Be Still

HYMNS SET TO JAZZ. An unusual & remarkable record from trumpeter, composer, bandleader Dave Douglas. Douglas played these Protestant hymns at his mother Emily’s memorial service then recorded them for this album. A single soprano voice sings these lovely songs, backed by Douglas’s band comprising trumpet, tenor sax, & rhythm.
No FCC issues.

1 ** Mid-slow. Vocal is a bit pop, but soulful & pretty. A long instrumental bridge is elegant & restrained. There’s a particularly good solo on tenor sax. (5:01)
2 * Mid-fast. Country-gospel sound; tenor sax plays the fiddle part. Kinda fun. (2:37)
3 * Slow. A benediction. Lullaby-pretty singing. Trumpet is graceful, moving. (5:00)
4 Traditional folk ballad slowed to funeral march tempo. (4:22)
5 ** Mid-tempo w swing. Best straight-ahead jazz number. Xmas carol-like melody. (3:44)
6 * Mid-tempo instrumental. Starts melancholy, but picks up and becomes bright & uplifting. Trumpet leads most of the way. (5:24)
7 * Mid-slow instrumental. More modern sounding than most. Dedicated in the notes to Paul Motian. As you’d expect, drums are prominent. (5:47)
8 Too slow. Some nice passages, but the whole is disjoint. Not the best vocal. (5:02)
9 ** Slow, elegant. Gorgeous trumpet accompanied only by piano. Part way in, they’re joined by soft drums and the merest hint of upright bass. Exquisite. (6:00)