Here and Gone

David Sanborn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca U.S.
• ASIN: B00186YSQ2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,277 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

The six-time Grammy winner has consistently recorded his own albums: Since his first album "Taking Off," from 1975, through his acclaimed "Closer," from 2005, he has rarely gone over two years between releases. But it's been three years between "Closer" and Sanborn's hew album "Here and Gone." Produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, it is the 23rd solo album in Sanborn's extraordinary career, and brings together exceptional guests in Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone, along with such fellow stellar instrumentalists as guitarists Anthony Wilson and Derek Trucks, trumpet virtuoso Wallace Roney, arranger/keyboardist Gil Goldstein, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Steve Gadd. But "Here and Gone" is noteworthy, too, for its concept. Sanborn was inspired by soul-jazz saxophonists like David "Fathead" Newman, Hank Crawford, Gene Ammons, Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, Jimmy Forrest, King Curtis, and Willis "Gator" Jackson. But he was also influenced by the Chicago blues legends who regularly performed in St. Louis, and by the time he graduated high school he had already played with Albert King and Little Milton. Sanborn's first career break, in fact, was joining the Butterfield Blues Band--which historically mixed Chicago blues with a soul band horn section. Following five years with Butterfield, he then established his world-class solo stature in the 1970s in jazz and r&b/pop/rock through heavy touring and ensuing recording dates. But it is fellow blues/r&b alto saxophonist Hank Crawford whom Sanborn turned to in conceiving "Here and Gone." Crawford is directly responsible for three of the album's nine tracks. He wrote "Stoney Lonesome"--"the definitive Hank Crawford tune," notes Sanborn, explaining that "it's in a place between gospel, r&b and jazz that both he and Ray inhabited so well." The ballad "What Will I Tell My Heart?," which Sanborn first heard via Crawford, "illustrates what I learned from Hank: Take your time when playing a ballad! Don't hurry, but let the song develop and tell you how to play it." Then there is Percy Mayfield's masterpiece "Please Send Me Someone to Love," another song that Crawford recorded that is "quintessentially Hank in the economy of the arrangement." The rest of the album continues a close connection with Ray Charles, whose 1960 album "Genius + Soul = Jazz" supplies three more tracks including "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town," another Mayfield gem. Sanborn then culled the Charles original "I Believe It to My Soul" from Charles's 1961 album "The Genius Sings the Blues," and marvels at the job guest vocalist Joss Stone did on it. Sanborn first recorded Marcus Miller's Charles tribute "Brother Ray" on his Miller-produced 1999 album "Inside." He included a new version on "Here and Gone"--with a spectacular guitar assist from Derek Trucks. Crawford and Charles are joined by keyboardist/arranger Gil Evans as Sanborn's three biggest influences, and it's to Evans that he turned to in cutting jazz standard "St. Louis Blues"--the lead track on "Here and Gone." Here Sanborn also credits producer Ramone, who had produced his second album "Sanborn" in 1976, "so we have a real history." Ramone, he adds, "has an innate understanding of what this music is about, and better than anybody understands how to create an atmosphere conducive to maintaining its vitality and spontaneity and preserving its spirit." And saluting Wallace Roney, whose trumpet solo embellishes the end of "St. Louis Blues," he further notes that his albums "are all about casting. "I was very honored to have such an incredible array of guest artists on the album," notes Sanborn, "who really round out the sound of this record."

Product Description

On "Here and Gone," David Sanborn places his saxophone squarely within the context of the jazz-inflected pop music history that he himself has long been a part of. And while it was conceived as a tribute to his heroes, it inevitably traces his own development as the man who has heroically taken the saxophone to the next level. Few musicians are so closely identified with their instrument that they overshadow their peers, but the iconic David Sanborn truly merits his singular position as a saxophonist, unrivaled as a player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both. In pop, he is justly famed for his standout solo on David Bowie's 1975 hit "Young Americans"--one of many celebrated recording projects that evolved out of Sanborn's live supporting roles. Indeed, his matchless tone has additionally been sought to bolster performances by the esteemed likes of Eric Clapton, the Eagles, the Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Miles Davis, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder--many of whom have likewise gone on to enlist his inimitable sax presence in the studio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best David Sanborn yet., August 13, 2008

By 

Jazzy Drummer18 "Mike" (CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Here and Gone (Audio CD)

This a great unexpected release from David Sanborn. I usually tend to stay away from commercial jazz releases but here the guest artists (Clapton,Trucks,Stone,Moore) are stellar and give tasteful performances. Sanborn's playing is more bluesy than usual, and his tone is the classic sound as always. The backing band, especially bassist Christian McBride and Drummer Steve Gadd, are extremely tight which would be expected if you know these musicians. The quality stays consistent through the nine tracks, and with a shorter length the album doesn't overstay its welcome. If you usually find David Sanborn a little too sappy I urge you to give this recording a chance.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A little too laid-back, but still a solid, 'classic' Sanborn., August 13, 2008

By 

ippo77 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Here and Gone (Audio CD)

David Sanborn is, and has always been, rather better than that. An A-list session player, perhaps best known to the wider world for guesting on David Bowie's "Young Americans", he was also a stalwart of the Brecker Brothers band, and on top form he can lend more content to the crossover jazz format than any other altoist.
His technique is fabulous, his command of harmonics and the high register flawless, and his rich, chewy tone is as dense as molten caramel - and when cooled down, as instantly brittle, too.
He has undoubtedly been a huge influence on the smooth jazz wailers with whom no note goes unornamented and no phrase is not weighed down by the heaviest of emotional baggage.
While his previous album were geared toward the crossover jazz market, on his last few releases, particularly "Timeagain" and "Closer" he's been playing with artists who have pushed him, including top bass players like Christian McBride and Marcus Miller. And his playing has been both soulful and boppish.
Now that crossover jazz has given way to an even more watered-down genre known as smooth jazz, the saxophonist has finally "returned to his roots and influences -- R&B, blues and gospel -- and to the music that saxophone players like David "Fathead" Newman and Hank Crawford were playing in the '50s and '60s".-Michael Walch
Recent Ray Charles tribute albums by John Scofield, David "Fathead' Newman and Maceo Parker have mined this territory in the past few years, and all to greater effect.
Perhaps it's his studio-slick sound that betrays him, but Sanborn has to do a lot more before he can get really down and dirty.
With a core backing band of Russell Malone (guitar), Christian McBride (bass) and Steve Gadd (drums), Sanborn has plenty of room to showcase his chops and from the first cut, "St. Louis Blues", jumps out front with his soulful sax.
Eric Clapton, Joss Stone and Sam Moore lend a hand to craft an understated tribute to sax man Hank Crawford, the great arranger for Ray Charles in the 1950s.
The nine songs unfold in the classic Charles style, big on feeling yet economical in delivery.
The highlights: "St. Louis Blues," "Brother Ray" and "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town" specialize in restraint. "The latter features a few tasty guitar licks and a cocktail-lounge vocal by Clapton, above a simmering big-band arrangement".Jim Abbott
Other highlights: "I Believe to My Soul", featuring Joss Stone, who tries her best to sound natural and soulful, and Sam Moore's moving "I've Got News for You".
It may be a little too laid-back, but it is still a good snapshot of what he's doing now.
The overall style remains tasteful, soulful and classy.
David Sanborn's fans will not be disappointed.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Drummers beware! This is a disappointment., April 5, 2010

By 

D. Daniel "music fan" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Here and Gone (Audio CD)

Are you a drummer? Are you a fan of Steve Gadd? Do not walk, RUN away from this release. It's baffling how Phil Ramone, the guy that captured "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and more from Paul Simon and Gadd, can absolutely bury Gadd's grooves on this recording. The drums don't sound like Gadd's signature sound. Yes, this is a Sanborn album, not a Gadd album. Nevertheless, the saxophone is pushed way out front in the mix, at the expense of any sort of realistic live sound.
The choice of tunes is good. The players are top notch. I think it all falls apart in the production. I don't know what the goal here was, but it sure falls short in my opinion. You've been warned.