Sail Away (Tom Harrell album)

Sail Away is an album by the American musician Tom Harrell.[1][2] It was released in 1989 via Contemporary Records. The title track became a jazz standard.[3][4][5] The album was reissued in 2003 with two bonus tracks.[6]

Sail Away
Studio album by
Released1989
GenreJazz
LabelContemporary
ProducerBill Goodwin
Tom Harrell chronology
Stories
(1988)
Sail Away
(1989)
Lonely Eyes
(1989)

Production

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Joe Lovano played saxophone on four tracks.[7] James Williams played piano; John Abercrombie played guitar.[8][9]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     
Chicago Sun-Times    [8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [10]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [11]
Windsor StarB+[12]

The Windsor Star wrote that "some tunes hover around a Wayne Shorter mode with their oddly looping lines, like 'Dream in June'."[12] The Chicago Tribune called the album "a lovely piece of work—fresh, concentrated, expressive."[13] The Ottawa Citizen determined that "it's disappointing to find [Harrell's] melodic side overwhelmed by modal progressions and liberally stretched lines."[14] The Washington Post deemed Sail Away "a beautifully arranged collection of mainstream jazz tunes, highlighted by several ballads and medium tempo tunes that make the most of Harrell's warm, soulful fluegelhorn."[15]

The Village Voice noted "the skittery Miles [Davis] of the charged arpeggios, melodic shards, and rhythmic displacement" on "Eons" and the title track.[16] The Chicago Reader labeled "Sail Away" "one of the finest jazz sambas ever written and one of the more memorable compositions of any kind in 20 years."[17]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Eons" 
2."Glass Mystery" 
3."Dream in June" 
4."Sail Away" 
5."Buffalo Wings" 
6."It Always Is" 
7."Dancing Trees" 
8."Hope St." 

References

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  1. ^ Cordle, Owen (May 1990). "Record & CD Reviews: Tom Harrell / George Robert". DownBeat. 57 (5): 46.
  2. ^ Christon, Lawrence (13 June 1992). "His Horn Chases the Blues". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  3. ^ "Piano's Dedicators Get Standing Ovation". Portland Press Herald. May 4, 1996. p. 8B.
  4. ^ "Last Stop". The Southern Illinoisan. March 6, 1996. p. 4A.
  5. ^ Stryker, Mark (May 5, 1995). "Jazz". Go!. Dayton Daily News. p. 17.
  6. ^ "Sail Away [Original Jazz Classics] Review by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  7. ^ Smith, Will (October 29, 1989). "Tom Harrell, a trumpeter and flugelhornist...". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 12.
  8. ^ a b Sachs, Lloyd (February 1, 1990). "Trumpeter Tom Harrell doesn't salute...". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 45.
  9. ^ Roebuck, Jay (November 24, 1989). "Jazz Albums". Orange County Register. p. P40.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 143.
  11. ^ The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin Books. 2008. pp. 651–652.
  12. ^ a b Stevens, Peter (28 Oct 1989). "Record Review". Windsor Star. p. C2.
  13. ^ Fuller, Jack (19 Nov 1989). "Recordings". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 28.
  14. ^ Moody, Lois (23 Mar 1990). "Harrell weaker as leader". Ottawa Citizen. p. C6.
  15. ^ Joyce, Mike (27 Apr 1990). "Harrell, Snidero Blow Hot and Cool". The Washington Post. p. N25.
  16. ^ Giddins, Gary (June 26, 2001). "Mood Swings – Tom Harrell Samples the Bitter With the Better". The Village Voice.
  17. ^ Tesser, Neil. "Tom Harrell Quintet". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 8 April 2023.