Creeping - From The Album: Twist of Motown. Theres a scene in Oliver Stones 1986 film Platoon that speaks volumes about the importance of Motown Records to the baby boomer generation. In that scene from Platoon -- which takes place in the jungles of Vietnam during the Vietnam War -- several American soldiers are singing the Miracles The Tracks of My Tears in an effort to provide some temporary relief from the horror that surrounds them. During that scene, the song is about much more than a great melody -- its about camaraderie, solace, and comfort. Like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, James Brown, and Stax, Motown was -- to use Berry Gordys phrase -- the sound of young America. While the baby boomers arent so young anymore, the Motown songbook holds up nicely after all these years -- a fact that is illustrated by A Twist of Motown. This 2003 project finds guitarist Lee Ritenour producing a jazz-friendly tribute to Motown and overseeing an all-star cast that includes George Benson, Gerald Albright, Dave Grusin, Chris Botti, and Bob James, among others. The instrumentals (which range from I Heard It Through the Grapevine to Stevie Wonders Creepin) tend to draw on both soul-jazz and crossover jazz/NAC, while the vocal performances -- including Brenda Russell on The Tracks of My Tears and Will Downing on Just My Imagination -- are aimed at urban or quiet storm listeners. From a jazz standpoint, A Twist of Motown isnt as adventurous or risk-taking as it could have been; if you want to hear some truly daring interpretations of Motown gems, check out Joe Farrells version of Wonders Too High or Grover Washington, Jr. s arrangement of Marvin Gayes Inner City Blues. Nonetheless, the performances -- both instrumental and vocal -- are generally likable and satisfying, and when all is said and done, Ritenour has affirmed how durable the Motown songbook continues to be. ENJOY THIS TUNE !! https://youtube/watch?v=9WWiRAKzh9M
Posted on: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 17:46:55 +0000
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