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Terri Lyne Carrington: The Mosaic Project

By Mark F. Turner
November 14, 2011
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Terri Lyne Carrington: The Mosaic Project

Historically, female artists have not gotten the props they've deserved in jazz's male-dominated environment. Though imperfect, things have improved, thanks in part to the efforts of

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday,

Mary Lou Williams

piano
1910 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Lou Williams,

" data-original-title="" title="">Marian McPartland, and other matriarchs who helped pave the way for a current generation of stellar voices as assembled in drummer/composer Terri Lyne Carrington's exceptional The Mosaic Project.

Carrington's world-class drumming equals anyone in the music business, enriching recordings and performances from the great

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock and

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter to the eclectic sounds of guitarist

Nguyen Le

guitar, electric
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Nguyen Le, while finding time to lead her own bands and music. Without a doubt, this project is her most ambitious work to date, an arduous yet rewarding labor of love that's elevated by her leadership of an all-star cast of female musicians and singers.

The opening "Transformation" sets the vibe, with its groove intellect and smoky vocals from legendary soul singer Nona Hendryx. It's followed with more funky goodness, a very unique take on

Irving Berlin

composer / conductor
1888 - 1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Irving Berlin's "I Get Lost in His Arms," sung by one of jazz's new stars,

Gretchen Parlato

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Gretchen Parlato. There's even more to enjoy with the up-tempo remake of

The Beatles

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Beatles' ballad "Michelle," as hard-swinging jazz melds with urban funkiness, pumped by riveting solos from pianist

Geri Allen

piano
1957 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Geri Allen, trumpeter

Ingrid Jensen

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Jensen, and saxophonist

Tineke Postma

saxophone, alto
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Tineke Postma.

Like a mosaic the fourteen tracks are smaller pictures of Carrington's broader image, one that knows jazz's ancestry but speaks fluently of haunting social issues in "Echo," via spoken words from activist Angela Davis, along with

Dianne Reeves

vocals
b.1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Dianne Reeves adding her always classy singing. Add the heartfelt longing of "Show Me a Sign" (written by singer

Carmen Lundy

vocals
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Carmen Lundy) and the hip hop swagger of "On The Rise (A Transformation)," featuring up-and-coming singer Shea Rose, and the set represents a continuum of sound and voice from the past, present and future.

With a roster that includes the star power of percussionist Sheila E and pianist

Patrice Rushen

keyboards
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Patrice Rushen, the talent is exhaustive and varied with memorable tracks such as

Cassandra Wilson

vocals
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Cassandra Wilson's sensual ruminations of

Al Green

vocals
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Green's 1972 hit, "Simply Beautiful," the whimsical antics of "Crayola," written and performed by Grammy Award-winning bassist/singer

Esperanza Spalding

bass
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Esperanza Spalding and featuring

Helen Sung

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Helen Sung's lissome keyboards, and Carrington's own complex rock/jazz piece, "Mosaic Triad."

The Mosaic Project has no ulterior motive to show that women can do the jazz gig as well as men. That's already been proven time and again. Instead, it is a joyous celebration of outstanding female artists; a clear view of what currently exists and a hint of what's on the horizon.

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Track Listing

Transformation; I Got Lost In His Arms; Michelle; Magic And Music; Echo; Simply Beautiful; Unconditional Love; Wistful; Crayola; Soul Talk; Mosaic Triad; Insomniac; Show Me A Sign; Sisters On The Rise (A Transformation).

Personnel

Terri Lyne Carrington

drums

Terri Lyne Carrington: drums, additional percussion, voice (2, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14); Geri Allen: piano keyboards (1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13); Dee Dee Bridgewater: voice (10); Anat Cohen: clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano sax; Angela Davis: commentary (5); Sheila E.: percussion (1, 5, 6, 10); Nona Hendryx: voice (1, 14); Ingrid Jensen: trumpet, flugelhorn, efx; Mimi Jones: bass (4); Carmen Lundy: voice (13); Chia-Yin Carol Ma: violin; Hailey Niswanger: flute; Gretchen Parlato: voice (2, 3); Tineke Postma: alto sax, soprano sax; Dianne Reeves: voice (5); Shea Rose: voice (14); Patrice Rushen: piano, keyboards (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12); Esperanza Spalding: bass, voice (7, 9); Helen Sung: piano, keyboards (2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12); Linda Taylor: guitars; Cassandra Wilson: voice (8).

Album information

Title: The Mosaic Project | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Concord Music Group

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