Watson, Bobby & The "I Have A Dream" Project / Check Cashing Day
Album: Check Cashing Day   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Watson, Bobby & The "I Have A Dream" Project   Added:Jan 2014
Label:Self-Release  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2014-01-02 Pull Date: 2014-03-06 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Mar 2 Feb 23 Feb 16 Feb 9 Feb 2 Jan 19 Jan 12 Jan 5
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Feb 02, 2023: Traditions
Forty Acres And A Mule
4. Feb 21, 2014: No Cover, No Minimum
Check Cashing Day (For Ms. Trudy)
2. Jan 12, 2023: Traditions
Mlk On Jazz (Love Transforms)
5. Feb 13, 2014: Rebop
Sweet Dreams
3. Feb 26, 2014: Pumping Iron
A Blues Of Hope
6. Feb 07, 2014: No Cover, No Minimum
Sweet Dreams

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2014-01-02
BOBBY WATSON: Check Cashing Day
Lafiya, 2013

MODERN JAZZ + POETRY – Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s march on Washington and the famous “I have a dream” speech, saxophonist Watson and poet Glenn North create a moving, politically charged survey of the state of Black America. The band has a warm, optimistic sound, but the poetry pulls no punches, often taking a confrontational stance. The CD title refers to a metaphor from King’s speech. All tracks FCC clean.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 14

1. 6:10 – instrumental: sunny, optimistic tune with a lovely round of solos
2. 4:34 – spoken word: the promise of the march vs. persistent racism
3. 4:21 – instrumental: a bright, upbeat bounce
4. 2:10 – short poem over slow ensemble, on the meaning of blackness
5. 7:22 – instrumental: deep, rolling postbop groove with flute, stirring solos
6. 4:26 – sharp spoken word over jazzy stroll: on slavery reparations
7. 4:05 – dark, pessimistic poem and thoughtful band sound
8. 6:43 – a song of faith & healing: uplifting fem vocal & a resolute sound
9. 3:56 – instrumental: uptempo and warm, derived from “Giant Steps”
10. 1:50 – solo piano reprise of #4
11. 5:11 – instrumental: breezy and optimistic, with short, heartfelt solos
12. 1:57 – aggressive, defiant poem over funky uptempo groove
13. 2:09 – MLK text about jazz, gentle musical backing with flute
14. 4:10 – poem about healing & a jazz heaven; relaxed, soulful band
15. 4:10 – Ellington gospel classic, slow and reverent with fem vocal

[ Fo ] - 2 January 2014

Track Listing
1. Sweet Dreams   8. Seekers Of The Sun (Son)
2. Check Cashing Day (For Ms. Trudy)   9. Progress
3. At The Crossroads   10. Black Is Back (Reprise)
4. Black Is Back   11. The Triad (Martin, Malcolm, Ghandi)
5. A Blues Of Hope   12. My Song
6. Forty Acres And A Mule   13. Mlk On Jazz (Love Transforms)
7. Dark Days   14. Revival (Ovedia)
  15. Come Sunday