WILL DOWNING & GERALD ALBRIGHT: Pleasures of the night

WILL DOWNING
Downing é um cantor fantástico, que transita com a mais absoluta naturalidade entre os clássicos do jazz e do pop. Por um daqueles insondáveis mistérios que regem a carreira de um artista, Will - até hoje - não fez o sucesso que merece. O homem canta uma barbaridade: as suas interpretações de "Stella by Starlight", "Well be together again", The nearness of you" e "Here´s that rainy day", "That´all", "When sunny gets blue", etc. são maravilhosas. Devido a uma séria doença - uma inflamação generalizada dos músculos do seu corpo, Will esteve à beira da morte. Felizmente superou a crise, respirou fundo, levantou a cabeça e, em cadeira de rodas, segue em frente cantando e exibindo sua "artistry".
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WILL DOWNING
Brooklyn-born singer/songwriter Will Downing’s career extends over some two decades. He brings a very unique style to his ballads and his music could be classified as R&B, Soul, Smooth Jazz or Adult Contemporary.Downing has earned his keeps on the musical sound stage as he surely did not arrive on a silver platter overnight. After working behind the scenes with 1980s club producer King Arthur Baker and songbird Jennifer Holiday, Downing ventured out on his own to work on his solo project. His self-titled debut album (“Will Downing’) was released in 1988. Since 1988 Downing has presented his music and engaging live performances to hundreds of fans worldwide. He has toured extensively in Europe and the US, with venues ranging from intimate club settings to large outdoor concerts and music festivals. Will Downing’s music has been consistent and his signature brassy bedroom voice has coupled with female vocalists like of Phyllis Hyman, Chante Moore and Rachel Farrell. He has collaborated with the like of Gerald Albright and Jonathan Butler and appeared on stage with George Duke, Jonathan Butler, Art Porter, Regina Belle and Lee Ritenour among other jazz greats. Downing has given his fans the pleasure of listening to his rather seductive voice blended with musical arrangements which makes his music on even comparison to the late Barry White as far as love ballads are concerned. But
two years ago, when we all found out that he was ill; it was a reality check no one was willing to cash. Downing was diagnosed with Polymyositis a muscular inflammatory disease which took over his life as he would have known it. He was hospitalized for a long period of time and faced the biggest challenge of his life. But the disease did not overcome him totally; as he fought back with courage and faith and mustered up the energy. Downing stated that he was happy to have recovered from the illness and spoke candidly about his illness and the challenges he faced being in a wheel chair. Despite this sad problem, Will goes ahead with his career.
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MINHA OPINIÃO: em termos de repertório este é o melhor álbum da carreira de Will Downing, gravado em conjunto com o saxofonista Gerald Albright e um timaço de músicos. Tem até Dori Caymmi & Nelson Motta (O Cantador - Like a lover). Uma beleza de álbum.

(*) Adicionei, como "bonus tracks", 5 faixas, que fazem parte de outros álbuns de Will Downing. São grandes temas de jazz e pop que, pela sua altissima qualidade, MERECEM ser reunidas na mesma postagem, para que não permaneçam ocultas e separadas. Vale a pena conferir os sensacionais "bônus tracks".

(*)I´ve added 5 gorgeous "bonus tracks" which deserve a listen to.
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WILL DOWNING & GERALD ALBRIGHT: Pleasures of the night

PERSONNEL
Will Downing (vocals)
Gerald Albright (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, flute, alto flute)
Paul Jackson Jr. (guitar)
Ronnie Foster (acoustic & electric piano, organ, synthesizer)
John Beasley, Bobby Lyle, Patrice Rushen (piano)
Dave Delhomme (keyboards)
Jimmy Haslip (acoustic & electric basses)
Tony Dumas, Kenny Wild (acoustic bass)
Abraham Laboriel (electric bass)
Harvey Mason, Land Richards, John Robinson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums)
Luis Conte (percussion)
Chris Cameron (string arrangements).

TRACKS/FAIXAS
01. Pleasures of the Night
02. Nearness of You, The
03. Stop, Look, Listen to Your Heart
04. Michelle
05. Like a Lover
06. Look of Love, The
07. Here's That Rainy Day
08. Back to the Roots
09. We'll Be Together Again
10. Girl Blue

BONUS TRACKS:
That´s all
For all we know
Where is the love (with Mica Paris)
When sunny gets blue
Stella by starlight