This is one of the more interesting experiments that Blue Note Records undertook in the 1990s as a way of exploiting its catalog and propping up its current roster against its classic one. The dozen cuts here are, as the jacket reveals, all Motown covers. The list of leaders is an impressive one: John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Bobbi Humphrey, Earl Klugh, and Ray Barretto, to name just the legends. Added to these are then-current BN roster name plates like Dave Koz, Dianne Reeves, Eliane Elias, Richard Elliot, Everette ...
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This is one of the more interesting experiments that Blue Note Records undertook in the 1990s as a way of exploiting its catalog and propping up its current roster against its classic one. The dozen cuts here are, as the jacket reveals, all Motown covers. The list of leaders is an impressive one: John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Bobbi Humphrey, Earl Klugh, and Ray Barretto, to name just the legends. Added to these are then-current BN roster name plates like Dave Koz, Dianne Reeves, Eliane Elias, Richard Elliot, Everette Harp, and Charlie Hunter. (The latter two each participated in the Blue Note Covers project, wherein each artist took a classic album and recut it as a jazz set: Harp did Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On, and Hunter took Bob Marley & the Wailers' Natty Dread.) The music here is largely smooth and easy; covers versions are done fairly straight without lavish arrangements that make them necessarily jazz tunes. That's fine. Since the instrumentation is different, and the groove is more directly pronounced, these come off as credible and in most cases even desirable. Koz's read of "I'll Be There" isn't as hip as Ray Bryant's Cadet version cut in 1974, but it is such a beautiful song, his saxophone rendering of the lyric and the drum loops offer something smoother, and more exotic, while not being necessarily as memorable as the original. On the other hand, Humphrey's reading of "Smiling Faces" offers its own look at the funkier possibilities in the jam, and her flute makes the deeper grooves stand out in contrast. Hunter's "You Keep Me Hangin' On" is, quite simply, a completely new reading of the tune. Its arrangement is stretched, its groove widened to make space inside the melody, and the vibes in the tune move it through soul into the blur of jazz and funk very nicely. Barretto's "What's Goin' On" also reaches this level with its array of polyrhythmic invention and the punched up horn section and chart. Turrentine's read of Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" is straight up soul-jazz, as is Patton's "Ain't That Peculiar" as the strangest choice here (and a welcome one). It's rawer than the rest of the set, and its reliance on backbeat funk turns the original inside out. Reeves' "Tracks of My Tears" is straight, but that rhythm along with her smoky voice makes it a beautiful reading. Klugh's earthy nylon string guitar against the heavy bassline and drums make his "Heard It Through the Grapevine" one of the best things here, while Turrentine's other selection, "You and I," is so languid and syrupy it doesn't cut it at all and neither does Elias' samba version of "Bird of Beauty." Finally, Harp's "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" is alright as far as it goes, but Grover Washington, Jr.'s version from the '70s on Kudu is so superior, one wonders why he thought he had anything to add, because it pales in comparison. Out of 12 cuts, nine of them are very fine, with two not working at all, and one a head scratcher. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi
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Add this copy of Blue Note Salutes Motown to cart. $3.60, good condition, Sold by Bookmans rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tucson, AZ, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Blue Note Records.
Add this copy of Blue Note Salutes Motown to cart. $4.79, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Blue Note Records.
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Blue Note Salutes Motown to cart. $9.49, very good condition, Sold by Rebooksellers rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tequesta, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Blue Note Records.
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Very Good. Size: 5x4x0; This CD is in Very Good condition. See our picture for exact item you will receive. All items ship within 24 hours. Packaging is 100% Recyclable. Most items purchased from Charitable organizations. A portion of each sale is also donated to a monthly charity, check your package for this month's charity. Reuse-Recycle-Rebook!
