Woody Herman - Light My Fire (1968) [vinyl]

Light my fire, indeed! Woody's been lighting fires for years. But his new torch lights up an infernal blaze of new colors and sounds. Swinging new fires are being lit by Woody's fresh "now" music every night as he searingly blasts through a heretofore perplexing membrane to reach the young generation. His forces have already emerged as the most fiery and communicative big band to light up thousands of students of the likes of Miami University, University of Oklahoma, and University of Toledo among other college and high school bastions of rock fever. They have not allowed Woody's band to get off the bandstand during dance-concerts - right through intermissions non-stop, even though established rock groups have been co-featured on the billings. Bear in mind, this album is not merely the result of enthusiastically-held desire of Woody, of Dick La Palm - Cadet executive who is Woody's close friend and fan, and of Richard Evans the talented, resourceful arranger of the album's tunes, but it is more vital that it is a true reflection of the incredible, volatile chemistry existing between Woody's "now thing" and the young people's "now thing". They all dig it! The amazing Woody Herman has another raging runaway gas of a band! So, get this fuming hot album and get lit up!! ~ Herg Wong, Liner Notes. 

Cadet Records, LPS-819, 1969
Chess Records, CRLS 4544, 1969
Recorded October, 1968 at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago, Illinois 

Musicians:
Woody Herman - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Gary Grant, Henry Hall, James Bossert, Nat Pavone, Sal Marquez - Trumpet
Robert Burgess, Henry Southall, Vincent Prudente - Trombone
Frank Vicari, Sal Nistico, Steve Lederer, Thomas Boras - Reeds
John Hicks - Piano
Phil Upchurch - Guitar
Arthur Harper - Bass
Ed Soph - Drums
Morris Jennings - Percussion 

Tracks: [Details] 

A1. Ponteio {Edu Lobo, Capinam} (3:34)
Soloist: Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone
Soloist: Nat Pavone - Trumpet 

A2. Here I Am, Baby {Smokey Robinson} (3:48)
Soloist: Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone 

A3. Hard To Keep My Mind On You {Jake Holmes} (3:31)
Soloist: Woody Herman - Soprano Saxophone 

A4. MacArthur Park {Jim Webb} (8:33)
Soloist [Pt. 1]: Woody Herman - Alto Saxophone
Soloist [Pt. 1]: Robert Burgess - Trombone
Soloist [Pt. 2]: Henry Hall - Trumpet (1)
Soloist [Pt. 2]: Sal Marquez - Trumpet (2)
Soloist [Pt. 2]: Gary Grant - Trumpet (3)
Soloist [Pt. 2]: Nat Pavone - Trumpet (4)
Soloist [Pt. 2]: James Bossert - Trumpet (5)
Soloist [Pt. 2]: John Hicks - Piano
Soloist [Pt. 2]: Steve Lederer - Tenor Saxophone 

B1. Light My Fire {Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger} (3:34)
Soloist [1]: Sal Marquez - Trumpet
Soloist [2]: Henry Hall - Trumpet
Soloist: Robert Burgess - Trombone 

B2. I Say A Little Prayer {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (3:31)
Soloist: Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone
Soloist: Henry Hall - Trumpet 

B3. Hush {William Stevenson} (4:14)
Soloist: Sal Nistico - Tenor Saxophone
Soloist: Henry Hall - Trumpet 

B4. For Love Of Ivy {Bob Russell, Quincy Jones} (3:33)
Soloist: Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone
Soloist: Gary Grant - Trumpet 

B5. Impression Of Strayhorn {Richard Evans} (3:23)
Soloist: Woody Herman - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone 

B6. Keep On Keepin' On {Richard Evans} (4:14)
Soloist: Sal Nistico - Tenor Saxophone
Soloist: Henry Hall - Trumpet 

Total Time: 41:55

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Richard Evans
Recording Engineer - Stu Black
Supervisor [Album] - Dick LaPalm
Design [Album] - Hurvis, Binzer & Churchill
Photography [Cover] - Peter Coutroulis
Liner Notes - Herb Wong

Anita Baker - My Everything (2004)

Anita Baker's My Everything is her first studio outing in a decade. Family life seems to have claimed most of that time, as the album's last cut, "Men in My Life," seems to indicate. Baker co-wrote seven of the album's nine songs (one is a reprise of the title track), authored the aforementioned tune, and assisted producer Barry J. Eastmond in the arrangements. The disc's first single, "You're My Everything," is indicative of the album's sound: finely wrought and executed urban adult soul. Most of the set falls into this category, too, with the exception of "Like You Used to Do," a duet with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds that walks a line between it and new-school groove. Another cut, the stellar "I Can't Sleep," offers Baker in full-on jazz mode, careening through a skittering and swinging arrangement with a full horn section pushing the groove; it showcases Baker's ability to croon, and she comes very close to Betty Carter's scat. Some may be frustrated that, after such a long time, Baker doesn't push the envelope more stylistically. This may be true in terms of the material itself, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Right down the line, Baker delivers on what she does best. But in one sense she has expanded her palette. On these cuts, most of the rhythm section's tracks were cut live from the floor, and on three, the vocals were as well. This gives the album a reedy immediacy that contrasts sharply with the rest of her studio catalog. This is a worthy return, qualitatively standing head and shoulders above most everything else in its class. ~ by Thom Jurek, AMG. 

Blue Note, 7243 5 77102 2 0, 2004 

Recording Locations:
Brandon's Way Recording, Hollywood, CA
Conway Studios, Hollywood, CA
East Bay Music Studios, Tarrytown, NY
Le Gonks West Studios, Hollywood, CA
Record One Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA
Soup Can Studios, Detroit, MI
Village Recorders, Los Angeles, CA 

Personnel:
Anita Baker - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arranger (#1-5,7-10)
Gary Grant - Trumpet (#1-5,7-10)
Jerry Hey - Trumpet, Horn Arrangement (#1-5,7-10)
Reggie Young - Trombone (#1-5,7-10)
Eric Marienthal - Alto Saxophone (#9)
Dan Higgins - Tenor & Baritone Saxophones (#1-5,7-10)
Gary Bias - Tenor Saxophone (#1-5,7-10)
Barry J. Eastmond - Keyboards, Percussion, Horn Arranger, Backing Vocals (#1-5,7-10)
George Duke - Synthesizer [Additional], Percussion (#1-5,7-10)
Eric Rehl, Leo Colon - Synthesizer [Additional] (#1-5,7-10)
Russell Ferrante - Piano (#9)
Paul Jackson Jr., Phil Hamilton, Robert Randolph - Guitar (#1-5,7-10)
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds - Guitar, Backing Vocals (#1-5,7-10)
Al Turner, Alex Al, Gerald Albright, Jimmy Haslip, Nathan East, Reggie Hamilton, Ron Jenkins - Bass (#1-5,7-10)
Bernard Davis, Ricky Lawson, Steve Ferrone, William Kennedy - Drums (#1-5,7-10)
Bashiri Johnson - Percussion (#1-5,7-10)
Rafael Padilla - Percussion (#6)
Esther Ridgeway, Gloria Ridgeway, Gordon Chambers, Gracie Ridgeway - Backing Vocals (#1-5,7-10)
Kenya Ivey - Backing Vocals (#6) 

Tracks:
01. You're My Everything {Anita Baker} (5:03)
02. How Could You {Anita Baker, Barry J. Eastmond} (4:21)
03. In My Heart {Anita Baker} (5:07)
04. Serious {Dawn Thomas} (5:26)
05. How Does It Feel {Anita Baker, Barry J. Eastmond} (4:42)
06. Like You Used To Do {Anita Baker, Barry J. Eastmond} (5:12)
07. Close Your Eyes {Anita Baker, Barry J. Eastmond} (4:43)
08. You're My Everything [Revisited] {Anita Baker} (1:12)
09. I Can't Sleep {Anita Baker, Russell Ferrante, W. Kennedy} (5:08)
10. Men In My Life {Anita Baker} (3:37) 

Total Time: 44:31

Credits:
Producer, Engineer - Anita Baker
Producer, Engineer - Barry J. Eastmond
Producer, Arranger - Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds (#6)
Engineer - Alan Sides, Dylan Dresdow, Ghian Wright
Recording - Paul Boutin (#6)
Engineer [Assistant] - Greg Burns, Jared Nugent, Tom Wilber
Engineer, Engineer [Assistant] - Kevin Szymanski
Mixing - Jon Gass (#6)
Mixing [Assistant] - Edward Quesada (#6)
Mixing - Erik Zobler
Mixing [Assistant] - Stefaniah McGowan
Mixing, Engineer - George Duke
Photography - Andrew Eccles