Something to Believe: Brentwood Jazz

Description

Something to Believe: Brentwood Jazz is an instrumental album by the American woodwind instrumentalist Sam Levine, released on Brentwood Music in 1992. The album tracks were recorded by Brent King at OmniSound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee; with Jack Jezzro producing. Overdubs recorded at Downstage Studios and Quad Studios in Nashville. Mixed by King. Arranged by Sam Levine. Released as a part of Brentwood Jazz Series. Tracks 7 and 9 feature vocals by Paula James Chavis and The Fairfield Four, respectively.

I grew up in a home where a love of jazz, from Louis to Parker, was almost ingrained into me but it was when I made my pitch to become a 60s/70s soul boy that I really took jazz on board when labels like Kudu and Blue Note became platforms for jazzmen who fused R&B and rock to jazz to produce that hybrid form fusion. This album is an excellent example of fusion jazz which hasn’t changed much in feel or texture since those pioneering days with Herbie Hancock, Donald Byrd and Grover Washington. In fact it’s the latter that Mr Levine often sounds like, Sam having the same sinuously bluesy tone as Washington as switches from alto, to soprano, to tenor sax over an excellent rhythm section assembled by the always dependable Jack Jezzro. Sam glides through numbers «God Of Abraham» and Curtis Mayfield’s «People Get Ready». Even a cringe-worthy number like Louis’ «What A Wonderful World» is worth a listen. There are some vocals here too. Guests Paula Chavis and, get this, acappella-specialists and venerable Nashville gentlemen The Fairfield Four take a turn at the vocal mikes. I know at least one gospel quartet purist who’ll detest the idea of the Fairfields on a jazz album but I loved their contribution. Forget all your prejudices about fusion jazz being suitable for yuppies and airport lounges, this is, in its own way, a fine album. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, October 1993]

CD tracklist:

01. For The Beauty Of The Earth – 5:27
02. God Of Abraham Praise – 4:47
03. Why Ask Why? – 5:03
04. Let Us Break Bread Together – 4:28
05. Amazing Grace – 5:15
06. Lord, I Want To Be A Christian – 4:18
07. The Healing Tree (feat. Paula James Chavis) – 4:15
08. For The Children – 4:38
09. People Get Ready (feat. The Fairfield Four) – 5:40
10. What A Wonderful World – 6:28

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Brentwood Music.