Cassandra Wilson - New Moon Daughter

Cassandra Wilson's own excellent, jazz tinged compositions sit alongside a stunning set of ingenious covers from a highly diverse spectrum of composers. "Last Train To Clarksville" is transformed from a catchy pop song into a stripped-down and genuinely effective jazz vocal work-out. "Harvest Moon" slows down Neil Young's already wistful ballad to an almost painful level and, in so doing, takes it to an even higher level of gentle reflection. Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" & U2's "Love Is Blindness" are transformed into 3 in the morning jazz club classics. The vocals and backing to Robert Johnson's "32-20" are simplified to the point where only the essence of the blues is allowed to shine and, Lewis Allan's "Strange Fruit" becomes as desolate and challenging as its horrific lyrics.

This is no easy listen... sparse, complex, often brooding arrangements coupled with Cassandra Wilson's deep, earthy voice and complicated phrasing demand your attention. Waver and you're lost. BUT... give this album the listening time & space it deserves and reap the rewards. Unusual, highly atmospheric tracks that combine superb singing and marvellously "distant" musical backings to weave real magic. Clever, very effective and worth the required effort!

This album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart in 1996.

Features:
• 180 Gram Vinyl
• Double LP
• Re-mastered from Original Master Tapes
• Incudes mp3 download

Musicians:
Cassandra Wilson, vocals, acoustic guitar
Cyro Baptista, percussion, Jew's-Harp, shaker
Dougie Bowne, percussion, drums, whistle, vibraphone
Gary Breit, Hammond organ
Kevin Breit, acoustic & electric guitar, banjo, bouzouki
Brandon Ross. acoustic & electric guitar
Charles Burnham, violin
Tony Cedras, accordion
Graham Haynes, cornet
Lawrence "Butch" Morris, cornet
Jeff Haynes, percussion, bongos
Peepers, background vocals
Mark Peterson, bass
Lonnie Plaxico, bass
Gib Wharton, pedal steel guitar
Chris Whitley, guitar

Selections:
LP1 - Side A :
1. Strange Fruit
2. Love Is Blindness
3. Solomon Sang
LP1 - Side B:
1. Death Letter
2. Skylark
3. Find Him
4. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
LP2 - Side C:
1. Last Train To Clarksville
2. Until
3. A Little Warm Death
LP2 - Side D:
1. Memphis
2. Harvest Moon
3. 32-20