Temple University Jazz Band • Without You, No Me

 

 

When his friend, colleague, mentor and confidante Jimmy Heath died in January 2020, trumpeter Terell Stafford's first impulse was to find a way to honor and remember the renowned Philadelphia-born saxophonist. As Stafford is director of the Temple University Jazz Band, also in Philadelphia, an obvious way would be to record a tribute album, which Stafford set about preparing. And then the Covid-19 pandemic arrived, scuttling those plans and most others on the drawing board.

The band did manage to release one album, The Covid Sessions: A Social Call, during the pandemic, recorded at long-distance with students "phoning in" their performances from homes across the country, but it wasn't until April 2021 that they were able to gather in the spacious Temple Performing Arts Center using social distancing, plexiglass dividers and half-hour "fresh air breaks" to record Without You, No Me, a picturesque tribute to Heath featuring special guests (and fellow Philadelphians) bassist Christian McBride and organist Joey DeFrancesco.

The album also honors two other Philly legends who died within the past year: saxophonist Bootsie Barnes and Hall of Fame basketball coach John Chaney—Barnes with Temple alumnus Jack Saint Clair's high-octane "Bootsie," Chaney with McBride's multi-layered "The Wise Old Owl." Heath wrote the breezy "Without You, No Me" (for Dizzy Gillespie) and the eloquent "Voice of the Saxophone," DeFrancesco the fast-paced "In That Order," Todd Bashore (a former student of Heath's) the assertive opener, "Passing of the Torch." Danielle Dougherty sings (quite well) on Saint Clair's perceptive arrangements of the standard "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" and Shirley Scott's soulful "The Blues Ain't Nothin' (But Some Pain)." Bassist John Clayton arranged "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (showcasing McBride's full-throated bass), pianist Bill Cunliffe "In That Order." The freewheeling closer, Juan Tizol's "Perdido," was scored by another Philadelphia icon, saxophonist Larry McKenna. DeFrancesco solos on "In That Order" and (with McBride) on "Perdido," McBride again on "The Wise Old Owl" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."

The band is admirable throughout, as are its (unnamed) soloists, one of whom may (or may not) be Stafford. McBride and DeFrancesco? Impeccable, as always. Splendid cover art too: a silhouette of Heath, saxophone in hand, against a backdrop of Philadelphia skyscrapers. A warm and spacious salute to a jazz colossus that was well worth the wait.
By Jack Bowers
November 28, 2021
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/without-you-no-me-temple-university-jazz-band-bcm-and-d-records

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Cuando su amigo, colega, mentor y confidente Jimmy Heath murió en enero de 2020, el primer impulso del trompetista Terell Stafford fue encontrar una manera de honrar y recordar al renombrado saxofonista nacido en Filadelfia. Como Stafford es director de la Banda de Jazz de la Universidad de Temple, también en Filadelfia, una forma obvia sería grabar un álbum de homenaje, que Stafford se puso a preparar. Y entonces llegó la pandemia de Covid-19, que echó por tierra esos planes y la mayoría de los que estaban en marcha.

La banda consiguió publicar un álbum, The Covid Sessions: A Social Call, durante la pandemia, grabado a distancia con estudiantes que "llamaban por teléfono" a sus actuaciones desde sus casas en todo el país, pero no fue hasta abril de 2021 cuando pudieron reunirse en el espacioso Temple Performing Arts Center utilizando el distanciamiento social, los separadores de plexiglás y las "pausas de aire fresco" de media hora para grabar Without You, No Me, un pintoresco homenaje a Heath que cuenta con invitados especiales (y compañeros de Filadelfia) el bajista Christian McBride y el organista Joey DeFrancesco.

El álbum también rinde homenaje a otras dos leyendas de Filadelfia que fallecieron el año pasado: el saxofonista Bootsie Barnes y el entrenador de baloncesto del Salón de la Fama John Chaney-Barnes con la canción de alto octanaje "Bootsie", del ex alumno de Temple Jack Saint Clair, y Chaney con "The Wise Old Owl", de McBride, de múltiples capas. Heath escribió la alegre "Without You, No Me" (para Dizzy Gillespie) y la elocuente "Voice of the Saxophone", DeFrancesco la acelerada "In That Order", Todd Bashore (antiguo alumno de Heath) la asertiva apertura, "Passing of the Torch". Danielle Dougherty canta (bastante bien) en los perspicaces arreglos de Saint Clair del estándar "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" y la conmovedora "The Blues Ain't Nothin' (But Some Pain)" de Shirley Scott. El bajista John Clayton arregló "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" (mostrando el bajo de McBride a todo volumen), el pianista Bill Cunliffe "In That Order". El cierre libre, "Perdido" de Juan Tizol, fue anotado por otro icono de Filadelfia, el saxofonista Larry McKenna. DeFrancesco hace un solo en "In That Order" y (con McBride) en "Perdido", McBride de nuevo en "The Wise Old Owl" y "I Can't Give You Anything But Love".

La banda es admirable en todo momento, al igual que sus solistas (sin nombre), uno de los cuales puede (o no) ser Stafford. ¿McBride y DeFrancesco? Impecables, como siempre. El arte de la portada también es espléndido: una silueta de Heath, saxofón en mano, con un telón de fondo de rascacielos de Filadelfia. Un saludo cálido y espacioso a un coloso del jazz que ha merecido la pena esperar.
Por Jack Bowers
28 de noviembre de 2021
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/without-you-no-me-temple-university-jazz-band-bcm-and-d-records

Tracks:
1 - Passing Of The Torch
2 - Without You, No Me
3 - Bootsie
4 - Please Don't Talk About Me
5 - In That Order
6 - Voice Of The Saxophone
7 - I Can't Give You Anything But Love
8 - The Wise Old Owl
9 - The Blues Ain't Nothin' (But Some Pain)
10 - Perdido


Credits:
Terell Stafford: trumpet; Fareed Simpson-Hankins: trumpet; John Meko: trumpet; John Brunozzi: trumpet; Banks Sapnar: trumpet; Robby Cruz: trumpet; Patrick Hill: bass; Adam Abrams: saxophone, alto; Dyland Band: saxophone, tenor; Ross Gerberich: saxophone, tenor; Gabe Preston: saxophone; Christian McBride: bass; Joey DeFrancesco: organ, Hammond B3; Andrew Sedlacsik: trombone; Bill Saurman: trombone; David Chodor: trombone; Nathan Pence: bass, acoustic; Anthony Aldissi: piano; Michael Raymond: guitar; Maria Marmarou: drums.

Label:    BCM+D Records – none
Released:    2021
Genre:    Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/21169030-Temple-University-Jazz-Band-Terell-Stafford-Christian-McBride-Joey-DeFrancesco-Without-You-No-Me-Hon

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