Raymond, John / Strength & Song
Album: Strength & Song   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Raymond, John   Added:Feb 2012
Label:Self-Release  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-02-25 Pull Date: 2012-04-28 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Apr 29 Apr 15 Mar 11 Mar 4
Airplays: 1 2 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jul 13, 2021: No Cover, No Minimum (rebroadcast from Mar 2, 2012)
Onward
4. Apr 10, 2012: Rebop
Onward, Already & Not Yet
2. Apr 26, 2012: Love Den
Motivations Of A Pharisee
5. Mar 06, 2012: Rebop
Motivations Of A Pharisee
3. Apr 13, 2012: No Cover, No Minimum
Motivations Of A Pharisee
6. Mar 02, 2012: No Cover, No Minimum
Onward

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2012-02-23
JOHN RAYMOND: Strength & Song
self-released, 2012

MAINSTREAM JAZZ – Debut release by a promising trumpeter, leading a solid quintet through shadowy, soulful original pieces. His playing is melodic, focused and direct, and the compositions tend to rich mahogany tones with warm, uplifting trajectories that reflect their deeply religious basis.

Fo’s Picks: 2, 5, 8, 9

1. 6:41 – dusky postbop rises from simple theme, introspective solos
2. 7:32 – sweet, soulful sound with lovely piano & straight-arrow trumpet
3. 1:53 – dancing solo piano interlude, picks up loosely from #2
4. 7:23 – fusion: ominous theme, sinister guitar, but trumpet looks higher
5. 9:14 – relaxed modern tune: starts out ballad-like but turns uplifting
6. 2:58 – gentle hymn: muted flugelhorn in a comforting bed
7. 6:31 – frictionless contemporary sound, sparkling flugelhorn/guitar/keys
8. 7:52 – rich rolling sound with alto sax, nice piano solo & strong trumpet
9. 6:23 – scattered intro, then a postbop groove, melody comes in at the end
10. 7:45 – slow and subdued with muted trumpet, murmuring bass solo
11. 4:35 – stirring melody drops into a conversation about Raymond’s faith

[ Fo ] - February 2012

Track Listing
1. Already & Not Yet   6. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
2. Onward   7. The Way Home
3. Onward Outro   8. Motivations Of A Pharisee
4. The Rock   9. Isotope
5. Ebeneezer   10. The Poor Blind Man
  11. Psalm 37: Anthem