GEORGE JONES (1931-2013)
In the many testimonials and tributes to George Jones when he died
a few weeks ago several musicians, including Merle Haggard, Ricky
Scaggs and Brad Paisley, called him the greatest country singer of all
time. The range of emotions that he conveyed was immense—from sorrow
and stoic resignation to the sly and joyful. He wrote some classic
songs, put his stamp on songs by others, and seemingly erased the
boundary between performance and life.
If you have not explored George Jones’s songs, a good place to start is the one-two punch of The Great Lost Hits (Time Life, 2 CDs, $18.98) and The Essential George Jones (Legacy, 2 CDs, $15.98).
The Great Lost Hits includes the best of his songs for the
Musicor label from 1965 to 1972. It includes “A Good Year for the
Roses” and “Walk through this World with Me.” The Essential George Jones covers his hits before and
after Musicor—early hits like “Why Baby Why,” “The Race is On,” and
“White Lightning” to classics like “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “The
Grand Tour,” and “Choices.”
George Jones was also a great duet partner, teaming up with Brenda
Carter and Melba Montgomery before his iconic partnership with Tammy
Wynette in the 1970s. George Jones & Tammy Wynette: 16 Biggest Hits (Epic, $8.98) includes “Golden Ring,” “We’re Gonna Hold On,” and “(We’re Not) The Jet Set.”
NEW
Bobby McFerrin
Spirityouall
(Columbia, $13.98)
Bobby McFerrin’s father, Robert McFerrin, Sr., sang operatic roles at
the Met and the New York City Opera, and recorded an album of
spirituals on the Riverside label in 1957 called Deep River. Spirityouall
is a tribute to Bobby’s father but also an imaginative vocal and
instrumental re-thinking of familiar spirituals (and some originals
based on psalms). There is Bobby’s agile and joyful voice up
front—sometimes solo, sometimes in duet with bassist Esperanza
Spalding—and at other times his voice is multi-tracked or accompanied by
a vocal quartet. There are layers of guitars by Larry Cambell,
accordion, and Fender Rhodes by arranger Gil Goldstein, the deep basses
of Larry Grenadier and Esperanza Spalding, and the drums and
tambourines of Ali Jackson and Esperanza Spalding. It’s an exuberant
time for all.
Noah Preminger
Haymaker
(Palmetto, $16.98)
I was lucky enough to see tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger and his
quartet at a benefit house concert in March. He previewed cuts from his
new album which is out this week. Noah has a big and beautiful tenor
sound. Ben Monder’s electric guitar provides beautiful harmonies and
lean solos. Matt Pavolka is on bass and Colin Stranahan on drums (Colin
was one of the finalists in the last Monk Competition). Originals by
Preminger and Monder lead the way, and the surprise standard is
“Tomorrow” from Annie.
