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from the liner notes:
"After Hours" offers a rare treat for connoisseurs of jazz
classics -- an affectionate musical dialogue between two old
friends and jazz greats, singer Sandra Wright and saxophonist
Big Joe Burrell. Often Sandra's voice starts the conversation,
leading the way until Big Joe's horn comes in to respond, comment,
amplify, and query. Sometimes Big Joe sets the tone and Sandra
develops and deepens it. Either way, it's a musical discussion
made in heaven. The two are backed by a stellar trio of long-time
associates featuring drummer Lloyd Herrman, bassist John Harris,
and keyboardist Michael Sucher.
The album was recorded in the informal atmosphere
of Blue Minute Studios in Montpelier, Vermont. Michael Sucher,
who
also wore engineer and co-producer hats for this outing, notes
that all of the basic tracks were recorded in only one or two
takes. Unlike many of today's over-rehearsed and over-processed
recordings, which are buffed to a glossy perfection that sounds
plastic or canned, this CD conveys the freshness of a live
jazz performance by a group of like-minded musicians meeting "in
the zone" for a memorable session where everything comes
together magically.
Years ago the respective musical journeys
of both Sandra Wright and Big Joe Burrell brought them to
Vermont. Each decided to
settle in the beautiful Green Mountain state where they later
came to know each other. Although geographically they have
traveled far from their Southern roots, musically they continue
to develop the rich and soulful tradition out of which their
art emerged, presenting a series of jazz, blues, and R&B
interpretations that have won raves from audiences and critics
alike.
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