Belly of the Sun
- Artist: Cassandra Wilson
- Label: Blue Note
- Availability: In stock
- Item #: 5184134
- List Price: $16.99
- Member Price: $11.98
Review
Cassandra Wilson continues to move down a highly eclectic path on Belly of the Sun, the somewhat belated follow-up to Traveling Miles. While displaying a jazz singer's mastery of melodic nuance and improvisatory phrasing, Wilson draws on a variety of non-jazz idioms -- roots music, rock, Delta blues, country, soul -- to create a kind of earthy, intelligent pop with obvious crossover appeal. Her core band includes guitarists Marvin Sewell and Kevin Breit, who blend marvelously, Sewell mostly on mellow acoustic and Breit adding atmospheric touches on electric, 12-string, and slide guitars, as well as mandolin, banjo, and even bouzouki. Bassist Mark Peterson and percussionists Jeffrey Haynes and Cyro Baptista provide a superbly sensitive rhythmic foundation. But because Wilson returned to her home state of Mississippi to record most of this album, she made sure to book some time with local musicians. Thus guitarist Jesse Robinson guests on (and co-writes) the funky "Show Me a Love," and the octogenarian pianist "Boogaloo" Ames plays an unpolished yet utterly heartfelt duet with Wilson on the classic "Darkness on the Delta." Other guests include drummer Xavyon Jamison, trumpeter Olu Dara, pianist and vocalist Rhonda Richmond (who penned the slowly swaying "Road So Clear"), guitarist Richard Johnston, backup vocalists Patrice Monell, Jewell Bass, Henry Rhodes, and Vasti Jackson, and the children of New York's Middle School 44. Wilson delves into vintage blues with Mississippi Fred McDowell's "You Gotta Move" and a brief yet dynamic rendition of Robert Johnson's "Hot Tamales." But the best tracks are the rock/pop covers: the Band's "The Weight," Bob Dylan's "Shelter From the Storm," James Taylor's "Only a Dream in Rio," Jobim's "Waters of March," and Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" (a 1968 hit for Glen Campbell). Wilson and band are in peak interpretive form on these ethereal reinventions. While her own lyrics may not rise to the level of a Robbie Robertson or a Bob Dylan, her versatility and focus come through clearly on the originals "Justice," "Just a Parade" (a collaboration with neo-soul rookie India.Arie), and the Caribbean-tinged "Cooter Brown." ~ David R. Adler, All Music Guide
Read About This Recording
Cassandra Wilson consistently stretches the boundaries of jazz. In a sea of female jazz vocalists she has a distinctive voice, a creative style of vocal intonations and improvisation that separates her from the masses. From the very beginning she chose to forge a path exploring unknown jazz territories while implementing her interpretation of life experiences.
Belly of the Sun exemplifies her unique, interpretative approach. The title refers to her home of Mississippi, the southern delta of the blues. In order to capture the music's true essence she recorded these 13 tracks in Clarkesdale, Mississippi.
Aside from her regular touring band, she called on Mississippi musicians - 80 plus years pianist Boogaloo Ames and guitarist Jesse Robinson. The album is blues-based but, as always, Wilson's rich tenor voice takes on different colors crossing the lines of jazz, blues, Brazilian and African borders.
The track You Gotta Move has a blues foundation that flows in gospel waters. Her bold timbre renovates the popular ballad Wichita Lineman into a haunting blues melody that will linger in your soul for days. Spicy bossa nova rhythms rule on Only a Dream in Rio as Wilson is accompanied by a group of background singers.
Cassandra Wilson is one of the most innovative jazz vocalists in today's arena.
-Ron Scott
Contents
The Weight; Justice; Darkness on the Delta; Waters of March; You Gotta Move; Only a Dream in Rio; Just Another Parade; Wichita Lineman; Shelter From the Storm; Drunk As Cooter Brown; Show Me a Love; Road So Clear; Hot Tamales.
Cassandra Wilson, Rhonda Richmond, Jewel Bass, Vasti Jackson, Henry Rhodes, Patrice Moncell, India Arie, Children of M.S. 44 (NYC), Vocals; Cyro Baptista, Percussion/Vocals; Jeff Haynes, Percussion; Kevin Breit, Guitar/Vocals/Banjo; Olu Dara, Trumpet; Richard Johnston, Guitar/Vocals; Marvin Sewell, Jesse Robinson, Guitar; Mark Anthony Peterson, Bass Guitar; Xavyon Jamison, Drums.
Tracks + Soundclips
| Belly of the Sun | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. Weight | 6:05 | |
| 2. Justice | 5:27 | |
| 3. Darkness on the Delta | 3:47 | |
| 4. Waters of March | 4:26 | |
| 5. You Gotta Move | 2:44 | |
| 6. Only a Dream in Rio | 4:32 | |
| 7. Just Another Parade | 6:05 | |
| 8. Wichita Lineman | 5:48 | |
| 9. Shelter from the Storm | 5:17 | |
| 10. Drunk as Cooter Brown | 4:58 | |
| 11. Show Me a Love | 3:49 | |
| 12. Road So Clear | 5:22 | |
| 13. Hot Tamales | 1:43 | |
Details and Credits
- Label: Blue Note
- Release date: 2002/02/26
- Ballads
- Alternative Pop/Rock
- Contemporary Jazz
- Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
- Progressive Folk
- Vocal Jazz
- Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
| Album Credits | |
Performance Credits |
|
| Cassandra Wilson | Guitar |
| Cyro Baptista | Percussion |
| Henry Rhodes | Vocals |
| India.Arie | Vocals |
| Jeff Haynes | Percussion |
| Jewel Bass | Vocals |
| Kevin Breit | Banjo |
| Mark Peterson | Bass |
| Marvin Sewell | Guitar (Acoustic) |
| Olu Dara | Trumpet |
| Richard Johnston | Guitar |
| Vas-tie Jackson | Vocals |
Technical Credits |
|
| Brandon Mason | Assistant Engineer |
| Bruce Lundvall | Executive Producer |
| Danny Kopelson | Engineer |
| Gordon Jee | Creative Director |
| Greg Calbi | Mastering |
| Gwynnis Mosby | Make-Up |
| Jack Spencer | Photography |
| Matthew Cullen | Assistant Engineer |
| Michael Simanga | Liner Notes |
| Sean Macke | Engineer |
| Steve Lowney | Assistant Engineer |
| Suzanne Kapa | Assistant Engineer |
| Zach Hochkeppel | Project Manager |
Cassandra Wilson
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