Let's Get Lost: The Songs Of Jimmy McHugh

Performer: Terence Blanchard
Artist: Dianne Reeves; Diana Krall; Cassandra Wilson; Jane Monheit
Engineer: Jim Anderson
Producer: Terence Blanchard
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Jane Monheit, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Brice Winston (tenor saxophone); Edward Simon (piano); Derek Nievergelt (bass); Eric Harland (drums). Recorded at Avatar and Clinton Studios, New York, New York between January 1 and February 27, 2000. Includes liner notes by Larry Blumenfeld. "Lost In A Fog" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo. Personnel: Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Dianne Reeves, Jane Monheit, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Brice Winston (tenor saxophone); Edward Simon (piano); Eric Harland (drums). Liner Note Author: Larry Blumenfeld. Recording information: Avatar Recording Studios, New York, NY (01/16/2001-02/27/2001); Clinton Recording, New York, NY (01/16/2001-02/27/2001). Photographers: Gil Gilbert; Carol Friedman; Jimmy Katz. Arrangers: Edward Simon ; Terence Blanchard. Let's Get Lost is a bit of a letdown when placed next to Blanchard's 2000 effort, Wandering Moon, which featured a blistering sextet playing original music. This album is a tribute to songwriter Jimmy McHugh, a pillar of Broadway and Hollywood throughout much of the first half of the 20th century. Blanchard takes extensive liberties with McHugh's songs and enlists four very well-known female vocalists to help him pull it off: Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Dianne Reeves, and Cassandra Wilson. They appear on two songs apiece -- except for Krall, who leads off the album playing piano and singing only on the title track. Four of the 11 selections are instrumentals, featuring Blanchard with his regular band members Edward Simon (piano), Derek Nievergelt (bass), and Eric Harland (drums), with tenor saxophonist Brice Winston joining on three of the tunes. There are a number of gripping moments -- particularly Ed Simon's daredevil arrangement of "I'm in the Mood for Love," Cassandra Wilson's laid-back "Don't Blame Me," and Dianne Reeves's forlorn yet zesty "Can't Get Out of This Mood." But the come-and-go rotation of vocalists makes the album seem more like a variety show than a sustained creative exercise. Also, some of the arrangements don't really fit the songs. "Sunny Side of the Street," for instance, sounds cloudy indeed. ~ David R. Adler

Entertainment Weekly (6/8/01, p.77) - "One of jazz's trumpeters-of-choice has settled on a ripe concept, with inviting tunes by great American songwriter Jimmy McHugh. Wisely, Blanchard calls on several fine singers..." - Rating: B+ CMJ (6/11/01, p.23) - "...Thoughtful and reaching arrangements that simmer with the same blue flame that fueled Miles Davis' '50s work....This is a no-brainer for fans of vocal and traditional jazz." Down Beat (8/01, pp.66-7) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Blanchard's buttoned-down performance is consistently restrained and thoughtful....adroit and distinctive....with some attractive interpretive and sometimes idiosyncratic departures..."

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