Where Are We is aptly named, the theme of the album being various American states and cities with Redman, vocalist Cavassa, piano, bass and drums putting their own impressions down on a selection of standards and originals. The four guests also pop up individually on single tracks.
After Minneapolis (face toward mo[u]rning) opens with an explosive cadenza from Redman which is as violent a sound as I've ever heard from him. However, the song, an original by Redman couldn't conceivably have any other intro based as it is around, although not exclusively, the murder of George Floyd. Cavassa's vocal adds to the emotive content.
Bruce Springstein's Streets of Philadelphia features Rosenwinkel and once more Cavassa, a co-winner of the 2021 International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition, gets right inside the lyric as indeed she does on all her featured tracks. Redman wails as if to the Blue Note manner born.
Chicago Blues is almost a romantic ballad unlike the original versions by Jimmy Rushing and later Joe Williams. Ross' vibes add to the mood.
Baltimore has no guests and Cavassa sits this one out. Some nice bass-work from Sanders. Redman is quite lyrical in a gutsy kind of way with Parks also in that groove.
By the Time I Get to Phoenix is undoubtedly the best version ever of this tune. I came to that conclusion long before Cavassa had even reached Albuquerque.
Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? The vocal brings Billie Holiday to mind which is no bad thing. New Orleans' native Payton adds to the authenticity and trumpet and tenor have some exciting contrapuntal moments.
The quartet travelled over a thousand (music) miles to Manhattan where they were joined by Peter Bernstein for a delightful take on the Rodgers and Hart classic.
My Heart in San Francisco (Holiday). Now that Tony has left us I guess it's open season on Bennett's signature tune. However, Redman manages to incorporate Monk's San Francisco Holiday into the mix hence the slightly different title. It all works out fine in the end.
That's New England also merges with a song by Charles Ives - Three Places in New England. Confused? Don't worry, so am I. Just sit back and enjoy.
Stars Fell on Alabama and Coltrane's Alabama offer two starkly contrasting images - lovers kissing in fields of white and black school children getting killed in a church bombing. Cavassa paints the former and the quartet the latter.
Where Are You? Sensuous vocal, lyrical tenor, fine piano and a sympathetic rhythm section bring this beautiful and, at times, provocative album to a close. If we allocated stars this would be 10/10. Lance
Now available on the mighty Blue Note label - Find out more HERE.
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