A I Got No Kick Against Modern Jazz

by (i Got No Kick Against) Modern

Overview

Jazz musicians have been recording Beatles songs ever since 1964, generally with very indifferent results. This CD is a good idea that is poorly executed. 14 Beatles songs are performed by 14 different groups, ranging in style from McCoy Tyner to Lee Ritenour, but unfortunately, the great majority of these renditions pay such a loving tribute to the melodies (with the accent on easy-listening moods), instead of trying to come up with fresh ideas and approaches, that the results are predictable and quite forgettable. Best are the McCoy Tyner trio's "She's Leaving Home," Chick Corea's solo piano exploration of "Eleanor Rigby," and Arturo Sandoval's medium-tempo blues treatment of "Blackbird." But none of those selections justify acquiring the CD, and many of the other numbers are difficult to sit through. "The Long and Winding Road" is mostly a showcase for George Benson's poppish vocal; The Groove Collective does an acid jazz rendition of "She's So Heavy" that almost works; Diana Krall sings a slow, dull version of "And I Love Her"; Tom Scott leaves no R&B cliche unused on "The Fool On The Hill"; Ramsey Lewis and his quartet give "Michelle" a lightly funky (if somewhat wandering) treatment; Lee Ritenour imitates Wes Montgomery on "A Day in the Life"; Nelson Rangell plays "Let It Be" with energy but no real idea other than trying to steal as many licks as possible from David Sanborn; Russ Freeman burdens "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with some very annoying electronic percussion and an R&B vocal group; Spyro Gyra sounds very lethargic on "In My Life"; David Benoit's "Here There and Everywhere" is only a half-step above Muzak; and Dave Grusin concludes the set with a thoughtful but unadventurous solo piano version of "Yesterday." What a waste. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	09/26/1995
Label:	Grp
UPC:	0011105982726
Rank:	95785

Tracks

1. The Long and Winding Road  - George Benson  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney
2. She's Leaving Home  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  - McCoy Tyner
3. I Want You (She's So Heavy)  -  Groove Collective  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney
4. And I Love Her  - Diana Krall  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney
5. The Fool on the Hill  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  - Tom Scott
6. Michelle  - John Lennon  - Ramsey Lewis  - Paul McCartney
7. A Day in the Life  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  - Lee Ritenour
8. Let It Be  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  - Nelson Rangell
9. Eleanor Rigby  - Chick Corea  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney
10. While My Guitar Gently Weeps  - Russ Freeman  - George Harrison
11. In My Life  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  -  Spyro Gyra
12. Here, There and Everywhere  - David Benoit  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney
13. Blackbird  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney  - Arturo Sandoval
14. Yesterday  - Dave Grusin  - John Lennon  - Paul McCartney

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tom Scott   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Lee Ritenour   Primary Artist,Guitar
Groove Collective   Primary Artist,Vocals
Russ Freeman   Primary Artist,Sitar,Keyboards,Rhythm Loops,Slide Guitar,Guitar (12 String)
Spyro Gyra   Primary Artist
George Benson   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Chick Corea   Primary Artist,Piano
Arturo Sandoval   Primary Artist,Trumpet
David Benoit   Primary Artist,Piano
Dave Grusin   Primary Artist,Piano
Diana Krall   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals
Ramsey Lewis   Primary Artist,Piano
McCoy Tyner   Primary Artist,Piano
Nelson Rangell   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Bridgette Bryant   Vocals
Will Lee   Bass
David Enos   Bass
Lillian Tynes   Vocals
Chuck Webb   Bass
Manuel Castillo   Percussion
Kenny Anderson   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor)
Steven Holtman   Horn
Mario Rivera   Sax (Baritone)
Gary Grant   Horn
Gordon "Nappy G" Clay   Congas,Timbales,Percussion
Land Richards   Drums
Fabio Morgera   Cornet,Flugelhorn
Greg Phillinganes   Keyboards
Genji Siraisi   Drums
Lynne Fiddmont   Vocals
Jonathan Maron   Bass,Guitar (Electric)
Jay Rodriguez   Berimbau,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Melvin Davis   Bass
Ricky Lawson   Drums
Aaron Serfaty   Drums
Michael Fisher   Percussion
Michael White   Drums
Otmaro Ruiz   Piano
Gary Lindsay   Sax (Tenor)
Dan Higgins   Flute
Wolfgang Haffner   Drums,Percussion
Tom Schuman   Keyboards
Byron Stripling   Trumpet
Lewis Nash   Drums
Jerry Hey   Horn
Josh Roseman   Trombone
Richard Worth   Flute
Julio Fernandez   Guitar
Scott Ambush   Bass
Nathan East   Bass
Perry Wilson   Drums
Jay Beckenstein   Saxophone
Joel Rosenblatt   Drums
John Beasley   Piano,Fender Rhodes
Jon Werking   Piano,Keyboards
Jim Pugh   Trombone
Mike Logan   Synthesizer
Aaron Scott   Drums
Sekou Bunch   Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric)
Paul Jackson, Jr.   Guitar (Rhythm)
Avery Sharpe   Bass
Bruce Dukov   Violin
Christian McBride   Bass
Itaal Shur   Keyboards
Chuck Loeb   Guitar,Keyboards

Technical Credits

Ron Moss   Associate Producer
Michael Landy   Engineer
Mike Kloster   Assistant Engineer
Tim Aller   Project Coordinator
Peter Max   Illustrations
Dave Amien   Engineer
Joseph Doughney   Assistant Engineer
Will Hawkins   Assistant Engineer
Laurie Goldman   Design,Art Direction
Russ Freeman   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Lee Ritenour   Performer,Producer
Ron Aston   Drum Programming
John Lennon   Composer
Robin Lynch   Art Direction
Gus Mossler   Engineer
Michelle   Performer
Fabio Morgera   Horn Arrangements
Spyro Gyra   Performer
Ben Wisch   Engineer
Carl Griffin   Producer
Doug Sax   Mastering
George Benson   Performer
George Harrison   Composer
Nelson Rangell   Performer
The Rippingtons   Performer
Gary Lindsay   Producer
Tommy LiPuma   Producer,Executive Producer
Arturo Sandoval   Producer,Performer
Alan Hirshberg   Engineer
Bruce Barris   Mixing,Engineer
David Benoit   Producer,Performer
Groove Collective   Producer,Performer
Dave Grusin   Producer,Performer
Clark Germain   Engineer
Don Murray   Mixing,Engineer
Diana Krall   Performer
Peter Doell   Assistant Engineer
Jerry Hey   Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Josh Roseman   Horn Arrangements
Josiah Gluck   Engineer
Robert Read   Engineer
Richard Worth   Horn Arrangements
Ramsey Lewis   Arranger,Producer,Performer
Rory Romano   Assistant Engineer
Richard Huredia   Assistant Engineer
Lynne Scott   Producer
Jay Beckenstein   Producer
Dennis Tousana   Assistant Engineer
Phil Magnotti   Mixing,Engineer
McCoy Tyner   Performer
Mike Logan   Arranger
Al Schmitt   Mixing,Engineer
Tom Scott   Arranger,Producer,Performer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Chick Corea   Performer
Itaal Shur   Horn Arrangements
Chuck Loeb   Arranger,Producer