Charlie Rouse expands his musical palette…
Charlie Rouse – Cinnamon Flower (The Expanded Version) – Resonance Records/ Douglas Records #HLP-9078 – 1977 – Limited Edition Two 180 gm vinyls – ****
(Charlie Rouse – tenor saxophone; Clifford Adams – trombone; Claudio Roditi – trumpet; Waymon Reid – trumpet ensemble; Lou Orenstein – flute;
Dom Salvador, Albert Dailey – piano; George Davis, Ted Dunbar, Amaury Tristao – guitars; Wilbur Bascomb, Ron Carter – bass; Jesse Levy, Ulysses Kirksey – cello; Roger Powell – string synthesizer; Portino, Bernard Purdie – drums; Steve Thornton – percussion; Carlos Martinez – congas)
After leaving a full decade with Thelonious Monk (himself a school of music), tenor saxophonist, Charlie Rouse, went on to a long and varied career, co-leading The Jazz Modes (five releases) and Sphere (six albums) as a leader (eleven releases). We recently reviewed his Strata East LP ( Two is One) from 1974, where he merged soul jazz with funky electronic jazz guitar influences.
Resonance Records, the boutique jazz label headed by co-presidents Zev Feldman and George Klabin, has just issued in an expanded version, Rouse’s excursion into Brazilian jazz, given a R&B twist, titled Cinnamon Flower. Recorded in 1977, on Douglas Records, a Casablanca distributed subsidiary, through producer, Alan Douglas. This two LP gate fold issue will have only 1000 hand copied limited edition pressings. The set has been transferred from the original tape reels, and mastered in the capable hands of Matthew Lutthans of The Mastering Lab.
What makes this special release quite unique, is that in addition to the remastered original album, the second LP for the first time has the “original” format, without Alan Douglas’ overdubbing, as it was first engineered by Resonance’s founder, George Klabin.
On the second LP, there is an unreleased bonus track, “Meeting Track,” written by session pianist, Dom Salvador. Like the entire set, its contagious melody is a song of celebration.
As do most all deluxe Resonance releases, there is an insert (six pages here) with liner notes from noted jazz author, James Gavin, and with remembrances from Charlie’s son, Charlie “Chico” Rouse, Jr. The additional half hour of the unissued original album tracks, without dubbing, provides an opportunity to hear Rouse’s vision without tampering.
Charlie had an eleven piece band chosen for the recording, that included bassist, Ron Carter, and trumpeter, Claudio Roditi. Producer, Douglas, added the iconic drummer, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, and trombonist, Clifford Adams, from Kool & The Gang, to give the tracks their Brazil, with an added funky soul feel. Listeners can make their decision in comparing the two versions, which they prefer.
Rouse was not new to his love of Brazilian jazz, as evidenced by his 1962 Blue Note release of Bossa Nova Bacchanal. Here he returns the love, this time adding some funk grease to the mix.
The seven, first issued tracks, written either by pianist, Dom Salvador, or guitarist, Amaury Tristao, are highlighted by great brass from the horns on “A New Dawn (Alvorada)” and “Roots (Chao).” Salvador sets a Brazilian groove for the horns on “Clove and Cinnamon (Cravo E Canela)”. I loved the mournful cello solos from Jesse Levy on “Disenchantment (Desencontro)”, as well as on “Quiet Pictures (Natal No Interior)”.
Throughout you’ll find the warm tenor tone of Charlie Rouse, as well as the fire from Claudio Roditi’s trumpet.
The appreciation of jazz from Brazil has come a long way in the nearly half century since this album was recorded. Bossa Nova began the craze led by albums from Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, that turned on American audiences to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Airto Moreira and Flora Purim (with Return to Forever) fueled interest. Now it is time to mention Charlie Rouse, whose interest in the magic of the Brazilian groove goes all the way back to the early 60’s.
Kudos to Zev and the gang at Resonance for bringing back (in two versions!)
Charlie Rouse’s fun tribute, Cinnamon Flower…
—Jeff Krow
The Charlie Rouse Band – Cinnamon Flower
Tracklist:
(The Original Album)
Side A:
Backwoods Echo (Sertao)
Disenchantment (Desencontro)
A New Dawn (Alvorada)
Quiet Pictures (Natal No Interior)
Side B:
Clove and Cinnamon (Cravo E Canela)
Roots (Chao)
Waiting on the Corner
(Sound Ideas Studio Versions)
Side C:
Backwoods Echo (Sertao)
Disenchantment (Desencontro)
A New Dawn (Alvorada)
Quiet Pictures (Natal No Interior)
Side D:
Clove and Cinnamon (Cravo E Canela)
Roots (Chao)
Waiting on the Corner
Meeting House
From Resonance Records, a Double Vinyl LP re-mastered expanded edition of the Charlie Rouse Band “Cinnamon Flower”. Jazz Music Review by Jeff Krow.
