Soul on Jazz is an album by Philip Bailey which was released in April 2002 on Heads Up International Records.[6] The album reached No. 45 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.[7]

Soul on Jazz
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 23, 2002
RecordedSeptember 2001–January 2002
GenreJazz
LabelHeads Up International
ProducerPhilip Bailey, Bob Belden, Scott Kinsey, Dave Love, Myron McKinley
Philip Bailey chronology
Dreams
(1999)
Soul on Jazz
(2002)
Love Will Find a Way
(2019)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Jazz Times(favourable)[2]
Vibe[3]
All About Jazz(favourable)[4]
Associated Press(favourable)[5]

Critical reception

edit

Christopher Loudon of Jazz Times noted "This new solo effort from Earth, Wind and Fire’s estimable frontman should really be called Soul on the Periphery of Jazz. Like a martini so dry that the vermouth is barely detectable, Bailey's latest is pure soul infused with just a hint of jazz." Loudon added "Reinterpreting jazz treasures both familiar and lesser-known, he moves from triumph to triumph."[2] Ed Hogan of AllMusic gave a 3 out of 5 star rating and wrote "More jazz-oriented than Dreams, Soul on Jazz benefits from the sharing of production chores with Myron McKinley, Bob Belden, and Scott Kinsey. The album is definitely on track."[1] The Associated Press declared "His new solo compilation, mixes two of the most creative forms of music.".."After more than 30 years, Bailey's sound is more innovative than ever."[5]

Overview

edit

On the album, Bailey covers Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear", Earth, Wind & Fire's "Keep Your Head to the Sky", Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Chick Corea's Sometime Ago, Les McCann's "Compared to What" and Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story".[8]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My Indiscretions"Sir Bailey, Joe Zawinul4:25
2."Dear Ruby (Ruby, My Dear)"Thelonious Monk, Sally Swisher4:42
3."Compared to What"Gene McDaniels4:59
4."Nature Boy"Eden, Ahbez4:57
5."Bop-Skip-Doodle"Sir Bailey, Wayne "Dj Smash" Cobbs4:24
6."Unrestrained"Sir Bailey, Myron McKinley3:48
7."Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Larry Williams, Joe Zawinul4:51
8."Keep Your Head to the Sky"Maurice White4:56
9."Sometime Ago"Chick Corea, Neville Potter3:47
10."Tell Me a Bedtime Story"Herbie Hancock, Jean Hancock5:14
11."On the Red Clay"Freddie Hubbard, Mark Murphy5:01

Personnel

edit

Musicians

edit
  • Philip Bailey – lead vocals, handclaps (1), timbales (3), arrangements (5, 6, 8), backing vocals (6)
  • Scott Kinsey – keyboards (1, 4, 5, 9, 11), handclaps (1), arrangements (1, 5, 9, 11), orchestration (4), programming (5, 11), acoustic piano (9), electric piano (10)
  • Myron McKinley – acoustic piano (2, 3, 4, 6, 7), keyboards (2, 3, 6, 7, 8), melodica (2, 6), arrangements (2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
  • DJ Smash – programming (5)
  • Mike Campbell – guitar (1-5, 7, 8, 9, 11) [Not the same Mike Campbell that played with Tom Petty].
  • Alan Burroughs – acoustic guitar (2)
  • John Hart – lead guitar (9, 11), guitar (10)
  • David Dyson – bass guitar (2, 3, 6, 7)
  • Ira Coleman – acoustic bass (4, 5, 8-11)
  • Billy Kilson – drums
  • Don Alias – congas (1-4, 8, 9, 10), percussion (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10), handclaps (1)
  • Dave Love – handclaps (1)
  • Daniel de los Reyes – congas (7)
  • Bob Belden – soprano saxophone (1), handclaps (1), arrangements (4, 10)
  • Lou Marini – alto saxophone (3, 7)
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone (3)
  • Scott Wendholt – trumpet (1, 4)
  • Billy Baker – backing vocals (1, 5)
  • Charmaine Cousins – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5-8, 11)
  • David Whitworth – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 11), BGV arrangements (3, 7, 8)
  • Don Corey Washington – backing vocals (2, 3, 7, 8, 11)
  • Robert Brookins – backing vocals (6)[6]

Production

edit
  • Producers – Philip Bailey (all tracks); Bob Belden and Scott Kinsey (Tracks 1, 4, 5, 9, 10 & 11); Myron McKinley (Tracks 2, 3, 6, 7 & 8).
  • Executive Producer – Dave Love
  • Engineered and Mixed by Robert Friedrich
  • Assistant Engineers – Mark Fraunfelder and Tim Stritmater
  • Recorded at Bennett Studios (Englewood, NJ).
  • BGV’s recorded by David Kowlaski
  • Technical Engineer – Andy Ackland
  • Mix Assistant – Tim Lauber
  • Mixed at O’Henry Studios (Burbank, CA).
  • Mastered by Louis F. Hemsey
  • Art Direction and Design – Robert Hoffman
  • Cover Photo – Peter Figen
  • Inner Sleeve Photos – Andrew Lepley

[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Hogan, Ed. "Philip Bailey: Soul on Jazz". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  2. ^ a b Loudon, Christopher (July 1, 2002). "Philip Bailey: Soul On Jazz". jazztimes.com. Jazz Times.
  3. ^ Holley Jr., Eugene (July 2002). "Philip Bailey: Soul on Jazz". Vibe. Vol. 10, no. 7. p. 138.
  4. ^ Nathan, Dave (May 1, 2002). "Philip Bailey: Soul on Jazz". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz.
  5. ^ a b "Audio Reviews by The Associated Press". The Associated Press. The Telegraph Herald. May 5, 2002.
  6. ^ a b c Philip Bailey: Soul On Jazz. Heads Up International. April 2002.
  7. ^ "Philip Bailey Chart History (Jazz Albums)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Soul on Jazz by Philip Bailey". secondhandsongs.com.