Before I even had a clue what jazz was all about, I had a fascination with it. Probably something someone said when I was a little fella. Whatever it was, it led me to purchase, at pawn shop price, a tape by the name of The Trinity Session, by a certain group called the Jazz Trio. I loved it and played it every night as I went to bed. I got a hold of some more jazz and found more on the 'net.
Then along came Alan Glover with this album. Some more jazz to add to my small but growing collection! This is lovely stuff. On two tracks there is singing, but for the rest it's all instrumental. In typical jazz fashion, every instrument gets a go in the spotlight. Though Glover's tenor sax is prominent, the piano, drums and bass are all given moments to shine.
"Dominique" get the proceedings going in a joyful fashion, which Glover intended to be a reflection of the "effervescence and loving spirit of my autistic grandson Dominique." "Sons of Soweto" is a 9 minute prayer for healing in South Africa which Glover composed over 20 years ago. It incorporates a conga and a digital tabla drum (which sounded way too digital for my liking). "Love" came to me as somewhat of a disappointment. It does not fit the rest of the album at all. Being one of the tracks with singing, it sounds more like a traditional worship song than a number on a jazz album. The other non instrumental tune, "The Angels' Waltz," works better, with vocals similar to Ella Fitzgerald and a waltzy jazz flavor (go figure).
It appears that this is the first in a series of Juice Jazz albums. I can only hope that the others will carry on and top the standard set in The Anticipated Dawn.
4.5 tocks
