Eric Gale - With You I'm Born Again

In 1980, guitarist and composer Eric Gale came off the commercial success of 1979's Part of You (produced by Ralph MacDonald) and didn't do the obvious thing. Rather than make another record that swung for the smooth jazz fences, he made a darker, deeper, funkier, and bluesier album with legendary New Orleans producer Allen Toussaint. The sessions included the cream of the Crescent City's jazz-funk crop as well as mates Charlie Earland, Grover Washington, Jr., and Idris Muhammad, three of soul-jazz's greatest lights -- with special guest Arthur Blythe on the Charlie Parker nugget "Au Privave" as a curve ball. Toussaint wrote four of the album's seven tracks, and they range from the murky blue soul-jazz of "You Got My Life in Your Hands" to the sweet, boudoir-perfect urban-styled title track. Gale is a consummate soloist, full of lilting and biting grooves, with stunning phrasing that maximizes the rhythmic effect of his high strings (such as on "War Paint"), and he never plays an extra note. The beautiful ballad "With You I'm Born Again" has Washington playing some of his most haunting soprano, and the wildly funked-up "Au Privave," a holdover from the bop generation that keeps its original flavor despite the three-instrument front line of Earland's B-3, Blythe's alto, and Gale's chunky bottom strings (which are accented in his comping through the changes), is nothing short of astonishing. This is one of the great versions of the tune, especially in this modern context, and offers solid proof of Gale's bebop roots. This is an even better side available in the U.S., but only as an expensive Japanese import. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• EricGale
• Ballad
• Jazz
• Eric
• Gale
• With
• You
• Born
• Again
• Swing ballad
• Charles Earland
• David Barard

[iampsalmbody]

*The original epitomizes beauty, yet there's a blessing in this movement ~ i.L.O.V.E.*

[SilkySmoothJazzy]

It doesn't get any better than this.

[omoniyikaye]

@nomartinino i just have to salute your analysis on this masterpiece more grease to your elbow.At the moment i'm paying tributes to these legends on my fb i display album covers hence you're welcome to join me on fb and check out some of the classics i uploaded already.I'm honoured to say i have 6 solo albums on this legend including this classic album.Mr Eric Gale.R.I.P

[pretorious700]

Incredible, what can i add? Only that when they go to the head, it makes me smile.

[olayoloke]

superb where can i find it to buy

[stevan939]

My favorite jazz tune of all times, legendary... My dad recorded this song when he was a teenager, about 25 years ago, on a tape and when I heard it for the first time, I simply had to find out the name and the artist. When I did, I was sooo happy and now I listen to it and enjoy almost every day. Amazing.

[KKaytoh]

Pase Rock and L. Universe - Messing With my Head

[Amannlee]

Eric is smooth on this version of "With You I'm Born Again". I like the way he increases the tempo on blues/jazz run!

[Bluesdirections]

Earland on organ burns.

[pelitobros]

The best version forever!