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Music Reviews
Al Green - "Lay It Down" (Blue Note):
If you love vintage Al Green--and anyone who likes pop or soul music
should--you'll love his new album, "Lay It Down."
It's a return to the style of the great Al Green songs of past decades,
like "Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still in Love With You" and "Call Me."
No religion on this one from the Reverend Al Green. The only preaching
he's doing here is about love--the romantic kind, that is. And he still
creates a mood better than just about anyone on these mostly original
tunes: "Early in the morning/Smile on your face/Late in the midnight
hour/No one can take your place/Evening sashay/Glass of wine/You're
so fine."
Green's oozing, quivering, tension filled voice still melts
you--especially as he zings your heart with well-placed falsettos.
Plus, he uses all sorts of gospel moves, such as a whoop, holler or
howl, to add depth and drama to the compact, mostly original songs.
In fact, Green's singing--and the songs--are so mesmerizing, you
barely notice guest vocals by Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey and
John Legend--or the air tight band featuring pros from the Roots and
ace session musicians who've worked with Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse
and the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
You just hear the great Al Green.
Tim Hagans - "Alone Together" (Pirouet):
Not too long ago, ECM records was the place to turn for innovative
impressionistic instrumental jazzish music.
A new European-based label, Pirouet, is starting to give ECM a run for
its money.
Like ECM, you can just about count on Pirouet for quality jazzish
music.
The recent albums of pianist Marc Copland are a good example. So is
this new one, "Along Together," by trumpeter Tim Hagans and a band
that features Copland.
This is straight ahead jazz with all sorts of intriguing twists and
turns. Hagans and his fine band will launch into a swinging rhythm,
but then they'll slow down the tempo to give the music room to
breathe. Drew Gress' bass will engage Hagans' trumpet in some
colorful chatter. Copland's piano will add another voice and all of
a sudden that straight ahead jazz has transformed itself into an
expansive and impressionist musical organism.
Those kinds of surprises--and the incisive instrumental work of Hagans
and his quartet--lift "Alone Together" far above most of today's
recorded jazz.