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China Moses & Raphael Lemonnier: China Moses: Crazy Blues
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China Moses
vocals
Dinah Washington
vocals1924 - 1963
The powerful presence of Moses, as well as her vocal flexibility, combined with Lemmonier's exploratory vision confers verve to the takes. Comparison with the original songs is useless, as Moses and Lemonnier do not borrow. Rather, they capture a song's essence.
Ranging from
Mamie Smith
vocals1883 - 1946
Dinah Washington
vocals1924 - 1963
Nina Simone
piano and vocals1933 - 2003
Etta James
vocals1938 - 2012
The album opens with a slow, rhythmic yet funny ballad, "Resolution Blues," where Moses cries out in longing. 'Why don't You do Right" follows, to raise the beat and display each musician's talent and flexibility as they turn a tender song into bebop. In call and response style, "Closing Time" is a gentle ballad featuring Hugh Coltman. Similarly, "Crying" is contemplative and touching. The fifth song, "The Mailman, the Butcher, and Me'' is an original where Lemonnier and bassist Cedric Caillaud navigate through drive and rhythm while Moses punctuates pauses to pave the ground for impulsive starts. Sixth on the album, "Crazy Blues," sounds similar to Dixieland, with a horn section orchestrated with finesse.
By far, one of the album's most cheerful songs is "Cherry Wine," a second duet featuring vocalist Sly Johnson. The song recounts a couple's fight over a bottle of cherry wine and abounds with saxophone solos. The lustful "I Just Want To make Love To You" is played with a pint of suspense. The refrain is slowed and repeated several times until Moses improvises, and pushes for an ascending climax. Simone's "Work Song" is a wonderful percussion exercise, and an opportunity for the saxophone players to display their talent. Trumpet player Renaud Gensane blows his top at the end of the tune.
On the other hand, "Hot Stuff" is one of the familiar hits that displays the band's creativity to twist disco with rock influences into masterfully arranged, orchestral blues in Chicago colors. In Simone's "Just Say I Love Him," Moses unleashes dramatic contralto singing, infused with Bastien Ballaz's trombone to reinforce the poignant lyrics. To liven up the album, the last song is a groovy version of Janis Joplin's "Move Over." With an ostinato on piano and rolling drums, Moses smooths out Joplin's original ascending rhythm to make it sound warmer.
These covers by Moses and Lemonnier have all been re- imagined to sound fresh with creativity. They shine, intense and loud! ">
Track Listing
Resolution Blues; Why Don't You Do Right; You're Crying; The Mailman The Butcher And Me; Crazy Blues; Cherry Wine; I Just Want to Make Love to You; Work Song; Hot Stuff; Just Say I Love Him; Move Over.
Personnel
China Moses
vocalsChina Moses: vocals; Raphael Lemonnier : piano; Jean-Pierre Derouard: drums; Fabien Marcoz : bass; Guests Luigi Grasso: alto & tenor sax #1,2,4,6,7,8,10; Anne Paceo: drums #2; Pierrick Pedron: alto sax #2,10; Cedric Caillaud: bass #5; Hugh Coltman: vocals #3; Daniel Huck: alto sax #6,7; Sly Johnson: vocals #7; Fran?ois Biensan: trumpet #6,7,8; Renaud Gensane: trumpet #2,9,10; Bastien Ballaz: trombone #2,10,11; Frédéric Couderc: baritone & tenor sax, clarinet #2,6,7,8,10; Jean-Claude Onesta: trombone #2,6,7,8,10; Claude Egea: trumpet #2,10; Nicolas Dary: tenor sax #2,10; Jean-Claude Tartour: violin; Camille Verhoeven: violin; Nicolas Galière: viola; Vincent Catulescu: cello.
Album information
Title: China Moses: Crazy Blues | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Madeinchina Productions
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