Play The Blues

WYNTON MARSALIS & ERIC CLAPTON: Play the Blues
Reprise, 2011

TRADITIONAL JAZZ / BLUES – Yes, Marsalis and Clapton are an unexpected combination, especially for a set of New Orleans jazz and 1920s blues. But not only does this live concert work, it’s freakin’ fabulous! The two superstars are backed by a red-hot swinging octet mostly drawn from Marsalis’s camp, and Taj Mahal shows up for two tunes at the end. Tremendous fun from start to finish. Play it all!

Try any track! Fo’s Picks: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9

1. 7:38 – fast Dixieland romp ’n’ stomp with fun vocals and quick, crisp solos
2. 7:11 – very cool chuggin’ blues classic: raw vocal, and that band is tight!
3. 7:46 – slow New Orleans drag: group vocal, wailin’ horn break, sweet guitar
4. 4:17 – cute jazz stroll features trumpet, clarinet, piano; old-fashioned vocal
5. 7:43 – relaxed classic blues, nicely layered arrangement with calm solos
6. 4:20 – fast boogie-woogie blues bounce: fun vocal and piano, band rolls on
7. 9:07 – Clapton’s hit becomes a New Orleans funeral march! Outstanding.
8. 3:49 – uptempo country/prison blues with cool guitar & nice vocals
9. 12:18 – trad funeral march, raspy gospel vocal, second half really jumps
10. 10:10 – jamming Dixieland encore, lively vocal & easygoing solos all around

[ Fo ] - October 2011