Hubert Laws • Morning Star

 

Review by Thom Jurek
After the success of 1970's Afro-Classic, Hubert Laws re-teamed with arranger/conductor Don Sebesky for 1972's Morning Star, his third date for producer Creed Taylor's CTI. Laws' sidemen for the date included Ron Carter on bass, Bob James on electric piano, Billy Cobham and Ralph McDonald on drums, guitarist John Tropea, and vibraphonist/percussionist Dave Friedman. Rather than follow up Afro-Classic with another program of primarily classical numbers, Taylor, Laws, and Sebesky employed a large string, wind, and brass ensemble and went to the pop-jazz side of the spectrum. The title track of this gorgeous set is a laid-back, lilting jazz tune with Laws' flute introducing the melody, followed by a tight, economical yet lengthy and expressive James solo and the winds flowing in momentarily before the brass explodes into a gorgeous swing before disappearing again very quickly. James' solo flows through both beautifully. Laws' own break is impressionistic, yet full of elemental swing and classical flourishes. On the beautifully textured reading of "Where Is the Love," Laws' flute plays and darts soulfully around the melody as James colors the margins and Carter ushers in a groove change with his diligent lines accenting Cobham's backbeat. The strings, sweet as they are, underscore rather than overpower the band, adding an entirely different dimension to the arrangement. The reading of "Amazing Grace" is introduced slowly by Laws playing the melody in the lower register. James joins him on the changes before the strings enter sparsely at the minute mark. They color Laws' flute with elegance and a touch of Celtic hymnody. A harp duets with Laws on the third verse; violins and cellos brighten it sparely. When Carter enters, the tempo picks up; the mood changes instantly. It begins to sway, shimmer, and shift, reaching nearly transcendent heights of expression before it all quiets down to Laws' flute unaccompanied, improvising on Bach before returning to the folk roots of the song. These are just the highlights; Morning Star is a joy all the way through, whether it's in the bluesy soul-jazz of "No More" or the occasionally abstract "What Do You Think of This World Now?," which riffs on "America the Beautiful." It's Laws at his very best; it helped define the essence of CTI. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/morning-star-mw0000921262

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Reseña de Thom Jurek
Tras el éxito de Afro-Classic en 1970, Hubert Laws volvió a colaborar con el arreglista y director Don Sebesky para Morning Star en 1972, su tercer álbum para CTI, el sello del productor Creed Taylor. Los músicos que acompañaron a Laws en esta grabación fueron Ron Carter al bajo, Bob James al piano eléctrico, Billy Cobham y Ralph McDonald a la batería, el guitarrista John Tropea y el vibrafonista y percusionista Dave Friedman. En lugar de continuar la línea de Afro-Classic con otro programa de piezas principalmente clásicas, Taylor, Laws y Sebesky emplearon una amplia sección de cuerdas, vientos y metales, incursionando en el jazz pop. El tema que da título a este magnífico disco es una relajada y cadenciosa pieza de jazz, con la flauta de Laws introduciendo la melodía, seguida de un solo de James preciso, conciso, extenso y expresivo, y los vientos haciendo una breve aparición antes de que los metales irrumpan en un swing magnífico para luego desvanecerse rápidamente. El solo de James fluye con maestría entre ambos pasajes. La interpretación de Laws es impresionista, pero a la vez rebosante de swing esencial y florituras clásicas. En la bellamente texturizada versión de "Where Is the Love", la flauta de Laws juega y se mueve con alma alrededor de la melodía mientras James matiza los matices y Carter introduce un cambio de ritmo con sus diligentes líneas que acentúan el contratiempo de Cobham. Las cuerdas, dulces como son, subrayan en lugar de eclipsar a la banda, añadiendo una dimensión completamente diferente al arreglo. La interpretación de "Amazing Grace" se introduce lentamente con Laws tocando la melodía en el registro grave. James se une a él en los cambios antes de que las cuerdas entren con cautela al minuto. Colorean la flauta de Laws con elegancia y un toque de himnodia celta. Un arpa hace un dúo con Laws en la tercera estrofa; violines y violonchelos la iluminan con sutileza. Cuando entra Carter, el tempo se acelera; el ambiente cambia instantáneamente. Comienza a mecerse, a brillar y a transformarse, alcanzando cotas de expresión casi trascendentales antes de que todo se calme con la flauta de Laws a capella, improvisando sobre Bach antes de regresar a las raíces folk de la canción. Estos son solo algunos de los momentos más destacados; Morning Star es una delicia de principio a fin, ya sea en el soul-jazz con tintes de blues de "No More" o en la a veces abstracta "What Do You Think of This World Now?", que se inspira en "America the Beautiful". Es Laws en su mejor momento; ayudó a definir la esencia de CTI.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/morning-star-mw0000921262

Tracks:
1 - Morning Star - 7:57
2 - Let Her Go - 4:53
3 - Where Is The Love - 4:36
4 - No More - 5:01
5 - Amazing Grace - 7:19
6 - What Do You Think Of This World Now? - 6:00

    
Credits:
    Arranged By, Conductor – Don Sebesky
    Bass – Ron Carter
    Bassoon – Jack Knitzer
    Cello – Charles McCracken, George Koutzen, Lucien Schmit
    Drums – Billy Cobham
    Electric Piano – Bob James
    Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
    Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet – Phil Bodner
    Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo Flute – Hubert Laws
    Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo Flute, English Horn – Romeo Penque
    French Horn – Jim Buffington
    Guitar – John Tropea
    Harp – Gloria Agostini
    Percussion – David Friedman, Ralph MacDonald
    Photography By [Cover] – Pete Turner (4)
    Photography By [Liner Notes] – K. Abe*
    Producer – Creed Taylor
    Trombone – Garnett Brown
    Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm
    Vibraphone – David Friedman
    Violin – David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harry Cykman, Harry Lookofsky, Irving Spice, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman
    Vocals – Eloise Laws, Lani Groves, Tasha Thomas

Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded on September, October 1972.

Label:    CTI Records – CTI 6022
Country:    US
Released:    1972
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Soul-Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/510100-Hubert-Laws-Morning-Star

 

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