I bought an Aretha's compilation CD called "This Is Jazz, Vol. 34" which features Aretha's pre-Atlantic days(Columbia in the early 60's) and this was the 1st time I hear Aunt ReRe singing Jazz standards.

Here's the tracklist:

1.Evil Gal Blues
2.Today I Sing the Blues
3.Skylark
4.Nobody Knows the Way I Feel This Morning
5.Unforgettable
6.Love for Sale
7.Only the Lonely
8.Muddy Water
9.God Bless the Child
10.All Night Long
11.It Ain't Necessarily So
12.What a Difference a Day Made
13.Over the Rainbow
14.Maybe I'm a Fool
15.Drinking Again
16.Trouble In Mind
17.This Bitter Earth

I tell ya, it was a special treat to hear the queen pulling jazz stuff(and twisting 'em with her trademark gospel-ish voice). It sounds so fresh to me(adding the fact that she was pretty young when she did all of those weren't bad at all). The highlights of the whole show are "Drinking Again", "Skylark", "This Bitter Earth" and most obeviously the Billie Holiday tribute "God Bless The Child"(I'v heard millions of covers 4 this song but THIS VERSION is the absloute beautiful of 'em all,,,ReRe makes it gospel-ish and the piano playing is from heaven).

Its really intersting that she kept with the "one-on-one" jazz motion YET keeps it raw with her gospel-ish voice

Anyway, does anybody fimiliar with Aretha's Jazz music? If so then what do you think?

hmmm; I like her jazz-stuff but don't think it really does her full justice. I prefer her gospel albums, Amazing Grace for one, is great stuf! Mary don't you weep is goose-bumps material.

Harlepolis...

You NEVER cease to amaze me


EDUCATE THESE FOOLS !!!

zobilamouche said:

She's not Dina or Bessie Smith but homegirl did indeed delievered to her last breath in those jazz stuff,,,she captured the innocence in those songs and thats what Jazz all about.

Anybody else fimiliar with this,,,c'mon motherfuckas, speak to me

Girl...

Let it go.

U better ask about Brittney & Madonna.
( they'll flood ya wit dat shit )

FalseSetto said:

And I know thats right

But I still got my crew up in here,,,hope they catch this.

I really want to learn about ReRe's jazz stuff, I'm not really fimiliar with it other than the album that I bought.

I sure would love from Aunt ReRe to pull this stuff again(Call Arif Mardin ).

Harlepolis said:

Ya know, I'm deep into Aretha's classic Atlantic material, but I haven't heard anything but snippets of her Columbia music. I do know that her piano chops are way beyond ordinary, and when she does venture into jazzy stuff instrumentally she's more than believable. Her version of "Somewhere" from West Side Story is just deeep.

I've heard a couple of songs but now I've got to get this album.

Have you ever heard the Filmore West album? Ray Charles shows up at the end. She does some covers and the entire thing is so real. The first time I listened to it all the way through, it made me cry.

Aretha

Harlepolis said:

And Jerry Wexler.

Slave2daGroove said:

Essential.

Supernova said:

She's not really in good terms with Jerry from what I understand becoz he seems too quick to rip-off the credit to him-self.

Anyway, the reason why I think Arif should do this 4 her becoz we all know that the man is a Jazz slave(Dizzy could talk about him over and over) plus, I think the Jazz stuff he did 4 Chaka & Herbie Hencock were tight aaand he did one helluva jop with Norah Jones(as 4 recently).

And lets not 4get the fact that the chimestry between him and ReRe in their past efforts were outta the universe.

Harlepolis said:

This is news to me.


No doubt about it, Arif Mardin is a legend too.

Harlepolis said:

I'll be picking this up, definitely.

VoicesCarry said:

Me too.Thanx for the tip, Harlepolis.

I just got this today.Its brilliant of course.It's fascinating that many of these songs were recorded when she was still in her late teens.What an awesome woman!
Thanks again for the recommendation,Harlepolis.











(your scary in that hat SN)
[This message was edited Tue Dec 23 19:05:32 PST 2003 by MrTation]

MrTation said:

Supernova said:

...but in a good way...



BTW,pick this up...you wont be disapointed..
[This message was edited Tue Dec 23 19:25:44 PST 2003 by MrTation]

MrTation said:

I knew how you meant it.

I'm not familiar with her Jazz stuff, but I would think the lady could sing anything. She has an amazing voice and great stage presence.

MrTation said:

Will do. I've got a long list of cd's I need to buy because I haven't bought any in a while (except for the stuff I order thru the mail).




Btw, that's not me in the avatar. But I hope I can look as well kept as she when I get to be her age.

Guess who?

Supernova said:

I love me some Pam Grier!Jackie Brown suits your Org personality just fine cuz I know you dont tolerate any lip just like her.I love it when she tells Samuel L.whats what.

I got that CD from CDUniverse(online) for $10.09

Happy Holidaze

MrTation said:

Happy Holidays to you too. Stay safe!

Aretha!


[This message was edited Fri Dec 26 15:05:33 PST 2003 by kiss85]

Anything Aretha, I'm there. That about sums it up.