March 18, 2011

Afro Blue - Freedom in Song

First formed in the Spring of 2002, Afro Blue, Howard University's premier Vocal Jazz ensemble, under the able direction of Connaitre Miller, has quickly attracted national attention. The group received the 2003 DownBeat Magazine Student Music Award for Best College Jazz Group. Another DownBeat award followed in 2004, and in 2007 Howard University graduate student Quincy Phillips won a DownBeat Award for Best College Jazz Arrangement of "Alone Together," which he did for Afro Blue, and which is included in this 2-Disc collection. A total of 30 student Jazz vocalists perform on "Freedom in Song," plus 6 student instrumentalists. There are 11 songs on the first CD and 12 on the second, mostly a cappella with some light piano, bass and drums accompaniment on a few tunes. Some favorites on Disc 1 are Curtis Mayfield's powerful "Keep On Pushin'," Chick Corea's moody "Crystal Silence," Oliver Nelson's smooth, bluesy "Stolen Moments," the traditional spiritual title tune, Joaquin Rodgrigo & Chick Corea's dynamic hit "Spain" and Arthur Swartz & Howard Dietz' "Alone Together," arranged by grad student Phillips. Disc 2 favorites are Duke Ellington's "Come Sunday" and his (with Irving Mills) groundbreaking hit "It Don't Mean a Thing," Kenny Dorham & Kirby Shaw's bluenote "Blue Bossa," The Real Group's Anders Endenroth's "Chile Con Carne," a scattish take on Cole Porter's hit "It's All Right With Me," Thelonious Monk & Bernie Hanighen's "'Round Midnight" and Antonio Carlos Jobim & Vinicius de Moraes' "No More Blues." This generous 2 disc set is a "best of" of this top-drawer Collegiate Vocal Jazz ensemble's 8 years of existence, and every cut is strong here—don't miss "Freedom in Song 6082 2CDs 19.95
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Posted by acapnews at March 18, 2011 1:01 AM