''Reminiscing'' is an album by pianist
Jodie Christian. His last release as a leader, it was recorded during July 2000 at Riverside Studio in Chicago, and was issued in 2001 by
Delmark Records. On the album, Christian is joined by bassist Dennis Carroll and drummer Tony Walton. Recorded when the pianist was nearly 70 years old, ''Reminiscing'' consists of tunes that were connected to specific memories of his childhood and career.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic, Alex Henderson wrote: "even though Christian... acknowledges various musicians that he admired along the way, he never goes out of his way to emulate any of them. The pianist always sounds like his own man... ''Reminiscing'' is a musical autobiography that the Chicagoan can easily be proud of."
The authors of ''
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings'' called the album "a delightful session," and stated that Christian "likes... to paraphrase melodies, but not so much that you can't tell what they might be, and he has a swinging team behind him."
Derek Taylor of ''
All About Jazz'' described the album as "a forum to reflect on
hristian'snumerous decades in music, roaming through a program of tunes that have served as milestones in his musical road to maturity as a venerable veteran in the Chicago jazz community." He commented: "This trio disc takes its place in a discography that while comparatively slim, will remain the legacy of one of Chicago's finest jazz figures."
Writing for ''
JazzTimes'', Bill Bennett noted that "there is a wonderful clarity to ''Reminiscing''," and called the contributions of Carroll and Walton "impeccable." He remarked: "This is a very satisfying self-portrait from a pianist who refuses to be bounded by style."
Track listing
# "
How Insensitive
"How Insensitive" is a bossa nova and jazz standard song composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. The lyrics were written in Portuguese by Vinícius de Moraes and in English by Norman Gimbel. Jobim recorded the song in 1994 with Stin ...
" (
Antônio Carlos Jobim,
Norman Gimbel,
Vinícius de Moraes) – 3:06
# "
I'll Close My Eyes" (
Billy Reid,
Buddy Kaye
Jules Leonard "Buddy" Kaye (January 3, 1918 – November 21, 2002) was an American songwriter, lyricist, arranger, producer, and author. His songs were recorded by top performers, including Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washingto ...
) – 9:40
# "
My Man's Gone Now" (
George Gershwin,
DuBose Heyward) – 8:42
# "It's Good to Have You Near" (
André Previn
André George Previn (; born Andreas Ludwig Priwin; April 6, 1929 – February 28, 2019) was a German-American pianist, composer, and conductor. His career had three major genres: Hollywood films, jazz, and classical music. In each he achieved ...
) – 3:19
# "Chicago Delta Blues" (Jodie Christian) – 6:08
# "
Love Walked In" (George Gershwin,
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the 2 ...
) – 7:33
# "
Embraceable You
"Embraceable You" is a jazz standard song with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song was written in 1928 for an unpublished operetta named ''East Is West''. It was published in 1930 and included in that year's Broadway mu ...
" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 7:44
# "
You Are So Beautiful" (
Billy Preston
William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, during which he ba ...
,
Bruce Fisher
Bruce Fisher (born January 8, 1954) is an American songwriter, record producer, playwright best known for his collaborations with Billy Preston. Fisher's best-known songs include "You Are So Beautiful", "Will It Go Round In Circles", and " Nothin ...
) – 4:59
# "Morning Star" (
Rodgers Lee Grant) – 7:36
Personnel
*
Jodie Christian – piano
* Dennis Carroll – bass
* Anthony Walton – drums
References
{{Reflist
2001 albums
Jodie Christian albums
Delmark Records albums