| Preaching to the Choir | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 30, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | July 31 – August 1, 2020 and November 20–21, 2020 | |||
| Venue | Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 65:21 | |||
| Label | Smoke Sessions | |||
| Producer | Paul Stache, Damon Smith | |||
| Vincent Herring chronology | ||||
| ||||
Preaching to the Choir is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2020 and released the following year on the Smoke Sessions label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Jazzwise |   [2] |
| The Times | [3] |
Jazzwise reviewed the album stating "One of the less-lionised among the Young Lions of the 1990s, Herring perhaps didn’t get the same publicity because he spent a long time in the quintet of Nat Adderley, ostensibly deputising for the leader's brother. Not that he sounds much like Cannonball, except in the constant manipulation of his tone and articulation to enliven his phraseology, and in the rhythmic and melodic variety that regularly brings a smile to the listener's physiognomy. Similarly, the programming poses no problems for listener or performers, featuring groovy heads by among others Cedar Walton and Wes Montgomery alongside well-worn (but now refreshed) standards by Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Burton Lane and Ellington ... This is enough to guarantee a rewarding listen, but worth mentioning too is that apparently Herring undertook the session while suffering a debilitating bout of rheumatoid arthritis – you would never know it!". [2] The Times said "Vincent Herring made this album thinking it would be his last. A bout of coronavirus left him with rheumatoid arthritis — a worry for any saxophonist. Yet his abilities aren’t impaired and nor is his attitude. Although the CD booklet shows his masked quartet playing behind Perspex screens and quotes him on the pandemic and politics, instead of fretting or finger-wagging he goes full steam ahead on a session of smile-inducing swing". [3]
Eric Alexander is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. Having placed second at the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition behind Joshua Redman and ahead of Chris Potter and Tim Warfield, he was soon signed by a record label and has since recorded over 20 albums as a leader and over 300 as a sideman.
Vincent Dwyne Herring is an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, composer, and educator. Known for his fiery and soulful playing in the bands of Horace Silver, Freddie Hubbard, and Nat Adderley in the earlier stages of his career, he now frequently performs around the world with his own groups and is heavily involved in jazz education.
Cyrus Chestnut is an American jazz pianist, composer and producer. In 2006, Josh Tyrangiel, music critic for Time, wrote: "What makes Chestnut the best jazz pianist of his generation is a willingness to abandon notes and play space."
James Bryant Woode was an American jazz bassist. He played and/or recorded in bands with Flip Phillips, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, Nat Pierce, Sidney Bechet, Billie Holiday, Jaki Byard, Earl Hines, Jimmy Witherspoon, Clark Terry and Miles Davis.
Mark Gross is an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop tradition. He studied at the Berklee College of Music, graduating in 1988, then worked in the band of Lionel Hampton and performed in Five Guys Named Moe on Broadway. He has since worked with a variety of other artists, including the bands of Delfeayo Marsalis, Nat Adderley and the Dave Holland Big Band. Gross first recorded as a solo act with 1997's Preach Daddy, followed in 2000 by The Riddle of the Sphinx, in 2013 with "Blackside", Mark Gross + Strings (2018) and The Gospel According to Mark: A Jazz Suite (2024).
Javon Anthony Jackson is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and educator. He first became known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1987 until Blakey's death in 1990. and went on to release 22 recordings as a bandleader and tour and record on over 150 CDs with jazz greats including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine and Ben E. King.
Andrés Boiarsky is an Argentine alto and tenor saxophonist. He is known for his work as a jazz musician and his contributions to the film Man Facing Southeast (1986).
Charles Davis was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Davis played alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, and performed extensively with Archie Shepp and Sun Ra.
Smoke Jazz Club is a jazz club located at 2751 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The club was opened on April 9, 1999 by co-founders Paul Stache and Frank Christopher and is currently owned by Stache and his wife and partner Molly Sparrow Johnson. The venue has hosted numerous renowned jazz artists and in 2014 launched an associated record label, Smoke Sessions Records.
Voices Deep Within is an album by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 2009 and released on the Highnote label.
One Flight Down is an album by pianist Cedar Walton which was recorded in 2006 and released on the Highnote label.
Naturally is an album by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 2012 and released on the HighNote label.
Patience Higgins is a New York-based jazz saxophonist, flutist, and multi-reed musician. He also plays clarinet, oboe, and English horn. He has performed with Duke Ellington Orchestra, Barry Harris, Archie Shepp, Jimmy Scott, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paquito D’Rivera, Cleo Laine, and The Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet. Higgins has a history as a Broadway musician. He is a music educator and teaches at the New York Jazz Workshop Music School. Higgins has toured with the Duke Ellington and Count Basie Orchestras.
Bebop Lives! is a live album by saxophonist Frank Morgan which was recorded at the Village Vanguard in 1986 and released on the Contemporary label.
James Spaulding Plays the Legacy of Duke Ellington is an album by saxophonist James Spaulding featuring compositions by Duke Ellington which was recorded in 1976 and released on the Danish Storyville label.
Simple Pleasure is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring which was recorded in 2001 and released on the Highnote label.
Folklore: Live at the Village Vanguard is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring which was recorded at the Village Vanguard in late 1993 and released on the MusicMasters label the following year.
A Million Colors in Your Mind is an album by pianist Cyrus Chestnut that was recorded in 2014 and released on the HighNote label the following year.
The Battle: Live at Smoke is an album by saxophonists Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander which was recorded in 2005 and released on the Highnote label.
Friendly Fire: Live at Smoke is an album by saxophonists Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander which was recorded in 2011 and released the following year on the Highnote label.