HEADLINE JAZZ & EASY REVIEW VINYL NEWMAN AND HIS JAZZ … · 2019. 11. 26. · Newman And His Jazz Thing - The Audiophile Man 27.06.19, 0948 Seite 2 von 8 Newman’s playing style

27.06.19, 09*48Newman And His Jazz Thing - The Audiophile Man

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H E A D L I N E J A Z Z & E A S Y R E V I E W V I N Y L

NEWMAN AND HIS JAZZ THING

Posted on 26th June 2019

Title: Ray Charles Presents David Newman

Label: Speakers Corner

Although Ray Charles’ name is on the front of the sleeve and his piano is heard within, this album was alaunch pad for the jazz talents of Newman, who had experience playing in Charles’ band and actuallywas a band member when this album was originally produced.

Fathead? A childhood thing. Issued and stuck when a childhood teacher saw Newman’s band musicpositioned upside down. Despite the fact that Newman had already memorised the piece and didn’tneed the inscribed paper in the first place. Charles preferred “Brains”, which was nearer the truth.

27.06.19, 09*48Newman And His Jazz Thing - The Audiophile Man

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Newman’s playing style spoke of clarity and simplicity. He was never a man to posture and preen in frontof the microphone. Don’t doubt his power though, he had plenty of that but it was delivered with nuance.Charles loved Newman’s sax work on many of Charles’ classic outings such as I Got a Woman.

On this particular album, initially released in 1960, Newman plays both alto and tenor sax and, apartfrom Ray Charles, you’ll find baritone man Hank Crawford (known as Bennie here), Marcus Belgrave ontrumpet plus bassist Edgar Willis and Milt Turner on drums.

Mastering is even, balanced yet spirited in nature. The mastering engineer evidently took his desk andpushed the levels. Not too far, but enough to squeeze everything from the players in front of him. There’sno need to push that amplifier too far to go hunting for a shy upright bass, for example. Everything isclear and on show.

On this album, Charles – let’s get him out of the way first – sounds, how can I put this, sure of himself.His style is definite. His work here is bold. There’s none of that delicacy, of fingers floating across keys.Charles is in the room.

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27.06.19, 09*48Newman And His Jazz Thing - The Audiophile Man

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2 Comments By PAUL RIGBY

Newman on the right – you may already know the guy on the left

Newman meanwhile is articulate. His bop-like tones can be complex but he never waves goodbye to themelody. That is obviously very important to him and, in many ways, Charles lies there as a back upbecause the latter will always interject some of the good stuff if Newman decides to fly off on a tangent.

In short? Nice. Very nice. It’s always good to hear artists doing what they do best and knowing thatthey’re confident in their work.

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DAVID "FATHEAD" NEWMAN

PAUL RIGBYI’ve been a journalist and editor for 30 years and still retain my good humour. Who’dhave thought? I have worked within a range of industries, writing for hundreds of

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