Bessie (Music from the HBO Film)
6.2.15
An HBO Films presentation, Bessie stars Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") in the title role and
focuses on legendary blues singer Bessie
Smith's transformation from a struggling young vocalist into
"The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording
artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Throughout the years, Bessie Smith has served as
an inspiration for such illustrious singers as Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Nina Simone,
among others.
An evocative collection combining historic and
contemporary recordings, Bessie (Music from the HBO Film) debuts
seven new Queen Latifah performances including"Young Woman Blues,"
"Preachin' The
Blues," "Long Old Road," "Down Hearted Blues,"
"Work House Blues," "Weepin' Woman Blues" (a duet with vocalist Pat Bass) and
"Gimme A Pigfoot and A Bottle Of Beer (2015 Remix),”a postmodern reworking
of Bessie Smith's original recording featuring newly recorded vocals, ad-libs
and raucous banter by Queen Latifah set to enhanced instrumentation remixed and
produced by Adam Blackstone and
Queen Latifah. "Gimme A Pigfoot and A Bottle Of Beer (2015
Remix)" is a dream collaboration between the Empress of the Blues and
Queen Latifah that exemplifies the brilliance of each of the artists while
celebrating the musical soul that unites their eras and generations.
The album features modern performances of blues, jazz and
swing classics including "Prove It On Me," performed by Carmen Twillie; "See See
Rider," performed by Tamar-Kali;
"Laugh Clown Laugh," performed by Cécile McLorin Salvant; and two new instrumental arrangements from Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks: "I've Got What It Takes (But It Breaks My
Heart To Give It Away)" and "Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight."
Bessie (Music from the HBO Film) is
rounded out with authentic period recordings from Fats Waller & His Rhythm ("A Good Man Is Hard To
Find"), Louis Armstrong & His
Orchestra ("[What Did I Do To Be So] Black And Blue"), Sippie Wallace ("I'm A Mighty Tight Woman") and Kid Ory's Creole Orchestra
("Ballin' The
Jack").
1 comment:
Also included in the dramatic Biopic is authentic newly recorded jazz by Vince Giordano's Nighthawks:
Hot Time In The Old Town (Theodore August Metz with lyrics by Joe Hayden-1886)
See See Rider - Tamar kali-vocalist (Gertrude Rainey-1924)
I've Got What It Takes But It Breaks My Heart To Give It Away (Clarence Williams Washboard Band-1929)
Laugh, Clown, Laugh - Cecile McLorin Salvant-vocalist (From I Pagliacci-Ruggero Leoncavallo)
JazzManDan Kassell
Member, Jazz Journalist Association
866-411-JASS
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