Jubilation

Jubilation, the tenth studio album by the Band, showcases a group that has aged better than the finest port wine. Yes, although the voices have aged noticeably (particularly in the cases of Rick Danko and Levon Helm), this fact only makes the record more charming…

Nicky Higginbottom departed Paul Brett's Sage after the release of the band's eponymous debut album, and with her went the haunting flute that gave much of the album such a rich, pastoral sound. But the band was already moving in a new direction, exploring rock's roots and the genre's many permutations. Jubilation Foundry welds Sage's varied influences onto their sleeves, from "Cottage Made for Two," an homage to the Everly Brothers, to the gospel fired "Help Me Jesus" and the Stax inspired "Hold My Hand Mother." There are tributes to Southern blues and Southern rock, nods to singer/songwriters Cat Stevens and Harry Nilsson, and even a tip of the hat to the Beatles. With the group here sporting rich harmonies, the emphasis is on great songs in a variety of musical veins and moods, with singalong choruses, memorable melodies, and flashy musicianship evident throughout the album.

Standards, a couple of competent originals and ballads are the menu for guitarist Randy Johnston's second album. He has a fluid style, plays in the full-toned, relaxed, taut fashion of Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, and has the versatility to handle blues, soul-jazz and interpretations of show tunes. The nine-song program includes lengthy reworkings of "Willow Weep For Me" and "You Are Too Beautiful," a good treatment of Junior Mance's "Jubilation" and Johnston's own "9 W Blues" and "One For Detroit." Finely tuned, expertly performed light jazz with a touch of funk, soul and blues.

Nicky Higginbottom departed Paul Brett's Sage after the release of the band's eponymous debut album, and with her went the haunting flute that gave much of the album such a rich, pastoral sound. But the band was already moving in a new direction, exploring rock's roots and the genre's many permutations. Jubilation Foundry welds Sage's varied influences onto their sleeves, from "Cottage Made for Two," an homage to the Everly Brothers, to the gospel fired "Help Me Jesus" and the Stax inspired "Hold My Hand Mother." There are tributes to Southern blues and Southern rock, nods to singer/songwriters Cat Stevens and Harry Nilsson, and even a tip of the hat to the Beatles. With the group here sporting rich harmonies, the emphasis is on great songs in a variety of musical veins and moods, with singalong choruses, memorable melodies, and flashy musicianship evident throughout the album.

Jubilation: Great Gospel Performances, Vol. 1 offers a first-rate introduction and overview of the key players in Black gospel, including stellar performances by Mahalia Jackson, the Soul Stirrers, the Swan Silvertones, Shirley Caesar, Aretha Frankline and James Cleveland, and many other wonderful artists.

Ce premier disque de Jérémy Bruger recèle de bien belles promesses, de celles qui permettent de croire en l’avenir du jazz. Ce jeune pianiste a écouté Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal mais aussi Hank Jones, Junior Mance, Ray Bryant et Kenny Drew dont il interprète quelques-uns des titres intercalés entre ses propres compositions. Puisant ainsi aux meilleures sources, Jérémy Bruger est en pleine progression et il ne tardera pas, si l’on en juge par les étincelles qui crépitent çà et là dans ses interventions, à marquer du sceau de sa personnalité un discours pianistique déjà brillant. Il en a la volonté et le talent. Il sait jouer le blues, il swingue avec aisance et possède un beau toucher. Il écoute ses partenaires et sait où il va. Il a aussi la chance de disposer avec Mourad Benhammou et Raphaël Dever, de deux complices de haute volée, de ceux que l’on aime avoir à ses côtés, et qui soutiennent remarquablement sa démarche (« Alpha »).

Jubilation is a revealing, wonderful collection of the Holmes Brothers' distinctive soul. The brothers tie together a seemingly disconnected array of styles – everything from straightforward blues, R&B, and gospel to worldbeat and country – and come up with a cohesive whole. Even when the group delves into soukous or works with a Chinese flutist, it manages to retain the pure qualities of American blues and R&B.