Catalogus

Jon Hendricks And The All-Stars - Boppin' At The Blue Note (1995)

"Jon Hendricks, the genius of vocalese (writing words to fit recorded solos of jazz greats), has long been one of the top lyricists in music. However, the emphasis during the first seven songs of this live CD is on scatting and heated bop-oriented improvising. Hendricks, assisted by daughter Michele, is joined by an all-star horn section: Wynton Marsalis (t), Al Grey (tromb), Red Holloway (as), and Benny Golson (ts) and a supportive four-piece rhythm section. The biggest surprise is "Everybody's Boppin'" which features scatting by Jon, Michele and Marsalis. Wynton is quite effective and virtuosic in a manner similar to Dizzy Gillespie. Michele is excellent on an uptempo "Almost Like Being in Love" and "Since I Fell for You". Jon and the vocal ensemble perform vocalese versions of three Count Basie charts long ago recorded by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: re-creations of re-creations. This was Jon Hendricks' best recording in several years and one of the finest 1995 jazz vocal albums." (Scott Yanow, Allmusic)