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Eddie Jefferson: Vocal Ease
ByCapturing the mood, as one would expect on "Ornithology" and "Bitches Brew," for example, Jefferson speaks to the nature of each artist and to the impact each piece had on listeners. "So What" and "Bitches Brew" capture the essence of Miles Davis descriptively and through musical timbres, including muted trumpet, velvety tenor saxophone, and eerie bass clarinet tones. The latter piece, of course, veers from the traditional vocalese course by adding reverb, echo, musical saw, and more. "Zap! Carnivorous," with Richie Cole, was a precursor to today’s rapster jargon. Jefferson warns about carnivores that threaten our streets, emphasizing the thought with forceful language. "Night in Tunisia" features Billy Mitchell on flute and Joe Newman with muted trumpet, while Sam Jones and Joe Newman take the solo spots on "Billie’s Bounce." Trumpeter Waymon Reed contributes several lovely interludes to the album. His fluid, mellow tone and lyrical phrasing recall Clifford Brown’s favorable sound. Reed’s trumpet interludes on "Ornithology" and "I Got the Blues" reveal a heartfelt sensitivity toward melodic interpretation. Sadly he, like Eddie Jefferson, is gone; but the music remains for us to enjoy again and again.
Personnel
Eddie Jefferson
vocalsAlbum information
Title: Vocal Ease | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Repertoire Records
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