Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mary LaRose: Out Here

Mary LaRose: Out Here

By Mark Corroto
October 11, 2021
View read count

Vocalist

Mary LaRose

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary LaRose has explored the instrumental music of jazz artists in the past, penning lyrics to the music of

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk,

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman,

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler, and

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus. Also included in her previous releases is the music of

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Dolphy, who has always been a spirit guide for LaRose. With Out Here, she dedicates an entire album to Dolphy's compositions, plus a couple pieces tied to his legacy.

This session reminds you of the great

Carmen McRae

vocals
1920 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Carmen McRae's Carmen Sings Monk (Novus, 1990). Like that recording, LaRose adds insight into and new appreciation of some classic compositions. Alongside partner

Jeff Lederer

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Lederer, who plays clarinets, LaRose's ensemble includes

Tomeka Reid

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Tomeka Reid (cello),

Patricia Brennan

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Patricia Brennan (vibraphone, electronics), bassist

Nick Dunston

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Dunston, and drummer

Matt Wilson

drums
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Wilson. Blending sung, spoken word, and scatting vocalese, the music is packed with ceaseless animation, with the arrangements by Lederer. LaRose's wordless duet with Wilson's drums opens "Gazzelloni" which blossoms into an infectious groove. Lederer's solo on clarinet (instead of Dolphy's choice of flute) pairs nicely with the solos of Reid, Brennnan, and Dunston. That funny word (a dedication to Italian flutist Severino Gazzelloni) is repeated, parsed, and spun as if in a blender, creating an addictive cocktail. LaRose emulates

Annie Ross

vocals
1930 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Annie Ross' surfing vocalese with "245" and "GW," the latter piece featuring Brennan's vibraphone skew—wiffed with electronics. We also hear two poems.

Mal Waldron

piano
1925 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Mal Waldron's "Warm Canto" is decorated with Patricia Donegan's "Lover's Wish," which LaRose speaks over the intertwined clarinets of Lederer, Isaiah Johnson and Cameron Jones, and Hallie Lederer's "Syncopation" becomes the spoken/sung lyrics to Dolphy's "Serene." Matt Wilson's contagious march informs the intricate classic "Out To Lunch," punctuated by Lederer's clarinet, Reid's cello, and LaRose's twisted tongue recital. Maybe the best tribute to Dolphy is the cover of

Prince Lasha

flute
1929 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Prince Lasha and

Sonny Simmons

saxophone, alto
1933 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Simmons' "Music Matador." LaRose matches the composition with acrobatic lyrics sung over the Afro-Caribbean sounds of salsa trombonist

Jimmy Bosch

trombone
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Bosch and percussionist Bobby Sanabria with additional vocals by Maya Rose Lederer. Everybody, let's dance.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Gazzelloni; 245; Out There; Music Matador; GW; Serene; Out to Lunch; Love Me; Warm Canto.

Personnel

Mary LaRose

vocals

Jeff Lederer

woodwinds

Tomeka Reid

cello

Patricia Brennan

vibraphone

Nick Dunston

bass

Matt Wilson

drums

Jimmy Bosch

trombone

Bobby Sanabria

congas

Isaiah Johnson

drums

Cameron Jones

clarinet

Maya Rose Lederer

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Jeff Lederer: clarinet, bass clarinet; Jimmy Bosch: vibraphone, percussion (4); Bobby Sanabria: percussion (4); Isaiah Johnson: clarinet (9); Cameron Jones: clarinet (9; Maya Rose Lederer: vocals (4).

Album information

Title: Out Here | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Little (i) Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Monica Martin: All The Feelings
< Previous

Soundscapes
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.