I just received a copy of the most recent release,
Yesterday Today and Tomorrow from
Janice Harrington and it's really strong and sensual. I'll start off by saying that there can be a very fine line between what we term Jazz and what we term blues and it really depends upon the listener and the context. This has a number of markers of jazz music but it is strongly blues and I really like it. Featuring Lloyd Mayers (piano), Keter Betts (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (drums) the album opens with
I Thought About You, a strong vocal performance from Harrington accompanied primarily by Mayers. On
New Blowtop Blues, Betts takes some really nice acoustic bass lines leading to a very strong strong blues track featuring great phrasing from Harrington complimented by Mayers on piano. This is a terrific track. A really tasty bass solo on this track is well worth mentioning as these bottom guys never get the attention that they deserve.
Salty Papa Blues has a cool walking bass line leading the groove accented by Mayers on piano and complimented by Hans Malte Witte on tenor sax. Again phrasing and rhythm is everything and Harrington shows she has what it takes in spades! On
I Wanna Be Around, Harrington takes a traditional standard and really runs her own game and it really grooves.
Lean Baby is a cool swing track with just the right touch on drums, bass and keys. Mayers takes a real nice solo on this track only building space to showcase the brilliant voice of Harrington.
Bye Bye Blues really sets up nicely for Mayers and Betts who take a really nice run. Cobb gets a break out solo on this track as well showing strong chops. Standard track
Willow Weep For Me showcases Nat Adderley on vocal and cornet, Billy Mitchell on tenor sax and Mike Hennessy on piano. A bit adventurous vocally but a really strong live track added from and earlier recording, Remembering Dinah.
This is not a mainstream blues release and leans heavily toward jazz, but it is a terrific release with a lot of blues overtones and a superior vocalist in Janice Harrington.
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