(Review by Ann Alex)
I have struck lucky with the last 2 CDs I’ve reviewed as they’ve both been full of lively, interesting tracks, with unusual song choices and arrangements, not a moment’s boredom. This debut CD was the idea of husband and wife Jean and Marcus Baylor, who are both the offspring of pastors, so have musical roots in the American church, with influences of gospel, blues, soul and jazz. Marcus is a world-class drummer and Jean has a clear mezzo-soprano voice, with a pure tone and flexible timing. The aim of this innovative, collaborative project was to create spiritual, buoyant feel-good music. There are original songs, jazz standards, soul influenced tracks, and even a hymn.
Track 1 Block Party, An original from the Baylors, handclaps, organ fragments, gospel snatches, a trumpet, all go to convey the sound of a party, mostly soul music in fragments with voices chatting, singing, then a drum solo and more party sounds. Very evocative.
Track 2 Great Is Thy Faithfulness A hymn sung as jazz to sax, piano and drums, with some effective scat and short solos. Very striking
Track 3 Tell Me A Story A Herbie Hancock number with lyrics by Jean Baylor, double tracked voices to piano and percussion
Track 4 Tenderly A ballad, sung freely with feeling, with sax and bass solos.
Track 5 Our Love Is Here To Stay Unusual timing, strong low chords on piano, then just voice and bass, then the singer plays with the words before the music fades out.
Track 6 Again A Baylor original, a love song of hope, with the full treatment from a larger ensemble with strings, which concludes with a general musical mash-up.
Track 7 Summertime WARNING TO LANCE, although this is a pleasing, relaxed Latin version with freely sung vocals to piano and percussion.
Track 8 Voice Of The Drum (interlude) A short piece written by the Baylors and numerous other members of the project, a slow drum solo which flows neatly into ...
Track 9 Afro Blue (Dream) Guitar then voice in a dream-like song, then a mash-up with voice and handclaps.
Track 10 Laugh And Move On Another Baylor original, a double-tracked vocal, soul number with lyrics about how to deal with disappointment, and organ and piano accompaniment
Track 11 Journey A Baylor original with drums, voices in harmony, and snatches of spoken dialogue which I found difficult to make out, but it was good to listen to and I think the words were about hope.
The CD is released on February 10, 2017, catalog number BAL001, UPC Code 888295520898
Ann Alex.
(Collective personnel); Jean Baylor (all vocals, handclaps); Marcus Baylor (all drums, handclaps); Shedrick Mitchell (piano, organ); Allyn Johnson (piano); David ‘DJ’ Ginyard (electric bass); Dezron Douglas, Chris Smith, Corcoran Holt (upright bass); Marvin Sewell (guitar); Rayfield ‘Ray Ray’ Holloman (pedal steel & electric guitars);Bob Mintzer, Keith Loftis (ten sax); Freddie Hendrix (trumpet, flugelhorn); Keyon Harrold (trumpet); Stafford Hunter (trombone); Aaron Draper, Pablo Batista (perc, handclaps); Nicole Neely (live strings & arrangement, track 6); Brandee Younger (harp)
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