James Mcbride

James Clay - Cookin' At The Continental (1992) {Antilles–Island 314-510 724-2}
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© 1992 Antilles / Island Records | 314-510 724-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Tenor saxophonist James Clay had a brief comeback starting in 1988 before he passed away in 1995. This is one of his final recordings. Most interesting is a duet with bassist Christian McBride on "Crazeology." There are also four quartet numbers (with McBride, pianist Kirk Lightsey, and drummer Winard Harper) and four selections that are reunions with fellow tenor David "Fathead" Newman (including a remake of "Wide Open Spaces"). Two of the numbers with Newman ("Sister Sadie" and "Moanin'") also feature trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Although Clay's playing is not flawless (Newman sounds more consistent), plenty of sparks fly and this is a frequently exciting set, well worth searching for.

This record is an unexpected treat. Bob James has had a lucrative career writing and playing crossover jazz/pop. Although he had actually started his career with a straight-ahead trio date for Mercury in 1962 and also led a bizarre avant-garde session for ESP in 1965, his career since 1974 has offered very little of interest to consumers who prefer to hear inventive jazz as opposed to pleasant background music. But for this session, James returned to the roots few knew he had. Playing in an acoustic trio with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade, James contributes five straightforward originals in addition to the standard "Lost April," and interprets tunes by Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays, Horace Silver ("The Jody Grind"), and Denny Zeitlin. While not hinting at all at his usual pop material, James plays quite well, takes plenty of chances, and sounds influenced a bit by Bill Evans. With McBride and Blade contributing consistently stimulating interplay, Bob James has recorded what is certainly the finest jazz album of his career.

Martina McBride - Everlasting (2014) {Vinyl Recordings SROSE001CDDEL, Bonus Track Version}
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© 2014 Vinyl Recordings | SROSE001CDDEL
Country / Pop / Country Pop / Soul / Neo-Traditionalist Country

Everlasting is the second collection of covers Martina McBride has recorded, following 2005's Timeless by nearly ten years. A decade isn't the only thing separating the two records. Timeless was a collection of country covers but Everlasting has soul in its heart, with the singer tackling R&B standards from Aretha Franklin ("Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"), Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes ("If You Don't Know Me by Now"), the Supremes ("Come See About Me"), Otis Redding ("I've Been Loving You Too Long"), and Sam Cooke ("Bring It on Home to Me").