ERA ECHOING!

Elektra’s 1982 album, ‘Echoes Of An Era’ is considered by many as a jazz classic. It featured a stellar line up – Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White! The vocalist was Chaka Khan – who on the first release was given top billing. The music on the album saw the collective deliver their takes on jazz standards and songs from the Great American Song Book. The album was a particular favourite of a certain Washington physician, Dr Edward David Crockett, who, by the way, was also a half decent pianist. Dr Crockett was a real jazz buff with an extensive collection and we’re told that  after a hard day at the surgery, he’d return home and play his music in a specially created home bar. His family had no option but to listen and the wonderful music he played had a huge impact on at least one member of his family – Alison.

Fast forward and ALISON CROCKETT is now an established soul and jazz singer and also a noted music educator. She’s just embarked on an ambitious project – a sort of homage to her dad who got her hooked into the music in the first instance. It seem she’s planning on offering her interpretation of some of Dr C’s favourite albums and she’s started with her look at the aforementioned Echoes Of An Era’, which she’s dubbed ‘Echoes Of An Era Redux’.

Ms Crockett recorded the album live at Washington’s Blues Alley Club and her band consisted of trumpeter Thad Wilson, sax man Paul Carr, pianist Todd Williams, bassist Elliot Seppa and drummer Dana Hawkins. Between them they deliver faithful takes on swinging, energetic items like ‘Them There Eyes’ , ‘All Of Me’ and ‘Take The A Train’  alongside a very poignant  ‘Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most’. Between numbers Alison offers explanation of where she’s coming from with the music and she makes it patently clear just how much Chaka Khan has influenced her.

This ‘Redux’ album was released to acclaim in the US earlier this year and it’s now won a European release via Antidote Sounds (released October 20th). To go back to where we came in, the album is sub-tilted ‘My Father’s Record Collection, Volume 1’ – we wonder what will be next?

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