Branford Marsalis - I heard you twice the first time - 1992

Un disco que siempre escucho dos veces seguidas cada vez (sic).

No soy un gran cultor ni conocedor del jazz, pero éste es un trabajo absolutamente disfrutable de principio a fin. Y más contando aquí el mayor de los Marsalis con la participación de dos notables bluesmen: B.B.King y John Lee Hooker.

Para mi gusto, es un excelente chapuzón sónico para empaparse del mejor jazz y el mejor blues.

BRANFORD MARSALIS AND JOHN LEE HOOKER - MABEL

BRANFORD MARSALIS AND B.B. KING - B.B.´S BLUES

BRANFORD MARSALIS - RIB TIP JOHNSON

In the midst of his ever-expanding celebrity, Branford Marsalis has waxed his new Columbia album, I HEARD YOU TWICE THE FIRST TIME.  It is his long-awaited blues project, featuring heartfelt contributions from B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Linda Hopkins, and others.  On those stellar collaborations, as on all the album's tracks, Branford examines this most fundamental (and potent) of musical languages, uncovering narrative tales borne from a rich and immediate tradition.

"What makes the blues tradition so special," he said, upon completing the record, "is that learning the styles of older musicians is a prerequisite.  Then, the elements of each style that are the most attractive to a performer can be used to tell a good story.  That's what blues music is, a real good story."

Thus, when B.B. King wails with the hurt inflected by his mate's infidelity ("B.B.'s Blues"), or John Lee Hooker similarly bares his soul ("Mabel"), or Linda Hopkins underscores the gospel influence of the church on blues music ("The Road You Choose"), we get the hear personalized tales drenched with a stark emotionalism yet rendered universal by the blues.

Branford recognizes that everything he has ever voiced musically springs form that - from the human condition, coupled with the blues dialectic, coupled with the musician's need to express himself.  It's no small responsibility to accept that challenge of expression, much less to meet it artfully.

His goal, as he explained to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Tom Moon, is to reclaim "the folk and peasant aspects of black society that most jazz people disassociate themselves form as quickly as possible."  To that end, he invited some masters to lend a hand.

I HEARD YOU TWICE THE FIRST TIME doesn't just spotlight these few blues greats whose credentials virtually define the idiom.  The album features, among others, Branford's long-term group members Kenny Kirkland (piano), Robert Hurst (bass), and Jeff  'Tain' Watts (drums), players who have helped the leader shape his musical point of view.  (Hurst emerges as a bluesman in his own right with his cheeky composition, "Brother Trying to Catch a Cab [On the East Side] Blues.")

Add to the mix the production input of younger brother Delfeayo Marsalis (who supervised the recording at seven different studios in New York, New Orleans and the West Coast, and in one elementary school), and you have an album that is truly a family (of jazz) affair.

(http://www.branfordmarsalis.com/)

BROTHER TRYING TO CATCH A CAB (ON THE EAST SIDE) BLUES

BERTA, BERTA (De la obra de August Wilsons"The Piano Lesson".)

MUSICOS:
Branford Marsalis – Tenor, Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Vocal
Kenny Kirkland - Piano
Jeff "Tain" Watts - Drums
Robert Hurst - Bass
B.B. King – Guitar, Vocal
Russel Malone – Guitar
Reginald Veal – Bass
Herlin "Homey" Riley – Drums
John Lee Hooker – Guitar, Vocal
Wessel Anderson – Alto Saxophone
Wynton Marsalis – Trumpet
David Sagher – Trombone
Joe Louis Walker – Guitars
Earl Gardner – Trumpet
Delfeayo Marsalis – Trombone
Bernard Purdie – Drums
T-Blade – Guitar
Linda Hopkins – Vocal
Thomas Hollis – Vocal
Roscoe Carroll – Vocal
Carl Gordon – Vocal
Charles Dutton – Vocal
Dwight Anderson – Musical Consultant, Conductor (Berta, Berta)

Produced by Delfeayo Marsalis and Branford Marsalis
Executive Producer Dr. George Butler
Recorded and Mixed by Patrick Smith

PROGRAMA:
01-"Brother Trying To Catch A Cab (On The East Side)" - 9:05
R. Hurst

02-"B.B.'s Blues" – 10:07
B.B. King, B. Marsalis

03-"Rib Tip Johnson" – 9:19
B. Marsalis

04-"Mabel" – 6:47
J.L. Hooker

05-"Sidney In Da Haus" - 6:32
B. Marsalis

06-"Berta, Berta" - 5:28
Public Domain

07-"Stretto From The Ghetto " – 7:15
J. Watts

08-"Dance Of The Hei Gui" – 5:32
B. Marsalis

09-"The Road You Choose" - 6:23
B. Marsalis, J.L. Walker

10-"Simi Valley Blues" – 3:10
B. Marsalis, R. Hurst, J. Watts