FREDA PAYNE - After The Lights Go Down Low (1963-2005) RM | LP Reproduction | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

By the year 2000, the golden oldie rotation of "Band of Gold" was the main thing keeping the memory of this singer alive. Yet, deep in the catalog of this classic jazz label lies this ambitious, largely successful recording which shows just how diverse and indeed brilliant Freda Payne can be. The album is divided half into big band tracks, half into small combo. The main presence in both cases is alto saxophonist Phil Woods, and this is one of the few recordings he doesn't turn into a football scrimmage for bebop yardage. There is an incredible wealth of material here, and it is definitely impressive to consider that Duke Ellington wrote a song specifically for the session. It is the singer's confidence and marvelous vocal abilities that steal the show at every turn, but that is not to demean the contributions of top-drawer jazz musicians such as pianist Walter Perkins and guitarist Jim Hall. The record is dominated by Tin Pan Alley material, to be sure, but on the second side some serious jazz is attempted, including a beautiful "Round Midnight" and a version of "Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman. When it comes to the latter tune, the author of the liner note seems to be straining to hide his contempt, referring to the song as a "composition" in italics, as if it was too touchy to print such a thing in a regular font. It is hoped that an Impulse re-issue will see the light of day in this case so that the line "all that's left is a band of gold" will no longer be true in the case of this virtuoso songstress. Eugene Chadbourne  
Tracklist :
1. After the Lights Go Down Low 3:23
L.C. Lovett / A. White
2. Sweet Pumpkin 2:56
Ronnell Bright
3. Blue Piano 2:48
Duke Ellington / Bill Katz / Ruth Roberts / Bob Thiele
4. The Things We Love To Do 2:32
Stanley Clayton / Clara Ward
5. Awaken My Lonely One 2:07
Philip Moody / Doris Pony Sherrell
6. Sweet September 2:33
Bill McGuffie
7. I Cried for You 3:58
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
8. 'Round Midnight 4:20
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams 
9. Out of This World 3:10
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
10. Lonely Woman 3:53
Ornette Coleman / Margo Guryan
11. I Wish I Knew 3:50
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
12. It's Time 1:53
Pauline Rivelli / Ruth Roberts
Credits :
Freda Payne - Vocals                                          
Al DeRisi - Trumpet
Jimmy Nottingham - Trumpet
Ernie Royal - Trumpet
Nick Travis - Trumpet
Quentin Jackson - Trombone
Alan Raph - Trombone
Bob Brookmeyer - Valve Trombone
Phil Woods - Alto Saxophone
Seldon Powell - Tenor Saxphone
Zoot Sims - Tenor Saxphone
Sol Schlinger - Baritone Saxophone
Hank Jones - Piano
Art Davis - Bass
Gus Johnson - Drums
Manny Albam - Arranger, Conductor
Recorded September 1963
at RCA Studios, New York City
Tracks 1 and 2 on September 17
Tracks 3-6 on September 18
Tracks 7-12
Phil Woods - Alto Saxophone
Hank Jones - Piano
Jim Hall - Guitar
Art Davis - Bass
Walter Perkins - Drums