CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
These were Jose’s first impressions of the songs and were not written after multiple spins.
Artist: Wynton Marsalis
Album: He and She (2009)
Tracks: 22
Artist website: http://www.wyntonmarsalis.org/
OVERVIEW:
If you’ve never heard of Wynton Marsalis, you will remember him now. (Hopefully.)
This was an absolute delight! We won’t even bother to pick highlights for this album as it is absolutely stellar all the way through! Whether you enjoy jazz or not, this album belongs in every record collection of a music lover.
It’s set up as a concept album. A tale of love. There are poems and then there are pieces. The tunes are amazing. Beautifully crafted pieces of art. Did we say we loved this album yet? It’s wonderful to know that someone out there can still write new music in this style that sounds inspired and fresh.
In contrast to what we normally do in our “play by play” section, we will not be commenting on the Poems. The reason is that we write about music and the poems are spoken word. Comments will only be left on actual musical numbers.
This is one of those albums that needs nothing but your ears.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The whole album!
PLAY BY PLAY:
Track 1 – Poem 1
Track 2 – School Boy
Very cool track. It has a New Orleans vibe to it in my opinion.
Track 3 – Poem 2
Track 4 – The Sun And The Moon
Pretty!
Track 5 – Poem 3
Track 6 – Sassy
This is exactly what the title implies! How very awesome!?!
Track 7 – Poem 4
Track 8 – Fears
This was a bit strange and didn’t have the instant attraction that the previous songs had. However, it does very well in characterizing “fears”.
Track 9 – Poem 5
Track 10 – The Razor Rim
Very pretty trumpet melody! This is the long track of the album clocking in at 12 minutes and featuring a very good drum solo! Amazing.
Track 11 – Poem 6
Track 12 – Zero
Oh the melancholy. Brilliant!
Track 13 – Poem 7
Track 14 – First Crush
Cute. Floaty, but not rubato. Open.
Track 15 – First Slow Dance
Sweet and delicate. (Segued seamlessly from track 14) Brilliant!
Track 16 – First Kiss
Oh the tension and then the resolution. Wonderful.
Track 17 – First Time
HAHA! Talk about the birds and the bees! Pure genius! This track blossoms into a very sophisticated latin jazz track. I definitely hear a bit of Tito Puente influences in this track.
Track 18 – Poem 8
Track 19 – Girls!
Very pretty.
Track 20 – Poem 9
Track 21 – A Train, A Banjo, And A Chicken Wing
One really feels like they are on the train on this one. This one is a really sophisticated blues. Very cool.
Track 22 – He And She
Here we finally get the whole poem – uninterrupted.