Kurt Elling - Dedicated To You

album review

Concord Jazz

Release date: June 23rd 2009

Availability: CD, MP3 Download

Dedicated To You cover

"Dedicated To You" started out as a commission for the 2006 Chicago Jazz Festival to recreate the seminal 1963 Impulse! album "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman" in celebration of what would have been John Coltrane's 80th birthday. The concept was extended to include further material recorded by Johnny Hartman and turned into an acclaimed concert for the Lincoln Centre's 'American Songbook Series' in January 2009, and this is what is captured here.

Musical arrangements are by Laurence Hobgood and his trio features throughout. They are joined by saxophonist Ernie Watts and the string ensemble Ethel to provide a musical backing that can match Kurt Elling's desire to pay tribute to the original John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman material while bringing to the table his own distinctive take on some of the greatest songs in the American songbook.

As Kurt Elling explains:



The track listing is:

All or Nothing at All (6:50); It’s Easy to Remember (A Jazz Story Memory) (4:05); Dedicated to You (6:35); What’s New (Instrumental) – Ernie Watts (2:40); Lush Life (4:39); Autumn Serenade (3:10); Say It (Over and Over Again) (6:40); They Say It’s Wonderful (3:59); My One and Only Love (3:26); Nancy with the Laughing Face (4:56); Acknowledgments (:38); You Are Too Beautiful (8:10)

A must for all vocal jazz enthusiasts.


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Kurt Elling Home Page

New York Times review of the concert

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1 comment:

P+T Johnson-Lenz said...

Kurt fans everywhere are really excited about this new release! Thanks for the review.

Kurt's pianist and long-time collaborator is Laurence Hobgood (with a B, not a P). His lovely, innovative string arrangements really enhance this side. Jim Gailloreto contributed the arrangements for "My One and Only Love" and "Nancy With the Laughing Face."

In the Forum on the KE website, we're counting down the days until the June 23 release with a new Dedicated to You feature every day. Come join us!

kurtelling.com

P+T Johnson-Lenz