Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dennis Rowland: Now Dig This!: A Vocal Celebration Of Miles Davis

Dennis Rowland: Now Dig This!: A Vocal Celebration Of Miles Davis

By AAJ Staff
December 1, 1997
View read count

Dennis Rowland: Now Dig This!: A Vocal Celebration Of Miles Davis

When a jazz artist announces that he/she is doing a Miles Davis tribute, the question is, "Which Miles? The cool Miles? Modal Miles? Fusion Miles?" On Now Dig This!, singer Dennis Rowland's primary emphasis is on Miles in the late '50s, when the trumpeter was recording a great deal of standards. In fact, Rowland embraces only two Davis originals on this absorbing effort ("All Blues" and "Pfrancing"), and he devotes a lot more time to standards Davis recorded (including "Someday My Prince Will Come," "My Ship" and jazz's national anthem, "'Round Midnight"). Rowland's voice is something to savor. He comes from the Joe Williams school of big-voiced, blues-minded jazz singing, and Rowland has also learned some things from the great R&B and soul music of the '60s and '70s.

Male jazz singers are becoming an endangered species, and Rowland's impressive Concord output has reminded us how badly needed they are.

Reprinted with the permission of Myrna Daniels and L.A. Jazz Scene, the largest jazz publication in Southern California.

Personnel

Dennis Rowland

vocals

Album information

Title: Now Dig This!: A Vocal Celebration Of Miles Davis | Year Released: 1997 | Record Label: Concord Music Group

About Dennis Rowland

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Monterey Jazz Festival: Forty Legend...
< Previous

Dave Hughes' All-Time Favorite Conte...
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.