by Thom Jurek
1975 was a hell of a year for Creed Taylor's Kudu Records. Not only was the mighty, mighty Feels So Good album by Grover Washington, Jr. released, but so was saxophonist Hank Crawford's Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing. It was one of two recordings issued by Crawford for the label in that calendar year. But perhaps the most deeply satisfying and out of character album from that year was the absolute soul-jazz masterpiece Upchurch/Tennyson by Chicago guitar god Phil Upchurch and pianist/vocalist Tennyson Stephens. Where else can you find tracks by Bob James, Charles Stepney, Stevie Wonder, Ralph MacDonald, and Franz Schubert on the same album played by a cast of musicians that includes Steve Gadd, David Sanborn, Hubert Laws, James, Upchruch, Stephens, and a slew of others. While the album kicks off soulfully with MacDonald's mellow groover "You Got Style," with Stephens hitting all the low notes correctly and with smooth verve throughout, the next tune is the one that set the mark for acts like Enigma, Delerium, Adiemus, and others: James' setting of Schubert's "Ave Maria" to a slow funky backbeat with a chorus of female voices all colored by guitar and Fender Rhodes. The read of Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good" is stunning in a different way than Chaka Khan's, with Upchurch bending the hell out of his single-string notes, and James' "South Side Morning" is one of the most beautifully composed -- as well as executed -- tunes he's ever conceived. Throughout is the warmth and tenderness of Stephens' singing and his lilting pianism, and Upchurch's always in the pocket, without any flashy guitar playing, making this a late-night and early-morning album to live by. This is one of those soul-jazz records that is heavier on soul and is all the better for it.
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Reseña
por Thom Jurek
1975 fue un año infernal para Kudu Records de Creed Taylor. No sólo se publicó el poderoso, poderoso álbum Feels So Good de Grover Washington, Jr. sino también Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing del saxofonista Hank Crawford. Fue una de las dos grabaciones publicadas por Crawford para el sello en ese año. Pero quizás el álbum más satisfactorio y fuera de lo común de ese año fue la obra maestra de soul-jazz Upchurch/Tennyson del dios de la guitarra de Chicago Phil Upchurch y el pianista/vocalista Tennyson Stephens. En qué otro lugar se pueden encontrar temas de Bob James, Charles Stepney, Stevie Wonder, Ralph MacDonald y Franz Schubert en el mismo álbum, interpretados por un elenco de músicos que incluye a Steve Gadd, David Sanborn, Hubert Laws, James, Upchruch, Stephens y un montón de otros. Mientras que el álbum comienza de forma conmovedora con "You Got Style", de MacDonald, con Stephens tocando todas las notas bajas correctamente y con un suave brío, la siguiente melodía es la que marcó la pauta para actos como Enigma, Delerium, Adiemus y otros: La adaptación de James del "Ave María" de Schubert a un ritmo lento y funky con un coro de voces femeninas, todo ello coloreado por la guitarra y el Fender Rhodes. La lectura de "Tell Me Something Good" de Wonder es impresionante de una manera diferente a la de Chaka Khan, con Upchurch doblando el infierno de sus notas de una sola cuerda, y "South Side Morning" de James es una de las melodías más bellamente compuestas - así como ejecutadas - que ha concebido. La calidez y la ternura del canto de Stephens y su pianismo cadencioso, y Upchurch siempre en el bolsillo, sin ninguna guitarra llamativa, hacen que este sea un álbum para la noche y la madrugada. Se trata de uno de esos discos de soul-jazz con más peso del alma y que es mejor por ello.
1 - You Got Style - 2:39
2 - Ave Maria - 4:40
3 - In Common - 3:55
4 - Tell Me Something Good - 6:00
5 - Don't I Know You - 3:06
6 - South Side Morning - 3:05
7 - Evil - 3:50
8 - Black Gold - 3:33
9 - I Wanted It Too - 2:42
- Bonus Tracks -
10 - Donny's Hip - 5:11
11 - Black Maybe - 6:53
12 - Tell The Truth - 3:41
13 - Looking The World Over - 4:30
Credits:
Doug Bascomb - Bass, Bass (Electric)
Harry Cykman - Violin
Max Ellen - Violin
Frank Floyd - Vocals (Background)
Steve Gadd - Drums
Eric Gale - Bass, Bass (Electric), Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Harry Glickman - Violin
Alla Goldberg - Cello
Allan Goldberg - Cello
Alla Goldenberg - Cello
Lani Groves - Vocals (Background)
Bob James - Adaptation, ARP Synthesizer, Arranger, Fender Rhodes, Piano, Piano (Electric), Soloist
Harold Kohon - Violin
Warren Lash - Cello
Hubert Laws - Flute
Jesse Levy - Cello
Harry Lookofsky - Violin
Ralph MacDonald - Congas, Percussion
David Nadien - Violin
Gene Orloff - Violin
Janice Pendarvis - Vocals (Background)
Matthew Raimondi - Violin
David Sanborn - Sax (Alto), Soloist
Zachary Sanders - Vocals (Background)
Andrew Smith - Drums
Anthony Sophos - Cello
Tennyson Stephens - Piano, Piano (Electric), Primary Artist, Soloist, Vocals
Phil Upchurch - Bass, Bass (Electric), Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Primary Artist
Recorded at Van Gelder Studios, September 1974 and January-March 1975.
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Label: CTI Records – 5128022, Epic – 5128022
Series: The Master Series
Country: Austria
Released: 2003
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/3358988-Phil-Upchurch-Tennyson-Stephens-UpchurchTennyson
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