It should come as no surprise that vocalist Macy Gray would make a jazz rec… Read Full Bio ↴It should come as no surprise that vocalist Macy Gray would make a jazz record. Renowned for her platinum trajectory in popular music, Gray always exhibited inherent jazz and blues inclinations in her vocal style and personal demeanor. Stripped is her debut on Chesky Records, recorded in a live setting with their singular binaural microphone technique, accompanied by a premier jazz ensemble.
Gray is certainly no stranger to jazz, as she has recently collaborated with saxophonist David Murray on a series of projects, and she considers herself a jazz singer at heart. As is customary, Gray reinterprets her own material, as well as several covers, all performed in a minimalist atmosphere, with maximum emotional intent. Guitarist Russell Malone introduces the bluesy "Annabelle," as Gray eases in with her trademark understated singing, ending with a light chorus by the band. A mellowed version of the "Bo Diddley beat" sets up "Sweet Baby," highlighted by the muted trumpet of Wallace Roney.
Gray's most identifiable number, "I Try," is re-imagined with jazz sensibility, defined by Daryl Johns, whose acoustical bass is the bedrock of the music. The laid back sizzler "Slowly," displays Gray's ability to lay her vocals against the swaying cadence of the band, and "First Time," brings out the deft brush work of Ari Hoenig on drums, for the perfect romantic backdrop. The spirited "She Ain't Right For You," is presented with a driving reggae backbeat; and as a pleasant surprise, Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," sails gently across the Caribbean in search of tranquility. The wild card track is the Metallica cover "Nothing Else Matters," enclosed within a straight ahead bop arrangement, which transforms it into another dimension. Roney's solo on this tune, shows what a jazz artist can do when given free rein to do his thing. They keep the simmering flame ignited with "The Heart," in what could be construed as a contemporary blues, an idiom where Gray demonstrates passion under pressure. The weeping trumpet opens and intertwines within "Lucy," a sultry depiction of the conquest of love, and the promises that entails; Gray toying with the bawdy lyrics and spicing up the double entendre.
Produced as one of the Chesky Binaural + Series, this record showcases Macy Gray in what might be her bona fide persona. Recorded with no over dubs, in a two-day session, this is as close to a live gig as one could imagine, with spatial realism and no audience background noise to hamper audio quality. Gray is a throwback to the early days when jazz singers were not pretentious, but had to rely on their innate talent to carry the tune with raw emotion and sensual grace. Let's hope Chesky and Gray hook up again for an encore performance.
Track Listing: Annabelle; Sweet Baby; I Try; Slowly; She Ain’t Right For You; First Time; Nothing Else Matters; Redemption Song; The Heart; Lucy.
Personnel: Macy Gray: vocals; Ari Hoenig: drums; Daryl Johns: bass; Russell Malone: guitar; Wallace Roney: trumpet.
Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Chesky Records
Gray is certainly no stranger to jazz, as she has recently collaborated with saxophonist David Murray on a series of projects, and she considers herself a jazz singer at heart. As is customary, Gray reinterprets her own material, as well as several covers, all performed in a minimalist atmosphere, with maximum emotional intent. Guitarist Russell Malone introduces the bluesy "Annabelle," as Gray eases in with her trademark understated singing, ending with a light chorus by the band. A mellowed version of the "Bo Diddley beat" sets up "Sweet Baby," highlighted by the muted trumpet of Wallace Roney.
Gray's most identifiable number, "I Try," is re-imagined with jazz sensibility, defined by Daryl Johns, whose acoustical bass is the bedrock of the music. The laid back sizzler "Slowly," displays Gray's ability to lay her vocals against the swaying cadence of the band, and "First Time," brings out the deft brush work of Ari Hoenig on drums, for the perfect romantic backdrop. The spirited "She Ain't Right For You," is presented with a driving reggae backbeat; and as a pleasant surprise, Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," sails gently across the Caribbean in search of tranquility. The wild card track is the Metallica cover "Nothing Else Matters," enclosed within a straight ahead bop arrangement, which transforms it into another dimension. Roney's solo on this tune, shows what a jazz artist can do when given free rein to do his thing. They keep the simmering flame ignited with "The Heart," in what could be construed as a contemporary blues, an idiom where Gray demonstrates passion under pressure. The weeping trumpet opens and intertwines within "Lucy," a sultry depiction of the conquest of love, and the promises that entails; Gray toying with the bawdy lyrics and spicing up the double entendre.
Produced as one of the Chesky Binaural + Series, this record showcases Macy Gray in what might be her bona fide persona. Recorded with no over dubs, in a two-day session, this is as close to a live gig as one could imagine, with spatial realism and no audience background noise to hamper audio quality. Gray is a throwback to the early days when jazz singers were not pretentious, but had to rely on their innate talent to carry the tune with raw emotion and sensual grace. Let's hope Chesky and Gray hook up again for an encore performance.
Track Listing: Annabelle; Sweet Baby; I Try; Slowly; She Ain’t Right For You; First Time; Nothing Else Matters; Redemption Song; The Heart; Lucy.
Personnel: Macy Gray: vocals; Ari Hoenig: drums; Daryl Johns: bass; Russell Malone: guitar; Wallace Roney: trumpet.
Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Chesky Records
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Stripped
Macy Gray Lyrics
First Time Allow me love I'm a woman of pristine intuition When I…
I Try Games, changes and fears When will they go from here When wi…
Nothing Else Matters So close no matter how far Couldn't be much more from…
She Ain't Right For You Wrote me in a letter that she makes you feel…
Slowly Would it be so bad if we just stopped for…
Sweet Baby Many times I've been told that I should go But…
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs