Kurt Elling – The Messenger

Released on April 8, 1997, ‘The Messenger’ is the second studio album by Kurt Elling.

REVIEWS
allmusic
This is one of the most interesting jazz vocal sets to be released in 1997. Kurt Elling covers a wide range of music, continually taking chances and coming up with fresh approaches.

JazzTimes
For flat-out scat, check out the roller coaster ride through ‘Ginger Bread Boy,’ a manic chase in which Elling’s cannonades are answered by furious barrages by Laurence Hobgood and drummer Paul Wertico. On the stylistic flip-side, Elling, with a gorgeous intro by veteran Chicago tenor player Eddie Johnson, waxes lyrical with a richly-embossed ‘Prelude to a Kiss.’

RateYourMusic
To really enjoy this album, you have to really enjoy Elling — all of him, from his scat singing to his hipster pose. In the wrong mood he can sound insufferable but open yourself to his style and accept all its eccentricities and he can be wonderful.



Track listing
1.Nature Boy (Eden Ahbez) – 6:09
2.April in Paris (Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg) – 5:10
3.Beauty of All Things (Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood) – 8:08
4.The Dance (Laurence Hobgood) – 1:34
5.Prayer for Mr. Davis (Kurt Elling, Laurence Hobgood) – 6:03
6.Endless (Edward Petersen) – 4:48
7.Tanya Jean (Donald Byrd, Kurt Elling) – 10:17
8.It’s Just a Thing (Laurence Hobgood, Eric Hochberg, Paul Wertico) – 4:31
9.Gingerbread Boy (Jimmy Heath) – 5:03
10.Prelude to a Kiss (Duke Ellington, Mack Gordon, Irving Mills) – 5:27
11.Time of the Season (Rod Argent, Paul Atkinson, Colin Blunstone, Hugh Grundy, Chris White) – 5:53
12.The Messenger (Kurt Elling, Edward Petersen) – 9:03

Personnel
Kurt Elling – vocals
Cassandra Wilson – vocals (11 -12)
Laurence Hobgood – piano, synthesizer
Eric Hochberg – acoustic bass
Rob Amster – double bass, acoustic bass, electric bass
Edward Petersen – tenor saxophone
Jim Widlowski – drums, percussion
Paul Wertico – drums, percussion
Orbert Davis – flugelhorn, trumpet
Eddie Johnson – tenor saxophone

Kurt Elling – arranger, art direction, producer
Laurence Hobgood – arranger, producer
Paul Wertico – producer

Danny Kopelson – engineer
Roger Heiss – engineer, mixing
Greg Calbi – engineer
Ed Blalach – assistant engineer

Patrick Roques – design
Neil Tesser – liner notes
William Claxton – photography

Label Blue Note
(Source Kurt Elling)