Newman David

Our second album with David Newman, this animated feature follows in the footsteps of classics such as his "Anastasia" and "Ice Age". In style similar to Newman's "The Air Up There", this score features sweeping melodies, battling drums and an African choir. The album contains the complete orchestral score and is different from the previous European release inasmuch as it doesn't have the songs by Naturally 7 and Xavier Nadoo. Produced by David Newman and Robin Esterhammer.

What an apt name The Blessing is for David Newman's final recording before his death ended a long career last January (2009). He played for more than a decade with Ray Charles and alongside Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin and Roy Ayers, among many others. For this last studio session he was in fine form. A Milt Jackson gem, "SKJ," is the set's opener, Steve Nelson's vibes providing glowing cascades before Newman swings in with a solo as brief in its measured warmth as it is satisfying. Here too and throughout the set Peter Bernstein's guitar is vigorous in a style that is direct as it mixes blues and bebop.