The Majesty of the Blues
The Majesty of the Blues is an album by jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis that was released in 1989.
The Majesty of the Blues | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 13, 1989 | |||
Recorded | 27 October & 28 October 1988 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio A | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 59:57 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Steven Epstein, George Butler | |||
Wynton Marsalis chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [2] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
Background
The first two selections on the album are played by the Wynton Marsalis Sextet.
The remaining three tracks (side B on the original LP release), a set entitled "New Orleans Function", feature the sextet with additional New Orleans musicians in a style influenced by the traditional New Orleans brass band. This section mirrors a traditional jazz funeral, with a dirge-like first selection ("The Death of Jazz"), then a spoken word section ("Premature Autopsies", an essay by Stanley Crouch performed by Jeremiah Wright) and preached like a minister at a graveyard, and a second line number ("Oh, But on the Third Day – Happy Feet Blues").
Track listing
All tracks are written by Wynton Marsalis except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Majesty of the Blues (The Puheeman Strut)" | 15:06 |
2. | "Hickory Dickory Dock" | 9:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
3. | "The Death of Jazz" | 12:39 | |
4. | "Premature Autopsies (Sermon)" | Marsalis, Stanley Crouch | 16:22 |
5. | "Oh, but on the Third Day (Happy Feet Blues)" | 6:44 |
Personnel
The Wynton Marsalis Sextet
- Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
- Todd Williams – tenor and soprano saxophones
- Wessell Anderson – alto saxophone
- Marcus Roberts – piano
- Reginald Veal – double bass
- Herlin Riley – drums
The New Orleans Function
Composed of the Wynton Marsalis Sextet and the following:
- Wynton Marsalis – second trumpet and plunger mute
- Teddy Riley – first trumpet
- Freddie Lonzo – trombone
- Michael White – clarinet
- Danny Barker – banjo
Technical personnel
- Steven Epstein – producer
- George Butler – executive producer
- Tim Geelan – engineer
- Dennis Ferrante – assistant engineer
References
- Yanow, Scott. "The Majesty of the Blues". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 950. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- "Wynton Marsalis: Majesty of the Blues". Rock's Back Pages. Retrieved 27 September 2018.