2+2 is an eponymous album of a vocal quartet called 2+2 with music by the Latin jazz ensemble known as Salsa Picante that was led by the American keyboardist/composer-arranger Clare Fischer. It was recorded in September 1980 and released in February 1981 by Pausa Records,[1][2] and in Germany on the MPS label, as Foreign Exchange – The First Album.[3] Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 would be reissued on CD in 1999, and as a digital download in 2012, as Latin Patterns, a compilation of remastered highlights from four of Fischer's MPS LPs from this period.[4][5][6]
2+2 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1981 | |||
Recorded | September 1980 | |||
Studio | Capitol (Hollywood) | |||
Genre | Latin jazz | |||
Label | Pausa Records PR 7086 | |||
Clare Fischer chronology | ||||
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The album represents a number of firsts for Fischer, including his first Grammy (specifically, the album's final track, "Guajira Pa' La Jeva", named 1981's Best Latin Recording),[7][8] as well as a pair of recording debuts, first, that of 2+2, the vocal quartet with which Fischer supplemented his Latin jazz ensemble[1] (thus tying together two key components of his wide-ranging musical universe), and, of equal if not greater import, that of his son Brent Fischer, marking the beginning of a fruitful – and more than three-decade-long – professional association.
Reception
editReview scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Los Angeles Times | [1] |
Los Angeles Times jazz critic Leonard Feather awarded the album four stars, making particular note of the album's seamless blend of vocal and instrumental units:
Their blend is splendid, they are at times expertly integrated with the band through Fischer's compositions, lyrics and arrangements; and they are quadrilingual, starting in German and proceeding to English, Spanish and doo-be-doo, the Esperanto of jazz. The rhythm, generally timbales-oriented, could have used more bottom. Darlene Koldenhoven, the lead soprano, is a striking discovery.[1]
Track listing
editAll songs composed by Clare Fischer except where noted.
Side A
- "Du, Du...." (trad./arr. Clare Fischer) – 5:57
- "Legacy" – 2:35
- "Morning" – 3:36
- "Guajira Pa' La Jeva" (words – Jose "Perico" Hernandez, music – Poncho Sanchez and Clare Fischer) – 4:30
Side B
- "Leavin'" – 3:25
- "Funquiado" – 6:46
- "Thru the Ages" – 4:21
- "Melancolico" (words – Barbara Ransom, music – Clare Fischer) – 7:07
External audio | |
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You may listen to "Du, Du...." here |
Personnel
edit- Clare Fischer – leader, Fender-Rhodes electric piano, Yamaha EX-42 organ, Yamaha YC-30 combo organ
- Gary Foster – flute and soprano sax; on side A (tracks 2 & 3) and side B (tracks 1 & 3) – sopranino and alto sax, plus sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bass and gran bass recorders
- John Chiodini – electric guitar; on side A (tracks 2 & 3) and side B (tracks 1 & 3) – acoustic guitar and hollow-bodied electric guitar
- Poncho Sanchez – conga, bongo, campana
- Ramon Banda (only on side A, tracks 1 & 4, and side B, track 2 & 4) – clave
- Alex Acuña (only on side A, tracks 1 & 4, and side B, track 2 & 4) – timbales, percussion
- Roland Vazquez (only on side A, tracks 1 & 4, and side B, track 2 & 4) – drums
- Brent Fischer – electric bass
- Oscar Meza – string bass
- Luis Conte (only on side A, tracks 2 & 3, and side B, track 1 & 3) – timbales, percussion
- Andre Fischer (only on side A, tracks 2 & 3, and side B, track 1 & 3) – drums
- José "Perico" Hernandez – guest vocalist on A4 and B4
- Darlene Koldenhoven – lead soprano
- Mary Hylan – second soprano (sings lead on first bridge of "Morning," rock section of "Thru the Ages," and first part of "Guajira")
- Amick Byram – tenor (solo on "Leavin'")
- John Laird – baritone
References
edit- ^ a b c d Feather, Leonard. "Jazz Albums". The Los Angeles Times. February 22, 1981. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
- ^ "Clare Fischer & Salsa Picante presents "2 + 2" (Musical LP, 1981)". Worldcat. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ "Foreign Exchange – The first album (Music, 1981)". Worldcat. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ Liner Notes from Latin Patterns
- ^ "Latin Patterns (Music, 1999)". Worldcat. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
- ^ "Latin Patterns: The Legendary MPS Sessions - Clare Fischer". AllMusic.
- ^ Green, Paul. "Quincy Jones Takes Top Honors at Grammy Awards; Miscellaneous Fields". Billboard. March 6, 1982. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ Past Winners Search for "Clare Fischer". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2013-05-26.