Spirituals and hymns--jazz treatment

[BlueMiles]

Since we are in Holy Week, I'm thinking about spirituals and hymns and I've have been playing one of my favorite albums (period)--"Steal Away" by Charlie Haden and Hank Jones. I'm wondering if people can direct me to more music in this vein. I know John Pattituci did a full album not long ago that seems pretty similar to this (from descriptions). Of course, some of Ellington's music is in this mode, especially the "sacred concerts." I'm sure Cyrus Chestnut has an album in this mode. Possibly Marcus Roberts?

I'm sure there would be plenty of recommendations for work by singers, though I'm more interested in instrumentals.

Thanks.

[JiminHouston]

You are correct about Cyrus Chestnut - he has a CD titled BLESSED QUIETUDE. I haven't heard it, even though I am a fan of his. FWIW, Penguin gave it a good rating.

My favorite in this vein is "Abide With Me" on MONK'S MUSIC.

Pamela York, a pianist from Canada now living and working in my home town, has recorded an old hymn called "What Wondrous Love is This" on her excellent CD titled BLUE YORK.

I hope to see some other responses on this thread ...

[DavidM]

Joe McPhee's In the Spirit and No Greater Love (both on CIMP)
Archie Shepp/Horace Parlan Goin' Home (Steeplechase)

[kenny weir]

Grant Green's Feelin' The Spirit is a doozy.

One I haven't heard is The Sermon by Hampton Hawes.

One of my fave compilations is Blue Testament, gospel workouts by Blue Note artists. It's a killer!

And in a less specific sense, there's A Love Supreme, and much of the rest of the Coltrane quartet's stuff and late 'Trane and ... oh, just about everything worthwhile in the whole jazz canon.

[Rob Damen]

Off the top of my head:

Wynton Marsails: "In This House On This Morning" and "Curtain Call".
Charles Mingus: "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting", "Better Hit in Your Soul", "Ecclusiastics".
Mary Lou Williams: "Praise the Lord", "Holy Ghost".

Cheers,

Rob

[crawjo]

I always like Albert Ayler's "Spiritual Unity." Also, Prayer (Oh, Doctor Jesus) off of Porgy and Bess, Miles Davis and Gil Evans.

[Nate Dorward]

Spiritual Unity is all Ayler originals--I believe his album of traditional material is called Going Home? Haven't heard it.

Never really got into the Hank Jones/Haden album--it's pretty in small doses but ends up feeling a bit po-faced. The first track is lovely though. But why couldn't they have done the album with a little more lift?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

This is an excellent David Murray album devoted to jazz versions of spirituals (along with a couple of musically-related originals), highlighted by some brilliant vocals by Fontella Bass. Highly recommended, and damned enjoyable!

1. How I Got Over
2. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
3. Jimane's Creation
4. Missionary
5. Don't Know What I Would Do
6. Amazing Grace * *
7. Blessed Assurance * *
8. Closer Walk With Thee * *




And I LOVE this Steven Bernstein album, featuring mostly traditional Jewish music -- some religious and some ceremonial -- all done up as cha-chas, New Orleans R&B, Cuban mambos, etc.




I also dig Lambert, Hendricks and Ross doing "Sermonette."

[Uli]

Charles Gayle, all spirituals.

[Sergio Zamora]

Charles Lloyd does a real nice 'The Water is Wide' on the album of the same name, but I don't recall the album having any other spirituals (it might have, but I wouldn't know)

[BlueMiles]

I'm not surprised that there are plenty of titles out there. I had thought of "A Love Supreme," David Murray, Mingus, and others. A good many, though, I have not heard, and I'm sure some use the spirituals mainly as a springboard to improvisation. I would be kind of intrigued by Grant Green's "feeling the spirit," and I had no idea there was a sampler called "Blue Testament."

I do have Lloyd's "The Water is Wide" CD, which has 3 or 4 spirituals and genrally features a hymn-like quality. My understanding is that "Lift Every Voice" works even more fully in this vein.

I guess I like my spirituals on the quieter side.

l