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Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

Rodney Whitaker

Cranbrook Christmas Jazz

Format: CD
Label: Origin Records
UPC: 0805558281426
Catnr: ORIGIN 82814
Release date: 08 October 2021
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1 CD
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Label
Origin Records
UPC
0805558281426
Catalogue number
ORIGIN 82814
Release date
08 October 2021
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN
DE

About the album

Legendary bassist Rodney Whitaker has been a celebrated force in Michigan's jazz eco-system since returning to develop the world-class program at Michigan State University. Active with numerous jazz legacy institutions, Whitaker has spent five-years as Artist in Residence with the historic Christ Church Cranbrook near Detroit, where its wide-ranging arts and community offerings has afforded Whitaker and choir director Christopher Wells to collaborate, providing rich opportunities to bring together the worlds of jazz and traditional choir music. This recording documents their long-running Sacred Jazz Concerts and features preeminent jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin, with Whitaker's sextet and the Church's choir, performing arrangements of hymns, Christmas favorites, and jazz standards of the season, including Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" and Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time Is Here."
Der legendäre Bassist Rodney Whitaker ist eine gefeierte Persönlichkeit im Jazz-Ökosystem von Michigan, seit er zurückgekehrt ist, um das Weltklasse-Programm an der Michigan State University aufzubauen. Er ist in zahlreichen Jazz-Institutionen aktiv und war fünf Jahre lang Artist in Residence in der historischen Christ Church Cranbrook in der Nähe von Detroit, die mit ihrem breit gefächerten Kunst- und Gemeindeangebot Whitaker und dem Chorleiter Christopher Wells die Möglichkeit bot, die Welten des Jazz und der traditionellen Chormusik zusammenzubringen. Diese Aufnahme dokumentiert ihre langjährigen Sacred Jazz Concerts und zeigt die herausragende Jazzsängerin Vanessa Rubin, die mit Whitakers Sextett und dem Chor der Kirche Arrangements von Hymnen, Weihnachtsliedern und Jazzstandards der Saison aufführt, darunter Mel Tormes "The Christmas Song" und Vince Guaraldis "Christmas Time Is Here".

Artist(s)

Rodney Whitaker (bass)

Internationally renowned bassist and Origin Records recording artist, Rodney Whitaker, currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world. He is considered one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet. Building on his Detroit roots...
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Internationally renowned bassist and Origin Records recording artist, Rodney Whitaker, currently holds the titles of Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at Michigan State University where he has built one of the leading jazz degree programs and performing faculty in the world. He is considered one of the leading performers and teachers of the jazz double bass in the United States. He is also the Artistic Director of the Michigan State University Professors of Jazz, former Artistic Advisor of Jazz @ Wharton Center, Director of Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Jazz Orchestra and a former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Whitaker received his first national recognition performing with the Harrison/Blanchard Quintet.
Building on his Detroit roots and enormous talent, Whitaker went on to earn an international reputation as one of the world’s finest jazz double bass performer. He completed seven-year tenure as bassist with Wynton Marsalis’ Septet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has toured the world over the last twenty-five years, collaborating and performing with legendary jazz artists such as Jimmy Heath, Eric Reed, Cyrus Chestnut, Vanessa Rubin, Kathleen Battle, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, Jon Faddis, Donald Harrison, Terence Blanchard, Rodney Jones, Wycliffe Gordon, Kenny Burrell, Bob James, Benny Golson, Regina Carter, Pat Matheny, Nicholas Payton, Jimmy Cobb, Joshua Redman, Stephon Harris, Johnny O’Neal, Marcus Belgrave, James Carter, Steve Turre, Claudio Roditi, Junko Onishi, Harry Allen, Ronnie Matthews, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, Kevin Mahogany, Ingrid Jensen, Barry Harris, Ron Blake, Jeff Clayton, Dana Hall, Gerald Wilson, Sean Jones, Niki Harris, Wessell Anderson, Don Vappie, Johnny O’Neal, Cedar Walton, Renee Rosnes, Randy Brecker, Rickey Woodard, Bobby Shew, Gary Smulyan, Joe LaBarbera, Randy Napolean, Peter Martin, Nnenna Freelon, Donald Byrd, Branford Marsalis, Greg Hutchinson, Carl Allen, Herlin Riley, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Terrell Stafford, Tim Warfield, Bruce Barth, Jon Carl Hendricks, Roy Hargrove, the late greats: Dizzy Gelispie, Mulgrew Miller, Tommy Flanagan, John Lewis, Marian McPartland, Donald Walden, Joe Henderson, Hank Jones, Frank Morgan and Betty ‘Bebop’ Carter as well as performing with leading symphony orchestras world-wide. Whitaker has also toured internationally as a featured performer with the Roy Hargrove Quintet. In addition, he has appeared and presented master classes at the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) conferences.
Rodney is one of the hardest working and swinging bass players on the scene and has recorded with great musicians such as Roy Hargrove, Pat Metheny and Wynton Marsalis. Featured on more than 100 recordings — from film to compact discs — Whitaker’s film scores, China, directed by Jeff Wray, was released on PBS Fall 2002 and Malaria and Malawi, released on PBS Fall 2010. Also, Whitaker has a DVD release featuring Michigan State University’s Jazz Department entitled, “Inside Jazz”. In 2011, he was nominated for an EMMY for the ‘Original Music’ category, “Malawi and Malaria: Fighting to Save the Children” produced by Robert Gould and Sue Carter.
A proven and committed jazz educator, Whitaker has presented numerous master classes across the nation at locations such as Duke University, Howard University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Barbican in London, the New School (NY), Lincoln Center, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival. In addition, he is a consultant with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the development of the jazz education department, and has served on the faculties of University of Michigan and Julliard Institute of Jazz.
In 2006, he was nominated for the Juno Award, Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy, for his work on “Let Me Tell You About My Day,” produced by Alma Records. Whitaker collaborated with musicians Phil Dwyer (musician) and Alan Jones on the album, which was nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year.
Now based in East Lansing, Whitaker continues to serve many of the talented in the state of Michigan. His legacy of teaching promises to be distinguished with former students currently performing with jazz greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Pat Matheny, The Count Basie Orchestra and Stephon Harris.
Whitaker attended Wayne State University, studied with trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, bassists-Stephen Molina, Ralph Armstrong, the late Herbie Williams (trumpeter) and the late Robert Gladstone (bassist).

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Christopher Wells (conductor)

Vanessa Rubin (vocals)

Composer(s)

Gustav Holst

Gustav Holst is a composer nobody seems to know, evne though everyone knows The Planets. This lack of relative fame is a mystery, because the quality of his works for choir and orchestra (including some amazing works for brass orchestra) is often high. Perhaps this can be explained by his aversion to public appearance. After the succes of The Planets he focused on more introvert topics, which resulted among others in his beautiful Hymn of Jesus from 1917. This is typically a work which upon first listening makes you wonder why it's not better known (even though allegedly the work was quite succesful during its own time).  There is, however, also something up with the continuity of Holst as a composer, as if technical challenges stimulated...
more
Gustav Holst is a composer nobody seems to know, evne though everyone knows The Planets. This lack of relative fame is a mystery, because the quality of his works for choir and orchestra (including some amazing works for brass orchestra) is often high. Perhaps this can be explained by his aversion to public appearance. After the succes of The Planets he focused on more introvert topics, which resulted among others in his beautiful Hymn of Jesus from 1917. This is typically a work which upon first listening makes you wonder why it's not better known (even though allegedly the work was quite succesful during its own time). There is, however, also something up with the continuity of Holst as a composer, as if technical challenges stimulated him more than creating a consistent style. Grove music Online quoted Holst's daughter Imogen regarding this remarkable phenomenon: 'As soon as he made his point, he stopped'.
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Adolphe Adam

Adolphe Charles Adam was a French composer and music critic. A prolific composer of operas and ballets, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle (1841) and Le corsaire (1856, his last work), his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau (1836), Le toréador (1849) and Si j'étais roi (1852) and his Christmas carol Minuit, chrétiens! (1844), later set to different English lyrics and widely sung as 'O Holy Night' (1847). Adam was a noted teacher, who taught Delibes and other influential composers.
more
Adolphe Charles Adam was a French composer and music critic. A prolific composer of operas and ballets, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle (1841) and Le corsaire (1856, his last work), his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau (1836), Le toréador (1849) and Si j'étais roi (1852) and his Christmas carol Minuit, chrétiens! (1844), later set to different English lyrics and widely sung as "O Holy Night" (1847). Adam was a noted teacher, who taught Delibes and other influential composers.

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Press

Play album Play album
01.
Personent Hodie
06:02
Michael Reed, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Len’I McKinney, Rodney Whitaker, Timothy Blackmon
02.
The Christmas Song
04:56
(Mel Torme) Vanessa Rubin, Rodney Whitaker, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
03.
In the Bleak Midwinter
05:00
(Gustav Holst) Tom Shilakes, Rodney Whitaker, Rick Roe, Michael Reed, Christ Church Cranbrook Choir
04.
We Three Kings
04:41
(John Henry Hopkins, Jr.) Rockelle Whitaker, Rodney Whitaker, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
05.
I Love the Winter Weather
02:55
(Ticker Freeman) Christopher McDole, Rodney Whitaker, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
06.
Christmas Time Is Here
03:11
(Vince Guaraldi) Vanessa Rubin, Rodney Whitaker, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
07.
Winter Wonderland
08:50
Rodney Whitaker, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
08.
O Holy Night
05:36
(Adolphe Adam) Marc Meyers, Rodney Whitaker, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed, Christ Church Cranbrook Choir
09.
A Child Is Born
04:52
(Thad Jones) Rodney Whitaker, Vanessa Rubin, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
10.
My Favorite Things
04:45
(Richard Rodgers) Rodney Whitaker, Vanessa Rubin, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
11.
It's Easy to Blame the Weather
04:49
(Saul Chaplin) Rodney Whitaker, Christopher McDole, Timothy Blackmon, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
12.
Little Drummer Boy
05:41
(Katherine Kennicott Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone) Rodney Whitaker, Rockelle Whitaker, Len’I McKinney, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
13.
Silent Night
04:31
(Franz Xaver Gruber) Rodney Whitaker, Kate Lucander, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed, Christ Church Cranbrook Choir
14.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
05:23
(Hugh Martin) Rodney Whitaker, Vanessa Rubin, Timothy Blackmon, Len’I McKinney, Chris Glassman, Rick Roe, Michael Reed
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