Monday, August 15, 2011

Mingus and Wonder Re-Imagined - Bob Stewart

Gerald Veasley, the former bassist for Grover Washington, Jr. and the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, has released eight discs as a leader featuring original jazz, funk, and soul-tinged compositions. For his brand new CD -- "Gerald Veasley's Electric Mingus Project" -- he has re-imagined the works of acclaimed jazz composer and fellow bassist Charles Mingus. "We reacted to what was essential about Charles Mingus's music," explains Veasley. "We never had an impulse to update or improve it, but instead tried to capture the feeling, which to me is adventurous, surprising and passionate." The disc revisits seven Mingus compositions using modern electronic instruments as well as three narrations based on Mingus' own words and two original compositions from Veasley himself.

Chicago's dynamic Deep Blue Organ Trio returns with their fourth disc, this time bringing their singular approach and sound to the music of Stevie Wonder. Influenced deeply and early on by Wonder's compositions, artistry and cultural impact, guitarist Bobby Broom, organist Chris Foreman, and drummer Greg Rockingham bring reverence and musical honesty to their interpretations of nine Wonder gems on "Wonderful!"

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