Customer Reviews

Aretha's Jazz

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This album is worth every penny paid, just for its recording of "Somewhere". In this one recording, more than any other recording I have ever heard, Ms Franklin exposes in the most achingly naked way, the plaintive sense of longing and dispair from hopes unrealized, but never really given up.

Aretha's Jazz is a great title through and through. It's a little different from her early stuff. It's a swinging,bluesy,jazzy and soulful title. I believe her when she sings "I'll hold up the sky"(for his love) in the song "Crazy He Calls Me". The swinging rendition of the Sam Cooke song Bring It On Home can be played over and over again. I truly enjoy all of the songs, however my favorites on this title are "Today I Sing The Blues" and "Just Right Tonight".Don't pass this title by.

I think that anyone who has ever listened to Aretha Franklin should buy this CD. It should be a joy to hear for old fans of hers and new listeners as well. It's unlike anything she's ever done and yet she seems to master every song.

Anyone who thinks Aretha's voice was made just for high-powered R&B/soul needs to hear the exquisitely nuanced vocals on tracks like Crazy He Calls Me, Somewhere, and Just Right Tonight. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. Also, don't miss Aretha's often-overlooked piano talents on Today I Sing the Blues and Somewhere.

The first five tracks here were recorded in 1968 at Atlantic, arranged and conducted by Arif Mardin, produced by Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd, and engineered by Tom Dowd.

Today I Sing the Blues featurs Spooner Oldham on Hammond organ, Jimmy Johnson on guitar, Tommy Cogbill and Jerry Jemmott on electric basses, and Roger Hawkins on drums.

The next four tracks feature Junior Mance on piano, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Ron Carter on bass, and Bruno Carr on drums, with Joe Zawinul playing Hammond organ on Crazy He Calls me and electric piano on Bring It on Home to Me (the latter being probably the most swingin' version of that song I've heard).

The final three tracks were recorded in 1972, arranged and conducted by Quincy Jones, and produced by Q with Aretha. These tracks were performed by studio ensembles with personnel unfortunately unavailable, excepting the notes that Somewhere includes a piano solo by Aretha and an alto sax solo by Phil Woods, and Just Right Tonight features a (KILLER!) piano solo by Billy Preston.

A different and wonderful side of Aretha. Highly recommended.