An interesting, if not schizophrenic release. Calling this a blues album may be a stretch as many styles and influences are represented. Bluesy more than blues. Some tracks feature a simple piano trio (piano, bass, drums) while others utilize an 11 piece ensemble including all sorts of wind instruments. As a personal preference, I could do without the screeching clarinet. The larger ensemble works have an obvious Wynton Marsalis orchestration influence. Both Roberts and Marsalis often strive for a sound based on Ellington - it often sounds like movie music from the '40s, but there's some straight ahead swing and hard bop thrown in, too. If you like Marsalis' output in the late '80s and '90s, you'll like this. While the original compositions are just okay, the disc includes great performances throughout, particularly Roberts on piano and Marcus Printup on trumpet.
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| Billboard, November 1, 1997, p. 76 |
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: I prefer the tunes where the instrumentation is simple and swinging: Anytime Anyplace, When The Mornin' Comes, and Servant Of The People. My least favorite pieces are Whales From The Orient and Express Mail Delivery.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I don't remember how this CD entered my collection, but it got a workout when I went through a "blues phase" a few years back.
Previously revisited for the blog:
The Truth Is Spoken Here (1989)
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