''Reminiscing'' is an album by pianist
Jodie Christian
Jodie Christian (February 2, 1932 – February 13, 2012)
- accessed February 14, 2012
. 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
Delmark Records is an American jazz and blues independent record label. It was founded in 1958 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. The label originated in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1953 when then owner, and founder, Bob Koester released a record ...
. 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
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
, 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
''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled ...
'' 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
''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
'' 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
''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store.
Coverage
After a decade of growt ...
'', 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" (
Antônio Carlos Jobim
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (25 January 1927 – 8 December 1994), also known as Tom Jobim (), was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer. Considered one of the great exponents of Brazilian mu ...
,
Norman Gimbel
Norman Gimbel (November 16, 1927 – December 19, 2018) was an American lyricist of popular songs, television and movie themes. He wrote the lyrics for songs including " Killing Me Softly with His Song", " Ready to Take a Chance Again" (both wit ...
,
Vinícius de Moraes
Marcus Vinícius da Cruz e Mello Moraes (19 October 1913 – 9 July 1980), better known as Vinícius de Moraes () and nicknamed O Poetinha ("The little poet"), was a Brazilian poet, diplomat, lyricist, essayist, musician, singer, and playwrigh ...
) – 3:06
# "
I'll Close My Eyes" (
Billy Reid,
Buddy Kaye) – 9:40
# "
My Man's Gone Now
"My Man's Gone Now" is an aria composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by DuBose Heyward, written for the opera '' Porgy and Bess'' (1935).
Sung in the original production by Ruby Elzy, it has been covered by many singers, notably Ella Fitzgera ...
" (
George Gershwin
George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...
,
DuBose Heyward) – 8:42
# "It's Good to Have You Near" (
André Previn) – 3:19
# "Chicago Delta Blues" (Jodie Christian) – 6:08
# "
Love Walked In
"Love Walked In" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The tune was composed in 1930, but the lyric was not written until 1937, for the movie musical ''The Goldwyn Follies'' (1938), where it was sung by Kenny Baker. ...
" (George Gershwin,
Ira Gershwin) – 7:33
# "
Embraceable You" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 7:44
# "
You Are So Beautiful
"You Are So Beautiful" is a song written by Billy Preston and Bruce Fisher that was first released in 1974 on Preston's ninth studio album, '' The Kids & Me''. It was also the B-side of his single "Struttin'". Later that same year, English sing ...
" (
Billy Preston,
Bruce Fisher) – 4:59
# "Morning Star" (
Rodgers Lee Grant) – 7:36
Personnel
*
Jodie Christian
Jodie Christian (February 2, 1932 – February 13, 2012)
- accessed February 14, 2012
– piano
* Dennis Carroll – bass
* Anthony Walton – drums
References
{{Reflist
2001 albums
Jodie Christian albums
Delmark Records albums