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Bob Baldwin: Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson
ByPianist and multi-instrumentalist Bob Baldwin previously covered Jackson's "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "I Wanna Be Where You Are," and was as shaken as the rest of the world by the music icon's untimely death in 2009. Securing the cooperation of the family and estate of Michael Jackson, Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson is the first officially authorized jazz homage to this legendary artist.
Tribute albums are a tricky proposition. Jackson vocals stylings are indelibly stamped into the minds of millions, and can't be improved upon. Wisely, Baldwin doesn't try to fix what isn't broken by attempting to radically rework Jackson's classic songs. The material (except for two songs penned by Baldwin) cover the classic Motown hits of the Jackson Five ("I'll Be There, "Never Can Say Goodbye," "I Wanna Be Where You Are") and several selections from Off the Wall (Epic, 1979), Bad (Epic, 1987) and Thriller (Epic, 1982), though those albums' biggest hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller"are curiously missing.
Baldwin interprets Jackson in a pretty straightforward and direct manner, with few frills or unnecessary flourishes. Another artist might have overly embellished the material with strings, horns, a battery of overdubbed keyboards, vocalists and other trappings; instead, Baldwin lets the music do the talking, and guest appearances by guitarists Steve Oliver, Chieli Minnucci and Chuck Loeb, along with trumpeter Joey Sommerville, add subtle but not showy contributions. Loebthe newly recruited replacement for Larry Carlton in Fourplay shines especially on "Never Can Say Goodbye."
The two Baldwin originals, "Don't Say Goodbye" and "Prodigious," are respectful homage, but are merely okay. It would have been preferable had Baldwin covered some of the post-Bad material, such as "Remember the Time" and "You Are Not Alone" from Dangerous (Epic, 1991), or the underrated "Butterflies" from Invincible. (Epic, 2001).
Still, why quibble over a few omissions from such a vast catalog? Never Can Say Goodbye successfully acknowledges the musical legacy of Michael Jackson, while Baldwin demonstrates that even if you don't like pop music, it can inspire some pretty cool jazz.
Track Listing
Bad; Human Nature; The Girl Is Mine; I Can't Help It; I'll Be There; Prodigious; I Wanna Be Where You Are; The Lady In My Life; Let Me Show You; She's Out of My Life; Don't Say Goodbye; Never Can Say Goodbye.
Personnel
Bob Baldwin
pianoBob Baldwin: piano, keyboards, bass, percussion, drums, additional vocals; Buddy Williams: drums (1, 2, 4, 5); Ron Jenkins: bass (1, 2, 4, 5); Ragan Whiteside: flute solo (1); Steve Oliver: guitar, scat solo (3); Armando Marcal: percussion, vocals (7); Joey Sommerville: trumpet (9); Chieli Minnucci: guitars (10); Tony Clarke: percussion (10); Chuck Loeb: guitar (12); Dennis Johnson: drums, percussion (12).
Album information
Title: Never Can Say Goodbye: A Tribute to Michael Jackson | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Trippin n Rhythm Records
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