Cassandra Wilson - Thunderbird
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CD Details
Artist: Cassandra WilsonEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-04-04
Music Label: Blue Note Records
Soundtracks:
- Go To Mexico
- Closer To You
- Easy Rider
- It Would Be So Easy
- Red River Valley
- Poet
- I Want To Be Loved
- Lost
- Strike A Match
- Tarot
Music reviews of Thunderbird
Music Review: Best Since BLUE LIGHT/NEW MOON. . . .
Rating: 5 Stars
Cassandra Wilson is my favorite (and I think the best by a mile) female vocalist on the "jazz" scene (although she mines a wide scope of musical styles on each of her outings and somewhat defies categorization). She has ruled since I first heard BLUE LIGHT 'TIL DAWN ten+ years ago. I didn't think she could ever match the intensity of the title track, her smoldering version of "You Don't Know What Love Is," and the musical variety of the remaining tracks. She went somewhere different--more of a continuation, really--on NEW MOON DAUGHTER, which would finish a really close second in my "favorite Cassandra CD" list. She dropped off a bit on TRAVLING MILES, BELLY OF THE SOUTH, and, if I could be objective (which I really can't), GLAMOURED was a disappointment. She has worked on several other projects in the meantime, also, most notably Wynton Marsalis' BLOOD ON THE FIELDS and an intriguing duo CD with pianist Jacky Terrason.
Long intro for this CD, which is clearly her most solid effort, both vocally and instrumentally, since BLTD and NMD. "Go to Mexico," track one, is a great song with exceptional instrumentation behind her unmatched vocals. "Closer to You" has an awesome bass solo that runs for quite some time toward the end of the track, which simply shows how much Wilson values "the whole package" in her recordings. "Easy Rider" is as good a song as she's ever done, with a superb guitar solo in the middle. "It Would Be So Easy" has some very intriguing vocal sampling and electronic elements that are rare in more traditional, "safe" jazz. "Red River Valley," with just electric guitar accompaniment, shows her confidence in her voice and a willingness to "empty out" the sound for a track on occasion. The bluesy "I Want To Be Loved" would fit on several of her previous CDs quite nicely and is a perfect match for her voice. "Strike a Match" reminds me of a mix of couple of tracks off BLTD ("Sankofa" + "Estrellas"), with its rhythmic intensity and strong drum parts. "Tarot" ends the CD with a nice overdubbed vocal and a lighter mood than the previous couple of tracks. Quite simply, she is the whole package. With T Bone Burnett at the helm (wow, why have these two not hooked up sooner than this. . . ?!?), Cassandra Wilson can showcase her stunning vocal variety and agility, keep the smoky sound that has made her a star at the forefront, and allow some great instrumentalists/accompanists showcase their talents, as well. There's room for everybody.
I can't imagine anybody being new to Cassandra Wilson, but, if you are, this is a great place to start! If this sound is good for you, go back to BLUE LIGHT 'TIL DAWN and NEW MOON DAUGHTER, then dig back through her old catalog (JUMPWORLD, SHE WHO WEEPS, BLUE SKIES). She brings the goods every time out, but this effort is more focused--yet still diverse--than her last. It was well worth the wait. . . . .
Description of Thunderbird
With A Series Of Terrific Albums, Cassandra Wilson Has Established Herself As One Of The Day'S Great Vocalists And, In Branching Out From Jazz Into Blues And Folk And Pop, Paved The Way For Genre-Crossing Stars Including Norah Jones. But The Mississippi Native Has Rarely Sounded As Relaxed Or Winning As She Does On "Thunderbird," Which Teams Her With The Stalwart O Brother Where Art Thou? Producer T Bone Burnett. Recorded Mostly In Los Angeles, The Album Is Noteworthy Not Only For Its Roomy, Atmospheric Sound And Experimental Touches, But Also For Its Improvised-In-The-Studio Approach. Working With Innovative Burnett Regulars Including Keyboardist (And Co-Producer) Keefus Ciancia, Guitarist Marc Ribot, And Drumming Legend Jim Keltner, Wilson Delivers Such Offbeat Delights As "Going To Mexico," A Dreamlike, Funk-Tinged Tune Built On A Sample Of "Hey Pocky A-Way" By New Orleans' Wild Tchoupitoulas. Eschewing The Well-Known Pop Tunes She Usually Covers, She Lends Her Huskily Seductive Vocals To Jakob Dylan'S Wistful "Closer To You" And Burnett'S Dark "Strike A Match," To Which She Claimed Co-Ownership By Changing The Time Signature And Adding A Lyric. The Inspired Contributors Also Include Programmer And Bassist Mike Elizondo (Producer Of Fiona Apple'S "Extraordinary Machine") And Guitarist Colin Linden, Who Wails On A Gripping Extended Reading Of Blind Lemon Jefferson'S "Easy Rider" And Duets With Wilson On The Cowboy Classic "Red River Valley," Which Eloquently Sums Up Her Ability To Breathe Jazz Meaning Into Anything She Chooses. --Lloyd SachsBlues CDs
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