Here & Gone

Performer: David Sanborn
Engineer: Dean Sharenow; Jonathan Joseph; Joe Ferla; Michael C. Ross; Otto D'Agnolo; Lawrence Manchester
Producer: Phil Ramone; Phil Ramone
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Adapter: Gil Goldstein. Personnel: Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Joss Stone (vocals); Derek Trucks, Russell Malone (guitar); John Moses, Charles Pillow (bass clarinet); Lou Marini (tenor saxophone); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone); Keyon Harrold, Lew Soloff, Wallace Roney (trumpet); Gil Goldstein (Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, Wurlitzer organ); Ricky Peterson (Hammond b-3 organ); Christian McBride (bass instrument); Steve Gadd (drums, drum). Audio Mixer: Joe Ferla. Recording information: Chaton Studios, Phoenix, AZ; Hiatus, New York, NY; Jacksonville, FL; Legacy Recording Studios, New York, NY; Mama Stone's Recording Studio, Ashill, England; Olympic Studios, London, England; Studio 835, Los Angeles, CA. Photographers: Lynn Goldsmith; Joanne Savio. Arranger: Gil Goldstein. David Sanborn's 23 release as a leader finds the veteran saxophonist looking back to his roots. While still fitting comfortably within the smooth, accessible sound Sanborn is known for, HERE AND GONE salutes the blues, R&B, and pop genres that inspired the artist in his youth. Covers of Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and Ray Charles's "I Believe It to My Soul" are two cases in point. The album also shines with guest stars, including Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Derek Trucks, and Steve Gadd, among many others. With help from his friends, Sanborn goes straight to the bluesy heart of jazz, an aim that's immediately apparent on the standard, "St. Louis Blues," that kicks off the album. Overflowing with excellent playing, HERE AND GONE is soulful and sweet, and shows Sanborn coming full circle. With the release of his searingly soulful, rootsy, and groovy Decca debut, Here & Gone, David Sanborn became the second legendary saxman -- after Maceo Parker and Roots and Grooves -- to pay homage to the ever-popular genius of Ray Charles in 2008. Sanborn approaches the Genius in a novel and not completely obvious way, however, tapping into the fruitful symbiotic relationship between Ray Charles and one of Sanborn's chief sax influences, Hank Crawford -- who was Charles' saxman and arranger in the '50s and early '60s. Three of the nine tracks pay searing homage (complete with attractive old school all-star vocals) to the Crawford-Charles vibe as originally captured on Charles' seminal 1960 release Genius + Soul = Jazz: the simmering, blues- and brass-inflected "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town," featuring a coolly pensive vocal by Eric Clapton; the similarly vibing "I've Got News for You," with a delightfully playful Sam Moore; and the haunting, slow-scorching instrumental ballad "Basin Street Blues." Sanborn dug into Charles' next album, The Genius Sings the Blues, for the swinging seduction of "I Believe It to My Soul," a powerful showcase for the otherworldly soul transcendence of Joss Stone. Another way Sanborn invokes the Genius is by acoustically covering "Brother Ray," a Marcus Miller-penned tribute gem the saxman first recorded on 1999's Inside. It fits the theme here perfectly and has Derek Trucks' smiling and crying guitar work fronting Ricky Peterson's shimmering Hammond B-3 and those prominent snazzy horns. Sanborn then pays more direct tribute to Crawford with a bustling, jazzy twist on Crawford's own "Stoney Lonesome." Not pure jazz, pure blues, or pure R&B/pop, Here & Gone nonetheless is a solid and entertaining primer on the swirl of influences -- also including David "Fathead" Newman, King Curtis, and a sea of Chicago blues legends who frequented St. Louis -- that gelled to eventually make Sanborn one of the most imitated saxmen of his generation. As far as musical autobiographies go, these nine tracks tell tales every Sanborn, blues, and soul fan will be regaled by for hours. ~ Jonathan Widran

JazzTimes (p.68) - "There's a joyful bounce to David Sanborn's playing on HERE AN DGONE that stands up to repeated listening. You get the feeling he had a ball recording it." Record Collector (magazine) (p.93) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[With] ear-catching cameos...but they don't distract from Sanborn's gutsy sax, which shines most refulgent on Gil Goldstein's elegant big band arrangements of 'St. Louis Blues' and 'Basin St. Blues.' Undoubtedly Sanborn's best set in years."

David Sanborn is one of the most successful saxophonists in American music. From the mid-1970s on, his razor-sharp style and sense of groove have made him a giant in the smooth-jazz field. He has recorded with a myriad of contemporary jazz and pop artists and makes regular appearances with Paul Schaffer's band on the Late Show With David Letterman. As a result, he has maintained an extremely high media profile for most of his career.

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