Tag: Jazz

Andy Bey – Ballads, Blues & Bey
1996 Evidence – ECD 22162-2

Except for a little-heard 1991 album released only in Croatia, this was Andy Bey’s first release since the classic rare groove masterwork ‘Experience & Judgement’ in 1974. As such – and because I still haven’t heard that 1991 album — I consider this record the first salvo in Bey’s “third act”.

He’d begun his recording career with his sisters in classy, upbeat, swinging and bop-leaning vocal jazz. Then in the late 60s and 70s, he can be found on all sounds of heady albums by the likes of Horace Silver, Gary Bartz, Stanley Clarke, and some others. And here he is in the 90s, coming back in a stripped down setting of just his amazing voice and more-than-adequate piano playing.This may sound like a back-handed compliment about his piano playing, but that’s not my intent.  I don’t feel qualified to give a detailed opinion about solo piano in general.  His playing is lyrics and un-fussy, and seems to be going for a subdued, Bill Evans type vibe which suits the music very well.  He does some cool stuff with harmony, but my lack of formal music education limits my analysis about that.  Really, though, his incredible skills and emotive range as a vocalist is why I listen to Andy Bey.

One could say that this is perfect stuff for a Sunday afternoon or a nightcap when you just need to settle down, but for me this music doesn’t stay in the background, because at some point you just want to stop and give him your undivided attention. I mean, he stretches out “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” to 8 minutes, and I hardly notice the time pass.  That’s saying quite a lot for somebody just accompanying themselves on the ivories. At least in the idiom of popular music, which historian Eric Hobsbawm argued was the true nature of jazz and how it came to prominence.

Bey would start to work with jazz combos again soon after this, and those albums are great too, but this intimate affair is a great way to either discover Bey for the first time or to reacquaint yourself with him.

Tracklist
1. Someone To Watch Over Me (06:19)
2. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (08:08)
3. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart (07:39)
4. In A Sentimental Mood (07:03)
5. Willow Weep For Me (06:46)
6. Yesterdays (07:40)
7. If You Could See Me Now (06:16)
8. I’m Just A Lucky So And So (05:21)
9. Day Dream (07:19)
10. Embraceable You (06:33)

Total length: 01:09:04

More information: https://www.discogs.com/release/4271786-Andy-Bey-Ballads-Blues-Bey-

Recorded on May 19 & 20, 1995 at Carl Seltzer Studios, NYC

Vocals, Piano – Andy Bey

Executive-Producer – Cornelius Pitts, Jerry Gordon
Producer – Herb Jordan

Manufactured By – KAO Optical Products
Copyright © – Evidence Music, Inc.

Engineer: Carl Seltzer
Photography: Stephanie Badini
Art Direction: Rothacker Advertising & Design

Barcode (Text): 7 30182 21622 6
Barcode (Scanned): 730182216226
Matrix / Runout: MANUFACTURED BY KAO ***AP0051008-03* ECD22162
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L955
Mould SID Code: IFPI 3G22