Kurt Elling: The Gate auf CD

+ Bob Mintzer, John McLean, Laurence Hobgood u.a.

Für sein letztes Album "Dedicated To You", eine Hommage an John Coltrane und Johnny Hartman, erhielt Kurt Elling nach acht vorangegangenen Nominierungen endlich seinen ersten Grammy. Für ihn ist dies aber kein Grund, auf seinem neuen Album nun in dieselbe musikalische Kerbe zu schlagen. Diesmal überrascht er stattdessen mit einem aufregend eklektischen Mix.

Auf dem von Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt) produzierten Album "The Gate" interpretiert der Vokalist neben Jazzkompositionen von Miles Davis ("Blue In Green"), Herbie Hancock ("Come Running To Me") und Marc Johnson ("Samurai Hee-Haw") auch Rock-, Pop-, R'n'B- und Funk-Nummern von King Crimson ("Matte Kudusai"), Joe Jackson ("Steppin' Out"), den Beatles ("Norwegian Wood"), Stevie Wonder ("Golden Lady") und Earth, Wind & Fire ("After The Love Is Gone").

Begleitet wird Kurt Elling von seinem langjährigen Pianisten Laurence Hobgood, Bassist John Patitucci, Gitarrist John McLean, Saxophonist Bob Mintzer sowie den Schlagzeuger Terreon Gully und Kobie Watkins.

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The New York Times is one of numerous publications to declare that Kurt Elling is the “standout male vocalist of our time,” and The Gate, Elling’s follow-up to his Grammy-winning Dedicated to You, is among his strongest albums—and perhaps the finest of his career.

Produced by Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan), The Gate is a musical collection in which boundaries cease to exist, a sensibility enhanced by producer Don Was, who had expressed the desire to work with Elling—an opportunity which Elling found irresistible.

“I first heard Kurt on the local jazz station and was knocked out by his exotic blend of soul, technique, intelligence and charismatic hipness,” Was recalls. “He made this diverse collection of songs his own—and we had a blast.”

What Don brought to this project," said Elling, "was his love of music and musicians, and a confidence that liberated us from all concern. He is the consummate producer and this was an extraordinary experience—my favorite in a studio.”

The Gate points Elling into a new and satisfyingly emotional direction. He has somehow found a way to make a deeply personal statement out of the music of King Crimson, Joe Jackson, Stevie Wonder and the Beatles—in addition to providing a new and vibrant understanding of Miles Davis, Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock.

That Elling is first and foremost a jazz singer makes the work searching and enthralling. His phrasing is cool and meditative as he ventures into areas usually reserved for instrumentalists. As a lyricist, Elling breathes new life into gems previously known only for their melodies. “His words are informed by a powerful poetic spirit,” said poet and Bollingen Prize winner Robert Creeley. “Kurt Elling takes us into a world of sacred particulars.”

The Gate features longtime associate, Laurence Hobgood on piano, Bob Mintzer on sax, John McLean on guitar, John Patitucci on bass and two drummers, Terreon Gulley and Kobie Watkins—in addition to percussionist Lenny Castro. Said Elling, “The musicians on this recording inspired me to be…better.”

Rezensionen

,,Liebevoll sezieren Elling und Band diese Hits, variieren. pointieren und akzentuieren sie ideenreich, swingen hier, verlangsamen dort. Abgerundet wird das Set mit Eigenkompositionen wie der großartigen neunminütigen Hommage an Clevelands berühmtesten Jazzclub: "Nighttown, Lady Bright". Der Grammy-Gewinner und Downbeat-Critics-Poll-Liebling mit dem Vier-Oktaven-Bariton bleibt auf Erfolgskurs." (Jazzthing, 02-03 / 2011)

,,Kurt Elling und Don Was bilden ein perfektes Paar. Der Sänger, ausgestattet mit einem vollmundigen, vier Oktaven umfassenden Bariton, fand in Was, erfahren im Umgang mit Stars vom Kaliber der Rolling Stones oder Bob Dylans, den idealen Produzenten." (audio, 04 / 2011)

,,Kein Zweifel: Elling ist der Größte unter den Lebenden, als Sänger wie als Entertainer. Virtuos und mutig, cool und leidenschaftlich: Er geht immer aufs Ganze." (Rolling Stone, 03 / 2011)