The Jazz Passengers – Reunited – Justin Time JTR8565-2, 47:17 ***½:
After more than a decade of a self-imposed hiatus, The Jazz Passengers are back on track with a new disc entitled Reunited. While the group may not be to everyone’s taste, they do offer an unconventional form of musical expression that requires some thought – not just listening.
The assemblage, whether in its current reincarnation or previous formation, is an amalgam of conflicting styles and influences whether bop, funk, or controlled anarchy. In a crowded jazz landscape, the need to be relevant is paramount, and thus when this disc leads with an Elvis Costello vocal rendition of “Wind Walked By” attention must be paid. Costello’s interpretation of the Ray Nathanson composition is charming, indolent, and full of his quirky phrasing. Nathanson along with fellow band member Bill Ware offer up the next two tunes, “Seven” and Button Up” the latter featuring trombonist Curtis Fowlkes on lead vocal, with some great support from Sam Bardfeld on violin and Marc Ribot on guitar. It should be mentioned that Fowlkes is one of those rare musicians who’s playing and singing are equally first-rate.
In the disco-driven 70s, the Peaches & Herb rendition of “Reunited” became a #1 Billboard hit. The version offered here is as far away from that adaptation as possible, yet it is both amusing and touching with Marc Ribot offering some interesting guitar licks. Continuing an interest in pop songs, the group – now calling themselves The Jazz Stowaways for this selection – offers an interesting look at “Spanish Harlem”, the Jerry Leiber/ Phil Spector tune that Ben E. King took to the charts in 1960. With Susi Hyldgaard on lead vocals and using some spoken dialogue as an introduction and closing, the song comes off more as a curiosity than anything resembling the soul-infused King rendition.
The disc ends with two bonus tracks that feature The Jazz Passenger’s former collaborator, Deborah Harry. The tunes are bassist Brad Jones’ “Think Of Me” and Harry’s own composition “One Way Or Another”. These pieces were recorded live in 1995 but the location is not identified. While Harry’s vocals fit the overall theme of the disc, the engineering is such that her vocals were under-recorded and she is overshadowed by the band.
Reunions can be a tricky business, especially after group members have been on solo careers in the intervening years. Nevertheless this one seems to have worked out for all concerned and produced an infectious album.
TrackList: Wind Walked By; Seven; Button Up; Reunited; The National Anthem; Tell Me; Spanish Harlem; Think Of Me; One Way Or Another.
— Pierre Giroux
