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Aria (Grover Washington Jr. album)

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Aria
Studio album by
Grover Washington Jr.
ReleasedMarch 7, 2000
RecordedMay 5–6, 1999
StudioGiandomenico Studios (NJ), Sony Music Studios (NYC)
GenreJazz, classical
Length59:40
LabelSony Classical SK 61864
ProducerGrover Washington, Jr., Robert Freedman
Grover Washington Jr. chronology
Breath of Heaven: A Holiday Collection
(1997) 		Aria
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[2]

Aria is the final studio album by American jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. It was released posthumously on March 7, 2000, via Sony Classical label.[3][4][5] The album consists of 12 jazz covers of classical arias by famous composers (Giacomo Puccini, Georges Bizet, and others).

Recording

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The album was recorded May 5 and 6, 1999 at Giandomenico Studios in Collingswood, New Jersey and Sony Music Studios in New York City, several months before Washington's death on December 17, 1999. To record the album, Washington joined forces with the Orchestra of St. Luke's along with Ron Carter on bass, and Billy Childs and Robert Freedman on piano.[6]

Reception

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Jonathan Widran of AllMusic stated "Performing here on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, he draws upon his artistry as a melodist to capture the emotional spirit of a dozen of opera's most beautiful arias... all with a sensibility that is very much of our day. The Orchestra of St. Lukes is most effective wrapping its lushness around the tenor on a dramatic rendering of Puccini's "Donna Non Vidi Mai." Bassist Ron Carter and pianist Billy Childs complete a beautiful trio. This isn't Grover at his most inventive or exciting, but like everything he did, it's full of pure heart".[1]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Je crois entendre encore"Georges Bizet4:01
2."Pourquoi me reveiller?"Jules Massenet5:11
3."Flower Duet"Léo Delibes7:06
4."Amor ti vieta"Umberto Giordano4:51
5."O mio babbino caro"Giacomo Puccini4:04
6."Donna non vidi mai"Giacomo Puccini3:51
7."Ch'ella mi creda"Giacomo Puccini4:54
8."My Man's Gone Now"George Gershwin5:39
9."O soave fanciulla"Giacomo Puccini5:33
10."E lucevan le stelle"Giacomo Puccini4:38
11."Au fond du temple saint"Georges Bizet6:08
12."Vissi d'arte"Giacomo Puccini3:52
Total length:59:40

Personnel

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  • Grover Washington, Jr. – saxophone (soprano, tenor, baritone, alto)
  • Ron Carter – bass (tracks: 1–12)
  • Robert Freedman – conductor (tracks: 1–3, 5–7, 9–12), piano (tracks: 4, 8)
  • Orchestra of St. Luke's (tracks: 1–3, 5–7, 9–12)
  • Billy Childs – piano (tracks: 1–3, 5–7, 9–12)

References

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  1. ^ a b Jonathan, Widran. "Grover Washington, Jr.: Aria". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  2. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1469. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  3. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. – Aria". Discogs. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  4. ^ Norment, Lynn (May 2000). "Sounding Off". Ebony. 55 (7): 20. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  5. ^ Morones, Eric (April 1, 2008). 25 Great Sax Solos: Transcriptions * Lessons * Bios * Photos. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781495031397. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. ^ Mackenzie, Compton; Stone, Christopher (2000). "GROVER WASHINGTON JR. Aria". Gramophone. 77: 63. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
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