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Cameron Smith
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Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of the original Parliament-Funkadelic, Bernie Worrell returns with this slab of funk-drenched jazz standards. Here he regales us with his variation on that most folkloric of collections, the standards album. It is this traditional compilation that positions the Great American Songbook as the control in that democratic social experiment known as jazz.

Focus on Bernie's playing and hear a sonic montage of creative spirit. His music is rife with wit, aggression, sensitivity and mischief. He incites moments of musical coalescence. The Latin polyrhythms that are close to his heart surface on Agua de Beber. On All the Things You Are, the ensemble achieves a potent push-pull, pitting that lilting Latin groove against Moog-driven funk. “Standards” swings hardest on Take Five -- whose pulse provokes the players to explore their psychic, communal negative space, giving rise to inspired, revelatory solos -- and Killer Joe, where robust brass provides the foundation for Bernie's artfully disjointed turn on the Rhodes.

The set closes out with Moon River, which rises from a melancholy melodica overture and settles into a lovely piano treatment. His great facility on piano best demonstrates the subtle dynamics of his mellifluous chord clusters. This brings to mind something a great guitarist once said when asked what gear allowed him to get his unique sound. "Hopefully," the man suggested, "it's in my hands." Whoever asked that question should have known better.


Track List and Credits:

1. Take the ‘A’ Train

Bernie Worrell – Piano

2. Take Five

Bernie Worrell – Synthesizer
Melvin Gibbs – Bass
Ronny Drayton – Guitar
JT Lewis – Drums

3. Água de Beber

Bernie Worrell – Piano
Tim Luntzel – Upright bass
Smokey Hormel – Nylon string guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
Kyle Cadena – Guitar
Glen Fittin - Percussion
Evan Taylor – Drums

4. All the Things You Are

Bernie Worrell – Rhodes, Synthesizer
Tim Luntzel – Bass
Smokey Hormel – Guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
Kyle Cadena – Guitar
Glen Fittin – Percussion
Evan Taylor – Drums
Chops Horns* – Horns

5. You’re My Thrill

Bernie Worrell – Organ
Tim Luntzel – Upright bass
Smokey Hormel – Acoustic guitar, Baritone guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
Kyle Cadena – Guitar
Glen Fittin – Vibraphone
Evan Taylor – Drums

6. Watermelon Man

Bernie Worrell – Clavinet, Synthesizers
Melvin Gibbs – Bass
Ronny Drayton – Guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
JT Lewis – Drums
Evan Taylor – Drums
Chops Horns – Horns

7. Bye Bye Blackbird

Bernie Worrell – Rhodes
Melvin Gibbs – Bass
Ronny Drayton – Guitar
Andrew Kimball – Nylon String Guitar
J.T. Lewis – Drums
Glen Fittin – Percussion
Evan Taylor – Percussion
Chops Horns* – Horns

8. Killer Joe

Bernie Worrell – Rhodes
Melvin Gibbs – Bass
Tim Luntzel – Bass
Ronny Drayton – Guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
JT Lewis – Drums
Evan Taylor – Drums
Chops Horns – Horns

9. Moon River

Bernie Worrell – Melodica, Piano
Tim Luntzel – Upright bass
Smokey Hormel – Guitar
Andrew Kimball – Guitar
Kyle Cadena – Guitar
Glen Fittin – Vibraphone
Evan Taylor – Drums