Ramsey Lewis • Dancing In The Street

Review by Amy Hanson

Only a little over a year old at the time of recording, this incarnation of the Ramsey Lewis Trio -- Ramsey Lewis, Cleveland Eaton, and Maurice White (later of Earth, Wind & Fire) -- were well on their way to the pristine and symbiotic gel that would define their style. They were, however, still undergoing that process when they laid down this "live" set at San Francisco's Basin Street West club in July 1967. It's that somewhat formative vibe that makes this particular performance such a complete and utter joy. Dancing in the Street is this trio's recorded debut and, across a wide range of covers and styles, it's a captivating portrait of contemporary jazz. The title track, a cover of the Martha & the Vandellas R&B classic, is so smooth and stylish that it nearly outshines the original. "Django," meanwhile, is a delightful tribute to the Belgian Gypsy musician Django Reinhardt. Lewis pays further homage to the greats across his cover of the Billy Taylor classic "Mood for Mendes." Also of note is the Ramsey Lewis Trio's rendition of the country song "You Don't Know Me." Originally a hit for Jerry Vale in 1956, it was revisited in 1960 by Lenny Welch and again in 1962 by Ray Charles, and it's from that great bluesman's version that Lewis took his cue with this wonderful jam. These three musicians are a joy to hear, and it's within their far-reaching vision, and the effortless incorporation of so many styles into contemporary jazz, that they were -- and remain -- among the genre's finest.

///////

Reseña de Amy Hanson
Con poco más de un año de antigüedad en el momento de la grabación, esta encarnación del Trío de Ramsey Lewis -- Ramsey Lewis, Cleveland Eaton, y Maurice White (más tarde de Earth, Wind & Fire) -- iban camino del prístino y simbiótico gel que definiría su estilo. Sin embargo, todavía estaban en ese proceso cuando pusieron este set "en vivo" en el club Basin Street West de San Francisco en julio de 1967. Es esa vibración un tanto formativa la que hace que esta particular actuación sea una alegría completa y absoluta. Dancing in the Street es el debut grabado de este trío y, a través de una amplia gama de portadas y estilos, es un retrato cautivador del jazz contemporáneo. El tema que da título al disco, una portada del clásico de Martha & the Vandellas R&B, es tan suave y elegante que casi eclipsa al original. "Django", por su parte, es un delicioso tributo al músico gitano belga Django Reinhardt. Lewis rinde un nuevo homenaje a los grandes a través de su portada del clásico de Billy Taylor "Mood for Mendes". También cabe destacar la interpretación del Ramsey Lewis Trio de la canción country "You Don't Know Me". Originalmente un éxito para Jerry Vale en 1956, fue revisada en 1960 por Lenny Welch y de nuevo en 1962 por Ray Charles, y es a partir de esa versión de ese gran bluesman que Lewis tomó su ejemplo con esta maravillosa improvisación. Estos tres músicos son una alegría de escuchar, y es dentro de su visión de largo alcance, y la incorporación sin esfuerzo de tantos estilos en el jazz contemporáneo, que fueron - y siguen siendo - entre los mejores del género.

 

Tracks

"Dancing in the Street" (Marvin Gaye) 5:05

"Mood for Mendes" (Billy Taylor) 3:06

"Struttin' Lightly" (Cleveland Eaton) 4:48

"You Don't Know Me" 4:48

"Django" (John Lewis) 4:50 

Black Orpheus Medley: "Manha Da Carnaval/Felicidade/Samba de Orfeu" (Luiz Bonfá) 8:27

"What Now My Love" (Gilbert Bécaud) 8:27

"Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)" (Antônio Carlos Jobim) 3:39

Released: 1968

Recorded: July 1967; Basin Street West, San Francisco, California

Length: 49:50

Label: Cadet LPS-794

MORE Ramsey Lewis ...




This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader

 

Tip: Use JDownloader