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Nels Cline: Lovers
Nels Cline
guitar, electricb.1956
Never marred by the indulgences or lack of focus that often plague such personal, long-meditated-upon quests, Lovers is instead an exercise in restraint. Void of excessive pyrotechnics, Cline instead applies his virtuosity like a master painter, the brushstrokes often disappearing entirely in service to the image. For this reason, it can take some time to absorb the full scope of what Cline has attempted, and largely accomplished, with the aid of skilled arranger and conductor
Michael Leonhart
trumpetb.1974
It would require pages to fully describe the banquet offered on Lovers, but a sampling provides a sense of its sumptuous nature.
The album opens with the Cline original "Diaphanous," which gently sets the stage for the ensuing elaborate dance via a mixture of ethereal strings and delicate guitar solo. A sweeping rendition of Rodgers and Hart's "Glad to be Happy" follows, which cleverly utilizes a hollow
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocals1929 - 1988
Jimmy Giuffre
clarinet1921 - 2008
It is clear that Nels Cline poured himself into bringing Lovers from first conception to fruition, applying his instrumental mastery, experience, and maturity to a project that may have been prolonged in its coming, but would almost certainly have been lesser had it sprung forth in the heat of the moment. The material and its delivery clearly benefit from the nurturing and applied contemplation of time's passage.
It is equally clear that Cline could not have delivered this alone. The musicians he engaged represent an impressive roster of modern music's most esteemed contributors, working on a wild array of instruments and styles. Finally, Blue Note itself should be commended for fostering this project and allowing it to come forward as Cline's label debut. It is the kind of work that requires commitment from all involved and the results are now available for all to hear. ">
Track Listing
CD 1: Introduction/Diaphanous; Glad to Be Unhappy; Beautiful Love; Hairpin & Hatbox; Cry, Want; Lady Gabor; The Bed We Made; You Noticed; Secret Love; I Have Dreamed. CD2: Why Was I Born?; Invitation; It Only Has to Happen Once; The Night Porter/Max, Mon Amour; Snare, Girl; So Hard It Hurts/Touching; The Search for Cat; The Bond.
Personnel
Nels Cline
guitar, electricNels Cline: chitarra elettrica, acustica, lap steel, elettronica; Devin Hoff: contrabbasso, basso elettrico; Alex Cline: batteria, percussioni; Steven Bernstein: tromba, tromba slide, flicorno, flicorno contralto; Taylor Haskins: tromba, flicorno, trombone a pistoni; Michael Leonhart: tromba, flicorno, celesta, salterio, arrangiamenti; Alan Ferber: trombone, trombone basso; Charles Pillow: flauti, oboe, corno inglese, sassofono contralto, clarinetto; Jd Parran: flauti, clarinetti, sassofono basso e baritono; Ben Goldberg: clarinetti; Doug Wieselman: clarinetti, sax tenore; Gavin Templeton: clarinetto, sassofono contralto; Sara Schoenbeck: fagotto; Julian Lage: chitarra elettrica e acustica; Kenny Wollesen: vibrafono, marimba, percussioni; Zeena Parkins: arpa; Yuka C Honda: celesta, tastiere; Antoine Silverman: violino; Jeff Gauthier: violino; Amy Kimball: viola, violino; Stephanie Griffin: viola; Erik Friedlander: violoncello; Maggie Parkins: violoncello.
Album information
Title: Lovers | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Blue Note Records
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