The second volume of reinterpreted recordings from Blue Note’s back catalogue confirms both the depth and breadth of contemporary UK jazz, soul and R&B. The 16 tracks range from an early Monk classic to noughties Norah Jones, the stylistic contrast is wide and well-established artists are juxtaposed with the relatively unknown.
The album starts with trumpeter Yazz Ahmed’s complex, tempo-changing cover of the late Chick Corea’s “It” — first released in 1969 on Solid State and reissued on Blue Note in 2002 — expanded from its original 30 seconds to over five minutes of gripping acoustic jazz. Later in the set, tuba player Theon Cross continues the acoustic strand with a menacing version of Monk’s “Epistrophy” and Binker Golding forges an uplifting cover of Joe Lovano’s 1992 composition “Fort Worth”.
But the album’s stylistic core lies in the precision beats and studio nous of contemporary R&B. This is signalled by up-and-coming musician/producer Conor Albert second track in. Here, the summery flavours of Bobbi Humphrey’s “You Make Me Feel So Good”, produced by the Mizell Brothers and released in 1975, gain edge and bite. Elsewhere, Oscar Jerome & Oscar #Worldpeace transform Grant Green’s guitar trio composition “Green with Envy” into grimy studio-savvy London rap, and Nubiyan Twist add vocoder vocals and an Afrobeat trace to Donald Byrd’s “Through the Noise (Chant No. 2).”
Two Wayne Shorter covers stand out for combining their acoustic jazz flavours with vocals and bustling modern beats. Reuben James captures the playful heart of Shorter’s “Infant Eyes” while bassist Daniel Casimir and vocalist Ria Moran retain the sense of mystery of “Lost”.
The re-remakes of songs tend to be more straightforward and retro in tone, though newcomer vocalist/saxophonist Parthenope catches the ear with a beefed-up cover of Norah Jones’ whimsical “Don’t Know Why”. Rising-star duo Franc Moody channel Ennio Morricone into Donald Byrd’s jazz and choir composition “Cristo Redentor” to bring the compilation to an end.
A good listen and useful snapshot of a strong UK jazz strand.
★★★★☆
‘Blue Note Re:imagined II’ is released by Blue Note
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