The Child Within

Last updated
The Child Within
The Child Within.jpg
Studio album by
Billy Childs
ReleasedAugust 20, 1996
Genre Jazz
Label Shanachie
Producer Billy Childs
Billy Childs chronology
I've Known Rivers
(1995)		The Child Within
(1996)		Skim Coat
(1999)

The Child Within is an album by the American musician Billy Childs, released on August 20, 1996. [1] [2] Childs supported it with several live dates. [3] The Child Within was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Performance, Individual or Group", with "Aaron's Song" nominated for "Best Instrumental Composition". [4]

Contents

Production

The album was produced by Childs. [5] He was backed by Dave Holland on bass, Jeff Watts on drums, and Terence Blanchard on trumpet. [6] Steve Wilson contributed on alto and soprano saxophone; Ravi Coltrane played tenor on one track. [7] [8] "The Loneliest Monk" is named for a mispronunciation of "Thelonious Monk", allegedly made by MTV's Tabitha Soren. [5] "Theme from Chinatown" is an interpretation of Jerry Goldsmith's composition for the film Chinatown . [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [10]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Billboard stated that "Childs' keyboard style is often dizzyingly funky, with a passing resemblance to the acoustic Herbie Hancock." [5] The Ottawa Citizen said that Childs "combines intricacy with high energy ... [his] take on jazz playing is broad enough to make for interesting ballads." [11] The New York Daily News noted that Childs "dives into fresh and inventive charts for standards and originals that organically frame the striking solos." [12] The Washington Post said that "Childs's meld of classical grace and jazz spirit proves bracing". [13] The Record criticized the "uncharacteristically sour play" of Blanchard. [7]

AllMusic called the album "a dandy collection of bop-influenced originals and some well-chosen standards". [9] MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide praised Childs's "unending melodic creativity". [10]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Loverman" 
2."The Loneliest Monk" 
3."Aaron's Song" 
4."The Hunted" 
5."Theme from Chinatown" 
6."Alone Together" 
7."Pannonica" 
8."Just Another Day" 
9."Dreams" 
10."I Have a Love" 

References

  1. ↑ Takiff, Jonathan (August 8, 1996). "Throwing Muses, Face Mobb, II D Extreme to release new albums". Montgomery Advertiser. Knight-Ridder Tribune. p. 4C.
  2. ↑ Macnie, Jim (August 10, 1996). "Jazz blue notes". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 32. p. 36.
  3. ↑ "Childs Jazz Group to Perform Free Concert". Los Angeles Times. October 5, 1996. p. F4.
  4. ↑ "Grammy Awards '97". Los Angeles Daily News. January 8, 1997. p. L6.
  5. 1 2 3 "The Child Within". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 35. August 31, 1996. p. 115.
  6. ↑ Blumenthal, Howard J. (1997). The Jazz CD Listener's Guide. Billboard Books. p. 81.
  7. 1 2 Fox, Ron (March 14, 1997). "Quick Spins". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. p. 9.
  8. 1 2 3 The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD (4th ed.). Penguin Books. 1998. pp. 279–280.
  9. 1 2 "Child Within Review by Stewart Mason". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  10. 1 2 MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. pp. 227–228.
  11. ↑ Hum, Peter (December 28, 1996). "Jazz". The Ottawa Citizen. p. H3.
  12. ↑ Santoro, Gene (August 20, 1996). "Record Reviews". Daily News. p. 46.
  13. ↑ Harrington, Richard (April 13, 1997). "Here & Now". The Washington Post. p. G3.
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