Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Various Artists: Home - Gift Of Music: Japan Earthquake/...
Various Artists: Home - Gift Of Music: Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief
ByThe triptych of horrorearthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasterthat struck Japan on March 11, 2011 is still a fresh wound for the Japanese people. While at-the-time donations helped many in need, countless others still require relief and Rio Sakairi is doing her part to help. Sakairi, the Director of Programming at The Jazz Gallery in New York, gathered many of her talented friends and put together a heartwarming collection of music to help raise some much-needed funds. Everybody from the artists involved to the recording studio crew to the PR people to the label generously donated their time and services to help Sakairi in her mission and the result is a heartwarming collection of songs that heals the soul and helps those in need; all proceeds from the sale of this album will be directed to Habitat For Humanity, Japan.
The majority of the music on Home was written on short notice, but these aren't throwaway tunes. In fact, several artists really hit compositional pay dirt on this project. Multi-reedist John Ellis makes a stunning debut as a vocalist ("Home"), delivering a winning Paul McCartney-meets-Rufus Wainright-styled performance that's heavy on the bittersweet beauty, while guitarist/vocalist Doug Wamble dabbles in slow, folkloric territory on his own poignant contribution ("Fear Not The Fall"). Sachal Vasandani's "Doves" starts off in contemplative serenity, but soars to greater emotional heights as it develops, Alan Hampton's "If It Was" features some peaceable vocals from Hampton and Gretchen Parlato, and Becca Stevens conjures thoughts of Moss interpreting Björk on her own overdub-enhanced "Coming Home." Stevens and Parlato serve as a vocal finishing school for some of this material, mixing their voices with other artists and helping to provide added luster to the finished product.
A spine-tingling, Nick Drake-like tenderness surrounds much of this material, which makes perfect sense considering the impetus behind its creation. Wispy beauty is everywhere on this disc and, while the running time is short, the emotional quality of the music more than makes up for it. Home is far more than an album; it's an artistic plea for help that reverberates deep into the ears and consciousness.
Track Listing
Gambare Nippon; If It Was; Coming Home; Home; Music Is The Magic; Tillery; Fear Not The Fall; Leaves Rebirth; Doves.
Personnel
Various Artists
variousClaudia Acuna: vocals (5); John Ellis: vocals (4); Alan Hampton: vocals, (2), guitar (2); Gretchen Parlato: vocals (2, 6, 8, 9), percussion; Becca Stevens: guitar, vocals (3, 4, 6, 9); Leron Thomas: vocals (8); Sachal Vasandani: vocals (9); Doug Wamble: guitar (7), vocals (7); Dayna Stephens: tenor saxophone; Taylor Eigsti: piano (2, 8, 9); Adam Rogers: guitar (5, 8, 9); Ryan Scott: guitar (4); Danton Boller: bass (4); Chris Tordini: bass, vocals (6); Ben Williams: bass (5, 8, 9); Jonathan Blake: drums (5, 8, 9); Bill Campbell: drums (4).
Album information
Title: Home - Gift Of Music: Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records
< Previous
Take Five With Taeko Kunishima
Next >
Plunge
Comments
About Various Artists
Instrument: Various
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To