Chaka Khan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White - Echoes Of An Era (1982/2014) [24/192]

"Echoes of an Era" is an album by American R&B/Jazz singer Chaka Khan with Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. The album sees Khan interpreting jazz standards like Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You" and Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train", as well as "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most", "All of Me", and "I Loves You Porgy". The album was originally not released as a Chaka Khan studio album (who was signed to Warner Bros. Records at the time) but as a band collaboration under the moniker "Echoes of an Era" and with all six performers credited on the album cover.

In 1982, soul goddess Chaka Khan did the unexpected when she recorded this excellent, straight-ahead jazz LP. Regrettably, the album was released under the name Echoes of an Era instead of under Khan's own name – so it wasn't nearly the big seller it probably would have been if Elektra had fully exploited Khan's connection with the project. But while Echoes of an Era was the victim of questionable marketing, it was a creative triumph. Joined by Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and flugelhorn, Chick Corea on acoustic piano, Stanley Clarke on upright bass, and Lenny White on drums, Khan demonstrates that she is quite capable of handling hard bop and straight-ahead jazz. Corea, Clarke, and White had all been members of the fusion powerhouse of the '70s Return to Forever, but make no mistake – Echoes of an Era is very much an acoustic bop date. With White producing and Corea handling the arrangements, the singer swings aggressively and really soars on Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You" and Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train," as well as on "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "All of Me," and "I Loves You Porgy." In fact, Khan's jazz singing is so strong that one cannot help but wonder what would have happened if jazz had been her dominant direction instead of R&B.

Tracklist:

01 - Them There Eyes
02 - All Of Me
03 - I Mean You
04 - I Love You Porgy
05 - Take The A Train
06 - I Hear Music
07 - Hire Wire - The Aerialist
08 - All Of Me (Alternate take)
09 - Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

Produced by Lenny White. Engineered by Benny Kirsch.
Recorded in 1981–1982 at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, CA.

Musicians:
Chaka Khan - vocals
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet, flugelhorn
Chick Corea - piano
Stanley Clarke - acoustic bass
Lenny White - drums


Thanks to the Original customer!