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When most jazz singers do standards, they come from the "classic" American songbook, the one that includes show tunes and pop songs from a bygone era, one that was powered by names such as Gershwin, Lerner & Loewe, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sammy Kahn, Johnny Mercer, and so many others. That said, Cassandra Wilson is not just any jazz vocalist, and her Blue Note catalog -- the label she's been with since 1993 -- proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Wilson has explored her deep love of jazz and blues to be sure, covering everyone from Robert Johnson to Miles Davis, but along the way she's also covered tunes by modern composers, those who have stormed the pop charts in the last 30 years or so, and those who are still on them. Closer to You: The Pop Side is a retrospective collection that looks at this side of Wilson's complex musical persona, and offers a selection of 11 tunes from her Blue Note albums, all of them focusing on songs from the rock, pop, and soul genres, and all executed in her own idiosyncratic manner. The stellar version of Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey" is sung from a female perspective and drenched in acoustic guitars and upright bass, with a lone snare. Then there is her languid, deeply committed reading of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and her drenched-in-strangeness reading of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon," which is as much ambience as it is instrumentation, with only her voice to hold it in place and keep it from disappearing into the ether. Along the way are signature readings of U2's "Love Is Blindness" and Sting's "Fragile," as well as one of the finest versions of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" ever committed to tape, though its scope is very different from the author's or the now canonical Glen Campbell version. Her reading of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" reflects the singer's deep commitment to the soul vernacular, and while a bit less edgy than the original, it contains plenty of hidden passageways of emotion nonetheless. In sum, this can be enjoyed as a record of both where Cassandra Wilson has been when it comes to reinterpreting the tunes of the current era, and where she has pushed the envelope in terms of the role of the jazz vocalist.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Dianne Reeves, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - David Evans, ComposerLyricist - TOM SCHICK, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassandra Wilson, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Ross, Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Hewson, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Breit, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Street, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DOUGIE BOWNE, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lonnie Plaxico, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Bill Emmons, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Danny Kapelson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fred Kervorkian, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Lawrence 'Butch' Morris, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1995 Blue Note Records
Cyndi Lauper, ComposerLyricist - Robert Hyman, ComposerLyricist - RAY BARDANI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cassandra Wilson, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marvin Sewell, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Breit, Bouzouki, Electric Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ed Gerrard, Producer, Associate Producer - Danny Kopelson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lonnie Plaxico, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jeffrey Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lonni Plaxico, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1998 Blue Note Records
Reginald Veal, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Sting, ComposerLyricist - Cassandra Wilson, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Co-Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Jeffrey Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Fabrizio Sotti, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Teri Lynne Carrington, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 2003 Capitol Records, LLC
Reginald Veal, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jakob Dylan, Composer - T-Bone Burnett, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Keltner, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gavin Lurssen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Piersante, Mixer, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith "Keefus" Ciancia, Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Cassandra Wilson, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 2005 Blue Note Records
Bobby Hart, ComposerLyricist - Tommy Boyce, ComposerLyricist - Dianne Reeves, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - TOM SCHICK, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassandra Wilson, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Ross, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Breit, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Street, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DOUGIE BOWNE, Drums, Vibraphone, AssociatedPerformer - Lonnie Plaxico, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Bill Emmons, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Danny Kapelson, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fred Kervorkian, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1995 Blue Note Records
Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Lundvall, Producer, Executive Producer - ROBBIE ROBERTSON, ComposerLyricist - Donald Thomas, Unknown, Other - Cassandra Wilson, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marvin Sewell, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Breit, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Mandolin, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Cullen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Suzanne Kapa, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyro Baptista, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Kopelson, Mixer, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lowney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeffrey Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Simanga, Producer, Executive Producer - Michael Barbour, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Judy Jefferson, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Sean Macke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Xavyon Jamison, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Peterson, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 2002 Blue Note Records
Jimmy Douglass, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Olu Dara, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Johnson, Percussion, Snare Drum, AssociatedPerformer - VAN MORRISON, ComposerLyricist - Wally Traugott, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassandra Wilson, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Ross, Guitar, Steel Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Street, Producer - Jamey Stuab, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jamey Staub, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyro Baptista, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Don Byron, Clarinet, AssociatedPerformer - Kenny Davis, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Joe Hogan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lonnie Plaxico, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tony Cedras, Accordion, AssociatedPerformer - Gib Wharton, Pedal Steel, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Whitley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dinji Brown, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Vinx, Percussion, Vocals, Voices, AssociatedPerformer - Frederic Kevorkian, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julio Peralta, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Beekerman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Lance Carter, Drums, Percussion, Snare Drum, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Burnham, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Burnham, Violin, Mandocello, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Earl McClellan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Emmons, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill McClellan, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1993 Blue Note Records
Neil Young, ComposerLyricist - Cassandra Wilson, MainArtist
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1995 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ann Peebles, ComposerLyricist - BERNARD MILLER, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Douglass, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Donald Bryant, ComposerLyricist - Wally Traugott, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cassandra Wilson, Vocals, Additional Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Craig Street, Producer - Jamey Stuab, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Hogan, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Whitley, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Dinji Brown, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frederic Kevorkian, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Julio Peralta, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Beekerman, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Emmons, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 1993 Capitol Records, LLC
Reginald Veal, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Dylan, ComposerLyricist - Chris Athens, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Lundvall, Producer, Executive Producer - Cassandra Wilson, Producer, Co-Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Ross, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Eric Butler, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeffrey Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Fabrizio Sotti, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Calvin Jones, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 2003 Capitol Records, LLC
Jimmy Webb, ComposerLyricist - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bruce Lundvall, Producer, Executive Producer - Donald Thomas, Unknown, Other - Cassandra Wilson, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marvin Sewell, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kevin Breit, Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Cullen, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Suzanne Kapa, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cyro Baptista, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Danny Kopelson, Mixer, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lowney, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jeffrey Haynes, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Simanga, Producer, Executive Producer - Michael Barbour, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Judy Jefferson, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Sean Macke, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Peterson, Upright Bass, Fretless Bass, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2009 Blue Note Records ℗ 2002 Blue Note Records
Album review
When most jazz singers do standards, they come from the "classic" American songbook, the one that includes show tunes and pop songs from a bygone era, one that was powered by names such as Gershwin, Lerner & Loewe, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sammy Kahn, Johnny Mercer, and so many others. That said, Cassandra Wilson is not just any jazz vocalist, and her Blue Note catalog -- the label she's been with since 1993 -- proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Wilson has explored her deep love of jazz and blues to be sure, covering everyone from Robert Johnson to Miles Davis, but along the way she's also covered tunes by modern composers, those who have stormed the pop charts in the last 30 years or so, and those who are still on them. Closer to You: The Pop Side is a retrospective collection that looks at this side of Wilson's complex musical persona, and offers a selection of 11 tunes from her Blue Note albums, all of them focusing on songs from the rock, pop, and soul genres, and all executed in her own idiosyncratic manner. The stellar version of Van Morrison's "Tupelo Honey" is sung from a female perspective and drenched in acoustic guitars and upright bass, with a lone snare. Then there is her languid, deeply committed reading of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and her drenched-in-strangeness reading of Neil Young's "Harvest Moon," which is as much ambience as it is instrumentation, with only her voice to hold it in place and keep it from disappearing into the ether. Along the way are signature readings of U2's "Love Is Blindness" and Sting's "Fragile," as well as one of the finest versions of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" ever committed to tape, though its scope is very different from the author's or the now canonical Glen Campbell version. Her reading of Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain" reflects the singer's deep commitment to the soul vernacular, and while a bit less edgy than the original, it contains plenty of hidden passageways of emotion nonetheless. In sum, this can be enjoyed as a record of both where Cassandra Wilson has been when it comes to reinterpreting the tunes of the current era, and where she has pushed the envelope in terms of the role of the jazz vocalist.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:50
- Main artists: Cassandra Wilson
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Blue Note Records
- Genre: Jazz
© 2009 Blue Note Records This Compilation ℗ 2009 Blue Note Records
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