I felt compelled to buy Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters following its shocking win for album of the year at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Glad I did. The tribute to Joni Mitchell is a good album _ excellent songs by one of the most gifted songwriters of her generation, virtuoso playing by Hancock and his talented band (including bassist Dave Holland and saxophonist Wayne Shorter) and well-turned appearances by a clutch of singers, including Mitchell herself, Tina Turner, Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Was it the best album released in 2007? I don’t think so.
That said, I’m really really happy the Grammy people chose to honor jazz music in general and Herbie Hancock in particular. Jazz is a sorely neglected art form that needs all the attention it can get and Hancock is one of this country’s most gifted artists. Few musicians are more deserving of the recognition.
However, I do not believe Hancock’s album was even the best jazz album released last year; I believe that distinction belongs to Terence Blanchard, a New Orleans native who released the emotionally charged A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina). A Tale of God’s Will, a collaborative effort with songs written by trumpeter Blanchard and members of his terrific band (Derrick Hodge, bass; Brice Winston, saxophones; Aaron Parks, piano; Kendrick Scott, drums) is as passionate of piece of music as I’ve heard in years. From the opening notes, the listener is trapped in a powerful story that moves inexorably toward its mournful conclusion, touching upon every imaginable emotion along the way. This is instrumental music at its finest. The players’ investment in the music _ both emotionally and intellectually _ is palpable.
My admiration for A Tale of God’s Will is boundless. Though it’s a word that’s overused these days, I do believe it is a masterpiece that deserves to be remembered as long as the disaster that spawned it.
Happily, it was awarded the Grammy for best album by a large jazz ensemble. I don’t believe, however, that award is adequate.
