Tia Fuller - Angelic Warrior (2012)

Tia Fuller's fourth CD (and third for Mack Avenue) is a diverse affair, with a top-drawer supporting group (keyboardist Shamie Royston, bassist Mimi Jones, and drummer Rudy Royston) and several guests. The focus is primarily on the leader's originals, starting with the diverse post-bop vehicle "Royston Rumble" that showcases Fuller's explosive, often gritty alto, guest John Patitucci's bubbling electric bass, and drummer Rudy Royston's fiery closing break. "Ralphie's Groove" proves immediately infectious with its soulful theme, while Fuller's dramatic "Angelic Warrior" showcases her considerable chops on soprano sax in dramatic fashion, with Terri Lynne Carrington taking over on drums. "Tailor Made" mixes contemporary flavor and R&B in a spirited manner. Guest vocalist Dianne Reeves' sincere performance in "Body And Soul" is somewhat handicapped by the funky backbeat and bland backdrop scored by Fuller. Other standards fare better, including interweaves of two Cole Porter favorites, "So In Love" and "All Of You," the first introduced with a staccato unison line by alto and bass (with Patitucci taking over on acoustic bass), with Carrington again on drums. "Cherokee" is far from the usual bop interpretation, with Royston's distorted Fender Rhodes providing an unusual springboard behind the leader's high-powered alto sax. The future of jazz is safe with contributions from rising stars like Tia Fuller. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Mack Avenue, MAC 1068, 2012
Recorded at Brooklyn Recording, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Tia Fuller - Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Arranger
Shamie Royston - Piano, Fender Rhodes
Mimi Jones - Acoustic Bass
Rudy Royston - Drums 

Guests:
John Patitucci - Electric/Piccolo Bass (#1,2,4,6,9), Acoustic Bas (#8)
Terri Lynne Carrington - Drums (#3,8,12)
Shirazette Tinnin - Percussion (#2,6,9)
Dianne Reeves - Vocals (#5) 

Tracks:
01. Royston Rumble {Tia Fuller} (6:26)
02. Ralphie's Groove {Tia Fuller} (6:34)
03. Angelic Warrior {Tia Fuller} (5:55)
04. Lil Les {Tia Fuller} (5:43)
05. Body And Soul {Eyton, Green, Heyman, Sour} (7:00)
06. Descend To Barbados{Tia Fuller} (5:01)
07. Ode To Be [Interlude] {Tia Fuller} (1:01)
08. So In Love / All Of You {Cole Porter} (5:48)
09. Tailor Made {Tia Fuller} (7:14)
10. Core Of Me {Tia Fuller} (2:31)
11. Simpli-City {Tia Fuller} (5:59)
12. Cherokee {Ray Noble} (3:47)
13. Ode To Be [Outro] {Tia Fuller} (1:37) 

Total Time: 64:41 

Credits:
Producer - Tia Fuller, Al Pryor
Executive Producer - Gretchen Valade
Producer, Management - Brian McKenna
Engineer - Todd Whitelock, Damon Whittemore
Assistant Engineer - Trevor Fedele, Don Piper
Mastering Engineer - Mark Wilder
Art Direction, Design - Raj Naik
Photography - Keith Major 

In The Studio

Steps Ahead - Magnetic (1986)

Released in the mid-80's, it has the era's sound and feel, a mix of pomp rock, synth-orchestral fills with polished soloing mixed into the whole. The talented jazz musicians who appear on the album I believe give credence to my statement. The first track, 'Trains' is a bombastic synth-driven tune, with Peter Erskine's solid drum patterns providing a rock beat as a typically fine and multiplied sax solo from Mike Brecker and squealing solo from Hiram Bullock's guitar provide two high points among the pomp. It promises much, yet by itself would be enough. 'Beirut', the next track, keeps the momentum going with an understated yet funky bass line from Victor Bailey, with unsettling synth phrasing and a solo from Mike Mainieri bringing the 8-minute track to a brash close. 'Cajun' follows, a straight-up be-bop rhythm with underlying banjo plucking from Peter Schwimmer and Mainieri's vibes helping to drive it along; while Brecker's mid-point solo develops into a surprising big band sax section. Next is 'In A Sentimental Mood', the Duke Ellington staple played electronically, and this leads into the track 'Magnetic Love', the one possibly created as a single, though sounding like the track for the closing credits of one of those 80's films we endured because it was all that was left in the video store. Let's move on. 'Sumo' comes next, a quirkily funky track with elements reminiscent of the Brecker skunk-funk sound. It grows on you while grating at the same time. 'All The Tea In China' is a richer sounding tune, the ensemble easing you into the penultimate track; 'Something I Said', a slow, lilting tune dominated by Brecker's sax, freed from any electronic alteration, and Mainieri's synthi-vibes. Bailey's bass provides a rumbling counterpoint to the poignant sax and mellow vibes. The last track 'Reprise (Magnetic Love)' eases in, with Brecker's sax playing over the track. It lasts just over a minute (way too short!) And closes the album. ~ Johnny L, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

Elektra Musician, 960 441-2, 1986
#1,6: Recorded at Bear Tracks Studios & Electric Lady Studios, New York
#2,3,8: Recorded at Skyline Studios, New York
#4,5,9: Recorded at Electric Lady Studios, New York
#7: Recorded at Plant Sound, New York 

Personnel:
Mike Mainieri - Synthi-vibe (#1,2,3,6,8), Vibes (#7), Keyboards (#1,2,4), Synthesizers (#5,9)
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone (#1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9), Steiner EWI (#1,3,4,6,7),
Oberheim Xpande (#2,3,4,7)
Chuck Loeb - Electric Guitar (#1,2,3,6,7,8), Acoustic Guitar (#1), Guitar Synthesizer (#1,2,3,6)
Victor Bailey - Bass (#1,2,3,6,7,8)
Peter Erskine - Drums (#1,2,3,6,8), Percussion (#1,2,6,7), Synthesizers (#7,8) 

Additional Musicians
See details in Archive 

Tracks:
1. Trains {Mike Mainieri} (7:30)
2. Beirut {Michael Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Mike Mainieri} (8:17)
3. Cajun {Michael Brecker} (6:18)
4. In A Sentimental Mood {Ellington, Kurtz, Mills} (3:33)
5. Magnetic Love {Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin} (5:35)
6. Sumo {Michael Brecker} (5:52)
7. All The Tea In China {Peter Erskine} (5:06)
8. Something I Said {Peter Erskine} (4:13)
9. Magnetic Love [Reprise] {Mike Mainieri, Scott Martin} (1:25) 

Total Time: 47:54

Credits:
Producer - Mike Mainieri, George Duke
Engineers - Malcolm Pollack, Neil Dorfsman, Rick Kerr, James Farber,
Joe Barbaria, Jay Rifkin, Andrew Heermans
Engineer [Assistants] - Jamie Chaleff, Ken Steiger, Rick Begin, Scott Ansell,
Bridget Daly, Robin Lane, Kevin Killian, Tim Purvis
Mixing - Malcolm Pollack, James Farber, Michel Sauvage,
Michael Brauer, Tom Lord-Alge

In A Sentimental Mood

Wynton Marsalis - The Magic Hour (2004)

The Magic Hour is Marsalis' first jazz ensemble studio recording since 1999's Marciac Suite. His last album was All Rise, an extended composition for big band, gospel choir and symphony orchestra. "All Rise was such a huge piece involving over two hundred people. I wanted to produce my next recording with a smaller group," says the trumpeter, who settled into Right Track Studios in New York for two days last June to record the new album. "I wanted to restate my basic love of jazz music in a quartet format," says Marsalis.

For his debut on this label, Wynton Marsalis gets back to basics with a small combo. Taking a break from his large-ensemble works like Blood on the Fields and All Rise, the trumpeter leads a quartet consisting of bassist Carlos Henriquez, pianist Eric Lewis, and drummer Ali Jackson. Labelmates Bobby McFerrin (who recorded with the trumpeter on the early '80s LP, The Young Lions) and Dianne Reeves join Marsalis on "Baby, I Love You" and "Feeling of Jazz." "Big Fat Hen" is peppered by a New Orleans-meets-Brazil second-line samba, while "Skippin'" is a Monkish riff tune with stop time. The title track, dedicated to the time when kids go to sleep, includes a melodic nod to "The Flight of the Bumblebee," a mid-tempo groove, a ballad and the Cuban clave. With the sterling production by younger brother Delfeayo, Wynton Marsalis starts off on a good foot. ~ Eugene Holley, Jr., Amazon.com.

Blue Note, 7243 5 91717 2 2, 2004

Recorded and Mixed 6^th & 7^th June, 2003 At Right Track Studios, New York City

Musicians:

Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet

Eric Lewis - Piano

Carlos Henriquez - Bass

Ali Muhammed Jackson - Drums

Dianne Reeves - Vocals (#1)

Bobby McFerrin - Vocals (#4)

Tracks

1. Feeling Of Jazz {Wynton Marsalis} (7:03)

2. You And Me {Wynton Marsalis} (4:50)

3. Free To Be {Wynton Marsalis} (8:40)

4. Baby, I Love You {Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin} (5:20)

5. Big Fat Hen {Wynton Marsalis} (7:31)

6. Skipping {Wynton Marsalis} (8:01)

7. Sophie Rose-Rosalee {Wynton Marsalis} (6:47)

8. The Magic Hour {Wynton Marsalis} (13:14)

Credits:

Producer - Delfeayo Marsalis

Recording - Patrick Smith (Right Track Studios, NYC)

Mixing - Daniel Kresco (Glenwood Studios, Burbank, CA)

Mastering - Daryl Dickerson (Artistic Studios, New Orleans, LA)

Art Direction, Package Design - Burton Yount

Art Direction, Illustrations - Rachel Salomon