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

Charles Fambrough - Upright Citizen (1997)

The heart of a jazz fan beats like Fambrough's bass, driving the lifeblood of warm sounds through the speakers and into the brain. Some bassists, in their own sessions, favor percussive and percolating arrangements that place the instrument in the role of soloist. Charles Fambrough actually seems to downplay the bass on Upright Citizen, ceding the spotlight to guests like Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Ford. Fambrough's domain here is the rhythm section, adding programmed drums to his basslines in order to get the right foundation in place. As the captain of this ship, Fambrough ensures a smooth ride, absorbing the shock in Alex Bugnon's potentially bumpy "In Stride" and making sure a track like "D's Song" has the right amount of snap to it. Though Fambrough built his reputation largely on bop, Upright Citizen is more of a crossover album, lyrical and light on its feet. There are certainly stretches of substance, such as George Duke's piano solo on "It's Not Easy Havin' Fun," but even here the soprano sax washes away the intellectualism in a simple, cleansing motion. This session doesn't completely qualify as smooth jazz; there's more afoot than sweet sounds and mildly funky rhythms, yet even the most complex passages are never far removed from an ingratiating and warmly rendered melody. If you enjoy the sound of the soprano sax but find Kenny G a little light for your tastes, Upright Citizen might be right for you. The disc was reissued by Random Chance in 2002, with a different cover and slightly scrambled track order that essentially flip-flopped the opening and closing songs, among other things. The original 1997 Nu Groove recording is rich, vibrant, and clean, so you can't go wrong with either copy. ~ by Dave Connolly.

NuGroove Records, NUG-3003, 1997

Random Chance Records, RCD-7, 2002

Musicians:

Charles Fambrough - Bass (#1,2-4,6-9), Keyboards (#1), Programmed Drums (#3,4,7,8)

John Swana - Trumpet (#1), Muted Trumpet (#6,8), EUI (#6,7)

Gerald Albright - Alto Saxophone (#6)

Joe Ford - Soprano Saxophone (#1-3,5,7,8)

Grover Washington Jr. - Soprano Saxophone (#4,9)

Alex Bugnon - Piano (#1,5), Keyboards (#1,5,8)

Bruce Barth - Piano (#2), Keyboards (#2)

Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#3), Keyboards (#3,4)

George Duke - Piano [Solo] (#4), Keyboards (#4,6)

Rich Budesa - Piano [Solo] (#8)

Bill O'Connell - Piano (#9)

Nick Sistrun - Guitar (#1)

Gerald Brown - Drums (#2,9)

N'Dugu Chancelor - Drums (#4,6)

Pete Vinson - Drums, Poogie Bell-Trumpet, Programmed Drums (#5)

Marlon Simon - Percussion (#1,9)

Edson D'Silva (cafe) - Percussion (#2,9)

Munyungo Jackson - Percussion (#1,6)

Jon Lucien - Vocals (#2)

Tracks:

1. Fun City {Charles Fambrough} (4:25)

2. Bright Eyes {Charles Fambrough} (7:40)

3. D's Song {Charles Fambrough} (5:04)

4. It's Not Easy Having Fun {Charles Fambrough} (5:43)

5. In Stride {Alex Bugnon} (5:01)

6. Disguises {John Swana, Charles Fambrough} (7:59)

7. Dina {Charles Fambrough} (5:09)

8. Down The Way {Charles Fambrough} (4:17)

9. Main Street {Bill O'Connell} (4:00)

Total Time: 46:18

Credits:

Producer - Charles Fambrough, Stuart Alan Love

Executive Producer - David Chackler

Cannonball & Nat Adderley Sextet - Soul Zodiac (1972) [vinyl>flac]

ASTROLOGY, the study of the signs of the Zodiac. How does one rationalize a development with astrological significance? RICK HOLMES, the creator of the narrative indigenous to the artistic creativeness formed in this recording, is a person whose day-to-day behavioral continuity by his own concepts of the influence of the activities of astrological movement. Mr. Holmes, well known in the greater Los Angeles area, is a radio personality who is recognised by various people who have the privilege of being exposed to "RICK'S FAMILY AFFAIR" aired nightly on radio station KBCA-FM. (One of the most important outlets for Jazz and other musical expression, including sophisticated rhetoric, in Southern California.) Devoted listeners to Rick's program are well aware of his expertise with regards to astrology. This recording marks the first effort to broaden any interested audience or to enhance the awareness with regards to astrology or to enhance the awareness of people to whom the soulful exhortations of Rick have never been available. ~ Cannonball Adderley, Liner Notes.

Capitol Records, SVBB-11025, 1972

Recorded in 1972, Capitol Records Inc.

Personnel:

Rick Holmes - Voice [Narration], Writer

Cannonball Adderley - Alto Sax (#A2), Soprano Sax (#A3)

Nat Adderley - Cornet

Ernie Watts - Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Tambourine

Mike Deasy - Guitar

George Duke - Fender Electric Piano

Walter Booker - String Bass & Guitar

Roy Mac Curdy - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Introduction {Adderley, Holmes} (2:59)

A2. Aries {Adderley, Holmes} (4:51)

A3. Libra {Booker, Holmes} (3:17)

A4. Capricorn {Duke, Holmes} (6:04)

B1. Aquarius {Deasy, Holmes} (7:49)

B2. Pisces {Adderley, Holmes, Watts} (3:51)

B3. Sagittarius {Holmes, McCurdy} (5:14)

C1. Gemini {Adderley, Booker, Holmes, McCurdy} (3:37)

C2. Leo {Adderley, Holmes} (2:54)

C3. Virgo {Deasy, Duke, Holmes} (4:23)

C4. Scorpio {Holmes, Watts} (4:12)

D1. Cancer {Adderley, Booker, Holmes, McCurdy} (2:44)

D2. Taurus {Adderley, Holmes} (13:42)

Credits:

Producer - Cannonball Adderley, David Axelrod

Engineer - Howard Gale

Artwork [Direction] - John Holmes

Photography - Rick Rankin

Photography [Body Painting] - Abe Gurvin