Orquestra Was - Disc of the day

Orquestra Was
Forever’s A Long, Long Time

(Verve, 1997)

It starts with Herbie Hancock and a violin, and ends with Merle Haggard: Don Was’s ‘lost’ album relocated.

The Welcome Back to Was Not Was (MOJO 174) begged the question, What have they been up to? And, came the answer, All sorts! Rarest of the numerous diamonds in the Was canon, 1997’s Forever’s A Long, Long Time is a work of quiet, rich delight, using Hank Williams’ songs, a small but strong jazz ensemble (Herbie Hancock on piano and Fender Rhodes, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, David McMurray on sax among them), the superb soul vocals of Detroit’s Sweet Pea Atkinson and the rawk geetar of Wayne Kramer. Quite a list of ingredients, pulled together by Was with consummate chefness. Personal predilection for soul and jazz means the vocals of Sweet Pea Atkinson and solos of Blanchard, McMurray and Hancock have always drawn me back to the album, but the arranger/producer’s re-imagining of Williams’ songs – the title track, I Ain’t Got Nothin’ But Time, Lost On The River (all sung by Atkinson) and Never Again (Will I Knock On Your Door), vocal by Portia Griffin – is mightily impressive. Was’s linking instrumental compositions and ingenious rhythm arrangements are atmospheric, witty and mirrored by a 15-minute black-and-white movie he made to illuminate the overarching mood of loneliness and reflection.

Geoff Brown

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 05/04/2008

Further Listening

Sweet Pea Atkinson – Don’t Walk Away (Ze, 1982)

Was Not Was – What Up, Dog? (Fontana, 1988)

Dave McMurray – Peace Of Mind (Warner Bros, 2000)

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The rarest is the Sweet Pea album — it's out of print! Orquestra Was is pretty easy to find.

Is it the most obscure? Maybe, though the Japanese compilation, "New Steak Trend" or the bootleg of the July 1992 Montreux Jazz Festival concert released "legitimately" in Italy, "Break Down The Wall" may be more so.

Posted by Rockin' Rich at 10:42 PM GMT 24/04/2008 Report Abuse

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