), but it sold nearly a million copies. It shot her to the top of the DownBeat Critics Poll in the female vocalist category, where she has remained.
More significant than the album’s commercial success and its inauguration of a critical consensus was its new concept of repertoire. In 1994 it was not yet common for jazz singers to get material from singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison. “Black Crow” is a re-composition, a reliving of Mitchell’s story, every line transfigured by startling intervals and rhythmic displacements for a fresh, treacherous groove. “Tupelo Honey” is beyond sensuous. It is slowed to a crawl, lingered over, tasted. On the first level of meaning, they are the black versions of these songs. On a deeper level they are the universal human versions.
All jazz vocalists sing the blues, but not Robert Johnson blues. Wilson’s return to “Come on in My Kitchen” and “Hellhound on My Trail” were revelations in 1993. They proclaimed the relevance of shared history, almost forgotten.
Another breakthrough was the stark accompaniment. Many tunes have only two or three instruments. One of them is usually the acoustic guitar of Brandon Ross, that conjurer of rapt atmosphere and darkness. In open space, Wilson’s rich, smoky, endlessly expressive voice is set free.
This 20th Anniversary Edition was remastered by Greg Calbi and the original producer, Craig Street. The sound is more clear and alive. There are three previously unreleased concert tracks “recorded somewhere in Europe in 1994.” “Black Crow” has different instrumentation and edgier energy than the studio version. “Tupelo Honey” has a piercing, aching violin solo by Charles Burnham. “Skylark” is like a nine-minute sigh. Thousands of jazz vocal albums have come into the world in the last 20 years. Very few possess the permanence of Blue Light ‘Til Dawn.
What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XIV)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2017
On the eve of a new year, it's time for a new thread.
Last year's thread can be found here:
Now Playing........
Don Henley - Cass County
Streaming on TIDAL...... Spending some time with Don after lunch, he is sounding mighty fine.
Jackie McLean - Jackie's Bag. Recorded in two sessions 1959/60. 1987 CD-rip (bonus tracks from the 1960 session). Good one.
1959 (tracks 1-3)
Jackie McLean - alto saxophone, Donald Byrd - trumpet, Sonny Clark - piano (#2-3), Paul Chambers - bass, Philly Joe Jones - drums
1960 (tracks 4-9)
Jackie McLean - alto saxophone, Tina Brooks - tenor saxophone, Blue Mitchell - trumpet, Kenny Drew - piano, Paul Chambers - bass, Art Taylor - drums
Stevee_S posted:
(2012)
Some heavy metal, sludge and stoner rock from Brighton, yummy... The eponymous debut from these bad boys.
Have this one in que to take a listen. Love some good Doom metal.
Hippie Haus
Now Playing......
Cassandra Wilson - Blue Light Till Dawn
Cassandra Wilson (vocals), Kenny Davis (bass), Lonnie Plaxico (bass), Don Byron (clarinet), Olu Dara (cornet), Lance Carter (drums, percussion), Bill McClellan (drums, percussion), Brandon Ross (guitar, classical guitar, steel guitar), Chris Whitley (guitar), Gib Wharton (steel guitar, pedals steel), Charlie Burnham (mandocello, violin), Cyro Baptista (percussion), Jeff Haynes (percussion), Kevin Johnson (percussion), and Vinx (vocals, percussion)
Streaming on NAS...... Going back in time to the early 90's and taking Cassandra out for a spin, fantastic voice and music, worth the time to give a listen.
Review by Thomas Conrad from JazzTimes.com found here:
Now Playing.......
Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Ground
Tord Gustavsen (piano), Harald Johnsen (double-bass), and Jarle Vespestad (drums).
Streaming on NAS........ Arrived in afternoon mail, ripped to NAS and now giving it a spin. Streamed the album on TIDAL a couple of times and decided to purchase a copy, a wonderful album.
Something twinkly to finish with before bedtime.
LP from the days when they thought it a good idea to advertise DIGITAL RECORDING in the top right hand corner of the covers, however IMO it does all sound rather fine : )
Debs
Haim Ronen posted:
Haim, i wouldn't like to meet those three down a back alley on a dark night 
Hope they're not as menacing as they look!
Good youtube links tho' : )
Debs
Used to have the lp, many years ago…
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Tool - Salival
Now Playing.....
Vanessa Rubin - Pastiche
Streaming on NAS.......... --- Some swing with horns to get me up and going on this dark & damp Tuesday morning.
Vanessa Rubin (vocals), E. J. Allen (flugehorn, trumpet), Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet), Roger Byam (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and temor saxophone), Aaron Graves (organ, piano, and synthesizer), Houston Person (tenor saxophone), Michael Rubin (percussion), Tarik Shah (bass), Steve Turre (trombone), and Aaron Walker (drums).
Review on all-about music.com here:
Throughout this well-planned date, Vanessa Rubin sounds like an able successor to the more jazz-oriented sides of Nancy Wilson, Lorez Alexandria, and Ernestine Anderson. Rubin's soulful voice and subtle variations blend in well with the solos of the various horns even if she is not really an improviser herself. Assisted by a fine rhythm section and such sidemen as trumpeters E.J. Allen and Cecil Bridgewater, trombonist Steve Turre, and (on one song) tenorman Houston Person, Rubinexpertly interprets the lyrics with both honest emotion and swing, occasionally scatting in unison or in counterpoint with the horns.
Another fine album by Mr Strait.
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On a dark damp and dismal Tuesday afternoon
