Album review: Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves - Dedicated to You (Blue Note)

Dianne Reeves (vocal); Branford Marsalis (tenor/soprano sax); Joey Calderazzo (piano); Eric Revis (bass); Justin Faulkner (drums).

Given that this is John Coltrane's centenary year it's not surprising that tributes are being paid both in concert and on record. One of the albums that has provided fertile fodder for the tributes is the 1963 Impulse recording Trane made with Johnny Hartman.

The original is one of the all-time great vocal albums. It can sit proudly alongside the Sinatras, Bennetts, Lady Days or any other recording artists that you care to mention. The question posed here is who takes the Hartman role? Whose voice is low enough and rich enough to carry it off?

© Shervin Lainez

The answer is simple, look to a different gender which is what happens here. In Dianne Reeves we have the same feeling but pitched higher thus avoiding comparision. In her own way Reeves makes it at least 50% her own. Her a cappella intro to Lush Life is spine-tingling whilst They Say It's Wonderful captures the middle eight perfectly stretching the 'and' to rhyme with 'grand'.

Marsalis is relatively restrained on the vocal tracks but on the instrumental tracks he cuts loose on both soprano and tenor with the ace rhythm section occasionally driving him into (almost) sheets of sound mode. Not always though. He is at his most lyrical on Central Park West, Say it Over and Over Again and Nancy With the Laughing Face. Special mention of Calderazzo's solos on the ballads. I'm not suggesting you opt for one album over the other but having both wouldn't hurt. Recommended. Lance

Vocal tracks: Autumn Serenade; Dedicated to You; You Are Too Beautiful; Lush Life; My One and Only Love; They Say It's Wonderful.

Instrumentals: Big Nick; 26-2; Central Park West;  Say it Over and Over Again; Nancy With the Laughing Face; Big Nick (bonus track).