Upward Spiral is an album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet with vocalist Kurt Elling. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[1]
| Upward Spiral | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 10, 2016 | |||
| Recorded | December 16–19, 2015 | |||
| Studio | Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, New Orleans | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 66:18 | |||
| Label | Marsalis Music/OKeh | |||
| Branford Marsalis Quartet chronology | ||||
| ||||
Recording and music edit
The album was recorded at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, New Orleans, on December 16–19, 2015.[2] The leader of the quartet, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, had not previously recorded an entire album with one vocalist.[3] The other members were pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Justin Faulkner.[4] The music is a mix of upbeat material and some that "ponders loss, pain, dashed expectations and accommodation to all three".[4] Elling sings "Só Tinha De Ser Com Você" in Portuguese.[4]
Release and reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| DownBeat |  [4] |
Upward Spiral was released by Marsalis Music/OKeh Records on June 10, 2016.[2] The AllMusic reviewer wrote: "Upward Spiral is less an album featuring a singer backed by a jazz ensemble, and more of an album that details the meeting of two highly creative artists whose talents intertwine to find new avenues of expression."[3] The DownBeat reviewer concluded: "When the albums ends, your first thought may well be, When are these guys going to do this again?"[4]
Track listing edit
- "There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York"
- "Blue Gardenia"
- "From One Island to Another"
- "Practical Arrangement"
- "Doxy"
- "I'm a Fool to Want You"
- "West Virginia Rose"
- "Só Tinha De Ser Com Você"
- "Momma Said"
- "Cassandra Song"
- "Blue Velvet"
- "The Return"
Source:[4]
Personnel edit
- Branford Marsalis – tenor sax, soprano sax
- Kurt Elling – vocals
- Joey Calderazzo – piano
- Eric Revis – bass
- Justin Faulkner – drums
Source:[4]
References edit
- ^ "2017 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2016-12-06. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
- ^ a b "Upward Spiral". www.branfordmarsalis.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ a b c Collar, Matt. "Branford Marsalis Quartet / Kurt Elling / Branford Marsalis: Upward Spiral". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g de Barros, Paul (August 2016). "Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling: Upward Spiral". DownBeat. Vol. 83, no. 8. p. 65.