The Things We Need

by Jon Gordon

Overview

This is a much more traditional jazz effort than Gordon's previous album, Currents. Featuring the leader on alto, Peter Bernstein on guitar, Mike LeDonne on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums, the record includes Gordon's compositions "Minor Dues" and "Stapleton," a bright waltz arrangement of "Isn't It Romantic," and a swinging version of the Milt Jackson blues "SKJ." Pianist Ronnie Mathews makes superb guest appearances on a pair of Monk tunes, "Monk's Dream" and "Ugly Beauty." The one very non-traditional element is the children's choir heard on "Without a Song," and Barry Harris's wholesome sermonette "These Are the Things We Need." Drummer Eddie Locke, who plays on these two tracks and on "SKJ," played Gordon a tape of the kids singing one day, and the rest is history. Despite the personal meaning that the choir's singing holds for Gordon (as he explains in his liner notes), it's hard not to hear it as a merely cute touch. ~ David R. Adler

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/1999
Label:	Double-Time Records
UPC:	0711527015629
Rank:	231153

Tracks

1. Minor Dues
2. Without a Song
3. These Are the Things We Need
4. Monk's Dream
5. Stapleton
6. Isn't It Romantic?
7. SKJ
8. Ugly Beauty

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jon Gordon   Primary Artist,Sax (Alto)
Ronnie Mathews   Guest Artist,Piano
Eddie Locke   Guest Artist,Drums
Kenny Washington   Guest Artist,Drums
Mike LeDonne   Guest Artist,Piano
Dennis Irwin   Guest Artist,Bass
Peter Bernstein   Guest Artist,Guitar
Alexis Hernandez   Vocals

Technical Credits

Jamey Aebersold   Design
Milt Jackson   Composer
Thelonious Monk   Composer
Gildas Bocle   Photography
Vincent Youmans   Composer
Barry Harris   Composer
Richard Rodgers   Composer
Jon Gordon   Liner Notes,Mastering,Producer,Composer,Mixing
Lorenz Hart   Composer
Billy Rose   Composer
Edward Eliscu   Composer