Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Akua Dixon: Akua Dixon

Akua Dixon: Akua Dixon

By Dan Bilawsky
February 7, 2015
View read count

Cellist Akua Dixon has been at it for decades: She's performed with jazz royalty like

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington, penned arrangements for non-jazz giants like Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin, and recorded with everybody from trumpet titan

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie to trombonist

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Turre to David Byrne, the beyond-category former frontman of the Talking Heads. Unfortunately, all of that support work has given Dixon little time to focus on putting music out under her own name. Akua Dixon, believe it or not, is only her second album.

This project finds Dixon working through her own arrangements of classics with a string quartet and some notable guests, including bassist

Kenny Davis

bass
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Davis and violinists

Regina Carter

violin
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Regina Carter and the late John Blake, Jr. The majority of the music they make is enthralling. "A Gozar Con Mi Combo" is an absolute joy to behold, "Moon River" sparkles with life, and "Libertango" charms the ears from the start. Then there's the intense build and forward thrust of

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus' "Haitian Fight Song," a number that's bolstered by Davis' bass, enlivened by Blake's violin, and driven by Dixon's son—guest drummer

Orion Turre

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Orion Turre; a soulful look at Ellington via "Freedom"; and an alluring "Besame Mucho" that shines a light on the core players on this project.

On occasion, the music seems to sag a bit, losing focus along the way ("Alone Together") or coming off as a bit aimless from the start ("It Never Entered My Mind"), but these types of issues are few. Dixon's talents are many and varied, and it's wonderful to see her putting herself first after so much time working in the background. With the release of her debut—Moving On (Self Produced, 2012)—and this follow-up, Dixon is finally getting the attention she deserves.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Haitian Fight Song; Alone Together; Freedom; It Never Entered My Mind; A Gozar Con Mi Combo; Moon River; Libertango; Lush Life; Besame Mucho; Poinciana.

Personnel

Akua Dixon

cello

Akua Dixon: cello, vocals (4); John Black, Jr.: violin (1, 5); Regina Carter: violin (3, 5, 7); Kenny Davis: bass (1, 4, 5, 8); Patrisa Tomassini: violin; Ina Paris: viola; Gwen Laster: violin (1, 4, 5, 8, 10); Chala Yancy: violin (2, 6); Andromeda Turre: vocals (8); Orion Turre: drums (1).

Album information

Title: Akua Dixon | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

100 Books Every Blues Fan Should Own...
< Previous

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.