Gregory Porter, Donald Smith, Mansur Scott & Paul Zauner's Blue Brass - Great Voices Of Harlem (2014)

Harlem is a mythical place, the birthplace of many African-American dreams, a cultural melting-pot, and fuel for the imagination from the ''Cotton Club'' or the ''Apollo Theatre'' all the way up to Sugarhill. Think of this neighborhood in Upper Manhattan and names like Billie Holiday, James Brown, or Jay-Z, films like ''Across 110th Street'' or ''American Gangster'', plus Malcolm X, James Baldwin and Joe Louis will immediately come to mind. Fortunately, Harlem is not just a thing of the past, but more and more a cultural hotbed for things to come. One of the most important and popular artists to have risen to international fame from the clubs and bars in Harlem in recent years is Gregory Porter. The Grammy-winning gentleman, a giant not just of stature but of voice and soul, was discovered at St. Nick's Pub on Nicholas Avenue it is where he debuted hits like ''1960 What?'', where he met the members of his live-band, and where he signed his first record deal with the Harlem based label Motéma records. One of the first musicians to recognize Porter's immense talent almost ten years ago was an Austrian farmer and trombone-player. His name is Paul Zauner, and when he does not raise pigs on his farm or organize the fantastic festival INNtöne, he travels to Harlem (now in his 25th year!) to participate in the lively spirit of music that this legendary place still lives and breathes. But Zauner, a charming enthusiast, does not freeze in admiration, but rather acts on his inspired impulses: for years he has been inviting the musicians he met on his trips to Harlem to perform with him and his wonderful band Blue Brass in Europe. This CD, recorded in Austria and mastered in New York, is the result of this intercontinental family affair, a truly beautiful and rather legendary album that brings together Paul Zauner's world-class musicians with three incredible gentlemen who truly deserve the title ''Great Voices of Harlem'': The aforementioned Gregory Porter, the legendary Mansur Scott, and Lonnie Liston Smith's brother Donald. These three giants from very different backgrounds and generations, sing their soulful hearts out on classics like ''Watermelon Man, ''Moanin''', ''Somewhere Over The Rainbow'' or Horace Silver's standards ''Peace'' and ''Song For My Father''. One listen to them reveals a depth of spirit, that is unrivalled they combine the tradition with a modern curiosity, that speaks volumes about where they come from and where we will go.

Tracklist:

01. Moanin'
02. Intro Peace
03. Peace
04. Expansions
05. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
06. Doing Hard Time
07. Stella By Starlight
08. Watermelon Man
09. My One And Only Love
10. Days Of Wine And Roses
11. Mona Lisa
12. Song For My Father

Personnel:

Gregory Porter: vocals (1, 3, 5, 11)
Mansur Scott: vocals (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
Donald Smith: vocals (3, 4, 8, 9), piano, Fender Rhodes
Paul Zauner: trombone and leader
Barney Girlinger: trumpet, flugelhorn
Klaus Dickbauer: alto saxophone, bass clarinet
Klemens Pliem: tenor saxophone, alto flute
Martin Reiter: piano, Fender Rhodes
Wolfram Derschmidt: bass
Howard Curtis: drums