| Indigo Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1983 | |||
| Recorded | August 1983 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Milestone | |||
| Hank Crawford chronology | ||||
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Indigo Blue is an album by the American saxophonist Hank Crawford, released in 1983. [1] [2] Crawford supported the album with a North American tour. [3]
The album was recorded in New York City in August 1983. [4] Crawford played saxophone and electric piano on the songs, which are mostly ballads and blues. [5] "All Alone and Blue" is a version of the Percy Mayfield song. [6] "Just for a Thrill" was written in part by Lil Armstrong. [6] "The Very Thought of You" was composed by Ray Noble. [7] "Funny" is an interpretation of the Willie Nelson song. [8] "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is a version of the standard made famous by Duke Ellington. [7] Dr. John played organ and piano on some tracks; Melvin Sparks played guitar. [9] Bernard Purdie played drums and Wilbur Bascomb played bass. [10] Crawford employed a four-piece horn section that included David "Fathead" Newman. [11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Crawford's "alto sax style remains heavily influenced by Memphis blues and R&B, which are strong elements here." [15] The Morning Call called the album "a cohesive collection of eclectic material", concluding that "Crawford's second Milestone offering rivals the quality of the first". [6] The Herald labeled Crawford "a balladeer and lyrical mood-spinner of the first rank." [7] The Sun said that Crawford "plays with more grit than usual... It's all quite pleasant and funky." [9] The Sun , of Baltimore, lamented that "the fact that [Crawford] is playing two instruments necessitates enough overdubbing to blunt the momentum of the performances." [17]
In 1991, the Chicago Tribune opined that "Crawford's sound has the edgy quality and swing that the imitators lack." [19] AllMusic praised the performances of Dr. John and Crawford and said, "The bittersweet ballad 'Just for a Thrill' ends the set, with some of the sweetest and most lyrical piano and alto playing either man had done on a record until that time." [12]
Side 1
Side 2
