Mark Murphy Sings

Last updated
Mark Murphy Sings
Markmurphysings.jpg
Studio album by
Released1975
RecordedJune 17–19, 1975
Genre Vocal jazz
Length38:13
Label Muse
Producer Helen Keane
Mark Murphy chronology
Mark 2
(1975)
Mark Murphy Sings
(1975)
Mark Murphy Sings Mostly Dorothy Fields & Cy Coleman
(1977)

Mark Murphy Sings is a 1975 studio album by Mark Murphy. [1]

Contents

Background

Jon Hendricks wrote lyrics to John Coltrane's "Naima" (Tell Me the Truth, Arista, 1975). But for this release Murphy uses his own new lyrics. Producer, broadcaster Michael Bourne wrote, "He envisioned the song as a ceremonial incantation". [2] Murphy said, "Did you ever read that Tom Tryon book about the village? It's all about this group of Cornish people who emigrated to America around 1650 and holed up in this little Connecticut village where time just passed them by. Nobody knows they're here, and they simply never veered from the worship of the Earth Mother. That's what I thought of doing the song. The end refrain goes 'Naima, timeless name for a timeless woman.' It's like the very first earth goddess, the very first religion." [3] [2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow said that "This CD reissue brings back one of singer Mark Murphy's best all-round sessions...Murphy is heard throughout in prime form, constantly stretching himself" [1]

DownBeat assigned the album 4 stars. In his review Chuck Berg says Murphy has "an ability to cast evocative spells, a unique voice quality with distinctive raspy overtones, impeccable musicianship (his intonation and phrasing are virtually faultless), and a taste for challenging material and accomplished musicians". [5] The review singles out "Naima", "Young and Foolish" and "Maiden Voyage" as highlights. [5]

Track listing

  1. "On the Red Clay" (Freddie Hubbard, Murphy) - 4:35
  2. "Naima" (John Coltrane) - 4:49
  3. "Body and Soul" (Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) - 5:15
  4. "Young and Foolish" (Albert Hague, Arnold B. Horwitt) - 2:49
  5. "Empty Faces" (Lani Hall, Milton Nascimento) - 5:15
  6. "Maiden Voyage" (Herbie Hancock) - 5:26
  7. "How Are You Dreaming?" (Bob Crewe, A. Shatkin) - 4:29
  8. "Cantaloupe Island" (Hancock, Murphy) - 5:35

Personnel

Performance
Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Brecker</span> American jazz saxophonist and composer (1949–2007)

Michael Leonard Brecker, nicknamed Dr. Sax, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as a performer and composer, received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 2004, and was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame in 2007.

<i>Giant Steps</i> 1960 studio album by John Coltrane

Giant Steps is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in February 1960 through Atlantic Records. This was Coltrane's first album as leader for the label, with which he had signed a new contract the previous year. The record is regarded as one of the most influential jazz albums of all time. Many of its tracks have become practice templates for jazz saxophonists. In 2004, it was one of fifty recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. It attained gold record status in 2018, having sold 500,000 copies.

<i>Maiden Voyage</i> (Herbie Hancock album) 1965 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Maiden Voyage is the fifth album led by jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder on March 17, 1965, for Blue Note Records. It was issued as BLP 4195 and BST 84195. Featuring Hancock with tenor saxophonist George Coleman, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams, it is a concept album aimed at creating an oceanic atmosphere. As such, many of the track titles refer to marine biology or the sea, and the musicians develop the concept through their use of space. The album was presented with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999.

<i>A Love Supreme</i> 1965 studio album by John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is an album by the jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane. He recorded it in one session on December 9, 1964, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, leading a quartet featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones.

<i>Transition</i> (John Coltrane album) 1970 studio album by John Coltrane

Transition is an album of music by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, recorded in 1965 but released posthumously only in 1970. As its title indicates, Transition was a bridge between classic quartet recordings like A Love Supreme and the more experimental works of Coltrane's last years.

<i>Olé Coltrane</i> 1961 studio album by John Coltrane

Olé Coltrane is a studio album by the jazz musician and composer John Coltrane. It was released in November 1961 through Atlantic Records. The album was recorded at A&R Studios in New York, and was the last of Coltrane's Atlantic albums to be made under his own supervision.

<i>Coltrane Plays the Blues</i> 1962 studio album by John Coltrane

Coltrane Plays the Blues is an album of music by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in July 1962 by Atlantic Records. It was recorded at Atlantic Studios during the sessions for My Favorite Things, assembled after Coltrane had stopped recording for the label and was under contract to Impulse Records. Like Prestige Records before them, as Coltrane's fame grew during the 1960s, Atlantic used unissued recordings and released them without either Coltrane's input or approval.

<i>Live at the Village Vanguard Again!</i> 1966 live album by John Coltrane

Live At The Village Vanguard Again! is a live jazz album by saxophonist John Coltrane. Recorded in May 1966 during a live performance at the Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City, the album features Coltrane playing in the free jazz style that characterized his final years. The lineup features Coltrane's quintet, with Coltrane on tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, and flute, Pharoah Sanders on tenor saxophone and flute, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums, supplemented by Emanuel Rahim on percussion. It was the quintet's only official recording released during Coltrane's lifetime.

<i>Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall</i> 2002 live album by Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove

Directions in Music: Live at Massey Hall is a live recording by pianist Herbie Hancock, tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and trumpeter Roy Hargrove. It was recorded on October 25, 2001 in Toronto and was Brecker's eighth and Hancock's forty-fourth album. The band is rounded out by bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade.

Don Grolnick was an American jazz pianist, composer, and record producer. He was a member of the groups Steps Ahead and Dreams, both with Michael Brecker, and played often with the Brecker Brothers. As a session musician, he recorded with John Scofield, Billy Cobham, Roberta Flack, Harry Chapin, Dave Holland, Bette Midler, Marcus Miller, Bob Mintzer, Linda Ronstadt, David Sanborn, Carly Simon, J. D. Souther, Steely Dan, and James Taylor.

<i>Coltranes Sound</i> 1964 studio album by John Coltrane

Coltrane's Sound is an album credited to the jazz musician John Coltrane, recorded in 1960 and released in 1964 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1419. It was recorded at Atlantic Studios during the sessions for My Favorite Things, assembled after Coltrane had stopped recording for the label and was under contract to Impulse! Records. Like Prestige and Blue Note Records before them, as Coltrane's fame grew during the 1960s Atlantic used unissued recordings and released them without either Coltrane's input or approval.

<i>Coltrane Jazz</i> 1961 studio album by John Coltrane

Coltrane Jazz is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in early 1961 on Atlantic Records. Most of the album features Coltrane playing with his former Miles Davis bandmates, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb during two sessions in November and December, 1959. The exception is the track "Village Blues", which was recorded October 21, 1960. "Village Blues" comes from the first recording session featuring Coltrane playing with pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones, who toured and recorded with Coltrane as part of his celebrated "classic quartet" from 1960 to 1965.

<i>My Point of View</i> 1963 studio album by Herbie Hancock

My Point of View is the second album by pianist Herbie Hancock. It was released in 1963 on Blue Note Records as BLP 4126 and BST 84126. Musicians featured are trumpeter Donald Byrd, trombonist Grachan Moncur III, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, guitarist Grant Green, bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Tony Williams.

<i>Eastern Rebellion</i> 1976 studio album by Eastern Rebellion

Eastern Rebellion is an album by Eastern Rebellion led by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in late 1975 and became the first release on the Dutch Timeless label.

<i>The Best of John Coltrane</i> 1970 greatest hits album by John Coltrane

The Best of John Coltrane is a 1970 compilation album released by Atlantic Records collecting recordings made by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. The album was released shortly after his death as a part of the "Atlantic Jazz Anthology"—a series of greatest hits compilations for Atlantic jazz artists—and features performances from his brief period recording for Atlantic with new liner notes by jazz journalist Nat Hentoff.

<i>The Mastery of John Coltrane, Vol. 4: Tranes Modes</i> 1979 compilation album by John Coltrane

The Mastery of John Coltrane, Vol. IV: Trane's Modes is a compilation album by American saxophonist John Coltrane, released as a double LP in 1979. It features pieces recorded in 1961, two in studio and the remainder live. All the tracks were previously unissued, at the time of release. At present, "Africa " and "The Damned Don't Cry" may be found on the two-disc reissue of Africa/Brass, while all the live pieces have been included on The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings.

<i>Roscoe Mitchell Quartet</i> 1976 live album by Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell Quartet is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1975 and released on the Canadian Sackville label.

<i>Offering: Live at Temple University</i> 2014 live album by John Coltrane

Offering: Live at Temple University is a live album by John Coltrane recorded in 1966 and released posthumously by Resonance Records on September 23, 2014, Coltrane's 88th birthday. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Album Notes and was well-received by critics. Proceeds from the album benefit the John Coltrane Home.

<i>Stolen Moments</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1978 studio album by Mark Murphy

Stolen Moments is a 1978 studio album by Mark Murphy.

<i>Jazz Standards</i> (Mark Murphy album) 1998 compilation album by Mark Murphy

Jazz Standards is a compilation album of American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's Muse Records recordings. It was released by the 32 Jazz label in the United States in 1998. This album is a collection of jazz songs from his Muse years 1972–1991.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mark Murphy Sings". Allmusic . Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Bourne, Michael. (1998). Jazz Standards. (Liner notes). Mark Murphy. 32 Jazz.
  3. Bourne, Michael. (1975). Mark Murphy Sings. (Liner notes, LP). Mark Murphy. Muse Records.
  4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide . USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.  149. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  5. 1 2 3 Berg, Chuck. "Mark Murphy Sings". DownBeat . 1976 (August 12): 29.