Laurence Hobgood – When The Heart Dances (2009) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Laurence Hobgood – When The Heart Dances (2009)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 01:04:40 minutes | 2,26 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Naim Records

This album is truly a meeting of three jazz giants: gifted pianist, composer and arranger, Laurence Hobgood, colossus of the double bass, Charlie Haden and Grammy Award winning vocalist, Kurt Elling. Described by Dave Brubeck as “one of the most incredible pianists I have ever heard”, Hobgood has, apart from his solo work, been directing Kurt Elling’s Blue Note (and now Concord) recordings for fifteen year.

Playing alongside the man described by allabout jazz.com as “one of the finest pianists out there. Period.” is the man long regarded as one of the worlds’ greatest living bass players, Charlie Haden. Now in his 72nd year, Haden first made a name from himself in the late fifties with the forward-thinking, and at the time revolutionary, quartet alongside Ornette Coleman. Subsequently he played as part of Keith Jarrett’s Trio and American Quartet. Constantly in demand with an arduous touring and recording schedule, Charlie graciously found the time to add his sonorous bass contributions to this momentous recording.

The pre-eminent male jazz singer of his generation, Kurt Elling agreed to contribute to When The Heart Dances, by adding vocals on three tracks. Elling, who now records for Concord/Universal, has a rich baritone voice that spans four octaves and displays astonishing technical facility and emotional depth. He has now accumulated seven Grammy Award nominations.

NAIM label stablemates Laurence Hobgood and bassist Charlie Haden countermand the current frenetic state of events in modern-day rat race soundbyte society with this beautiful recording of duets, solo piano tracks, and three offerings with Kurt Elling. Soothing the savage society, this music is sure to appeal to those who need a leaner, trimmed back, more serene dose of reality to balance what has become a world torn by strife, uncertainty, and fear. This is not to say this is music lacking substance or intrigue — far from it. Both pianist Hobgood and bassist Haden, clearly virtuosos, think on their feet together and separately, creating cohesive vistas of beauty, spirituality, emotional depth, or in a general sense, togetherness. They’ve chosen well-known standards adapted to their sensitive natures, in the case of “Que Sera Sera” an acceptant reverent and quiet adaptation of the oh well/whatever theme. Hoagy Carmichael’s “New Orleans” starts in a clever, modernized two step folded into a blues frame, “Why Did I Choose You?” is both romantic and quizzical, and the incredible pretty and dark melody of Don Grolnick’s “The Cost of Living,” immortalized by Michael Brecker, is as stunningly emotional a tango inferred piece as has ever been written. Haden’s “Chickoree” is bouncier in midtempo pace, still low key, with Hobgood’s stride flavorings, while the pianist composed the title selection in a cascading waltz to light terpsichore that Haden follows along with beautifully. The tracks with the ever coy and wistful Elling include Haden’s famous reflective ballad “First Song,” including the poignant lyric about a “song that lightened up the world, when love was new.” “Stairway to the Stars” showcases the vocalists spontaneous quality in elongating phrases and dynamics, while the Duke Ellington penned, drifting away waltz “Daydream” has Elling in a very deep, very midnight blue mood. Hobgood’s solo works are as captivating as anything else, especially “Leatherwood” with its spirited and folksy stance, or the sheltering “Sanctuary,” half church, half wedding song. An excellent recording from start to finish, played with extraordinary intimacy, heart and soul, this wondrous music is specifically built for those times in life when relaxation is a prerequisite to get one on to the next better day.

Tracklist:
1. Laurence Hobgood – Que Sera Sera (06:38)
2. Laurence Hobgood – When The Heart Dances (04:50)
3. Laurence Hobgood – First Song (06:13)
4. Laurence Hobgood – Sanctuary (07:38)
5. Laurence Hobgood – Chickoree (05:19)
6. Laurence Hobgood – Stairway To The Stars (05:25)
7. Laurence Hobgood – New Orleans (05:41)
8. Laurence Hobgood – Why Did I Choose You? (06:42)
9. Laurence Hobgood – Leatherwood (05:52)
10. Laurence Hobgood – Daydream (04:45)
11. Laurence Hobgood – The Cost Of Living (05:30)

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