Duke Pearson - Now Hear This (1969) [2014 SHM-CD Blue Note 24-192 Remaster] CD-Rip

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Duke Pearson returned to a big band setting for Now Hear This!, once again proving his agility and inventiveness as an arranger and leader. Working with a larger band than before – the total number of musicians weighs in at 17 – Pearson nevertheless keeps things clean and uncluttered. His compositions, as well as the songs he covers, cover a broad range of emotions, styles, and tonal colors, with lush ballads taking the center stage. Even if much of this music is beautiful, Pearson's arrangements take chances and are unconventional, which means it rewards close listening as well.
Duke Pearson knocks it out of the park with this one – perfectly summing up all the new ideas in jazz arranging and large ensemble work he'd been exploring at Blue Note – and pushing things way way past his previous small group material as well! The album's quite different than most other 60s iterations of big band jazz – as Pearson's got a way of making all instruments come together on the rhythms, then exploding with subtle colors and soulful tones – yet all at a level that's never forced or gimmicky at all. It helps that he's got a tremendous lineup of players here – both Lew Tabackin and Frank Foster on tenor (the latter of whom does some arranging for the record) – plus Pepper Adams on baritone, Marvin Stamm and Randy Brecker on trumpets, Garnett Brown and Jimmy Cleveland on trombones, Jerry Dodgion and Al Gibbons on alto, and the rhythm team of Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums. Duke plays superb piano with a really sophisticated touch, but it's really his strength as an arranger that makes the whole thing come together beautifully. Andy Bey sings on a version of "I'm Tired Cryin Over You" – and other titles include "Amanda", "Tones For Joan's Bones", "Dad Digs Mom", "Disapproachment", and "Make It Good"


Tracks:

01 - Disapproachment
02 - I'm Tired Cryin' Over You
03 - Tones For Joan's Bones
04 - Amanda
05 - Dad Digs Mom (And Mom Digs Dad)
06 - Minor League
07 - Here's That Rainy Day
08 - Make It Good
09 - The Days Of Wine And Roses

Personnel:

Duke Pearson - piano, arranger
Jim Bossy, Randy Brecker, Burt Collins, Joe Shepley, Marvin Stamm - trumpet
Garnett Brown, Jimmy Cleveland, Benny Powell - trombone
Kenny Rupp - bass trombone
Jerry Dodgion, Al Gibbons - alto saxophone
Lew Tabackin - tenor saxophone
Frank Foster - tenor saxophone, arranger
Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone
Bob Cranshaw - bass
Mickey Roker - drums
Andy Bey - vocals