Radio Music Society

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All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
Esperanza Spalding's fourth album, Radio Music Society (a companion piece to Chamber Music Society in name only) is one of enormous ambition -- polished production, sophisticated, busy charts, and classy songwriting -- that consciously juxtaposes neo-soul and adult-oriented jazz-tinged pop. It employs a stellar cast, largely of jazz musicians, to pull it off. She produced the set, with help from Q-Tip on a couple of numbers, and wrote all but two songs here: a cover of "I Can't Help It" (a Michael Jackson cover written by Stevie Wonder) and Wayne Shorter's "Endangered Species." There are truckloads of players, including three different all-star drummers in Terri Lyne ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
Esperanza Spalding's fourth album, Radio Music Society (a companion piece to Chamber Music Society in name only) is one of enormous ambition -- polished production, sophisticated, busy charts, and classy songwriting -- that consciously juxtaposes neo-soul and adult-oriented jazz-tinged pop. It employs a stellar cast, largely of jazz musicians, to pull it off. She produced the set, with help from Q-Tip on a couple of numbers, and wrote all but two songs here: a cover of "I Can't Help It" (a Michael Jackson cover written by Stevie Wonder) and Wayne Shorter's "Endangered Species." There are truckloads of players, including three different all-star drummers in Terri Lyne Carrington, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Hart, saxophonist Joe Lovano, and guitarists Jef Lee Johnson and Lionel Loueke on "Black Gold" (which also contains his vocals and an appearance by the Savannah Children's Choir). Though Ms. Spalding takes most lead vocals, there are also duet appearances from Lalah Hathaway and Algebra Blessett. Backing vocalists include Gretchen Parlato (who also anchors a chorus on several tunes) and Leni Stern. The American Music Program horn section appears on three cuts. The highlights here include "Crowned & Kissed" (a Q-Tip co-production) with its rubbery bassline, contrapuntal horns, Leo Genovese's artful pianism, and Carrington's impeccable sense of swing that bridges funk, neo-soul, jazz, and hip-hop. "Radio Song" contains layered interpolated rhythms (again courtesy of Carrington), sparkling Rhodes piano, syncopated horns and backing chorus, Spalding's alto croon, and a taut, popping bassline. Lovano's saxophone adds a truly elegant and graceful dimension to "I Can't Help It." The charts on Shorter's tune (with lyrics by Spalding) illuminate what may have been the composer's intent all along -- and nod at Pastorius-era Weather Report simultaneously. DeJohnette's funky subtlety drives the knotty fingerpop of "Let Her," and Hart's trademark, shimmering cymbal work on "Hold on Me" complements Spalding's sultry vocal in retro bluesy pop -- it's one of only a couple of places on the record where she plays acoustic bass. While Radio Music Society may play better to younger pop audiences than more die-hard jazzheads, this program is so diverse and well executed -- despite a little overreaching -- it's anybody's guess.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/20/2012
  • Label: Telarc
  • UPC: 888072331747
  • Catalog Number: 33174
  • Sales rank: 11,095

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Radio Song - American Music Program (6:32)
  2. 2 Cinnamon Tree (5:35)
  3. 3 Crowned & Kissed (4:34)
  4. 4 Land of the Free (1:54)
  5. 5 Black Gold - Lionel Loueke (5:16)
  6. 6 I Can't Help It (4:42)
  7. 7 Hold On Me - American Music Program (3:40)
  8. 8 Vague Suspicions (5:50)
  9. 9 Endagered Species (6:37)
  10. 10 Let Her (4:20)
  11. 11 City of Roses - American Music Program (4:35)
  12. 12 Smile Like That (4:17)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Esperanza Spalding Primary Artist, Electric Bass, Vocals, Acoustic Bass
Lalah Hathaway Vocals
Terri Lyne Carrington Drums
Jack DeJohnette Drums
Billy Hart Drums
Joe Lovano Tenor Saxophone
Leni Stern Background Vocals
Darren Barrett Trumpet
Jamey Haddad Percussion
Jef Lee Johnson Guitar
Q-Tip Glockenspiel, Vocals
James Weidman Organ
Thara Memory Conductor
Janice Scroggins Piano
Dan Brewster Trombone
Jeff Galindo Trombone
Gretchen Parlato Background Vocals, Spoken Word
Kyle Zimmerman Alto Saxophone
Algebra Blessett Vocals
Raymond Angry Organ
Renato Caranto Alto Saxophone
Stan Bock Trombone
Lionel Loueke Guitar, Vocals
Leo Genovese Piano, Keyboards, fender rhodes, Guembir
Gilad Hekselman Guitar
Raydar Ellis Sounds, Spoken Word
Jody Redhage Cello
Becca Stevens Background Vocals
Daniel Blake Flute, Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Soloist
Olivia DePrato Violin
Ricardo Vogt Guitar
Corey King Trombone
Igmar Thomas Trumpet
Alan Hampton Background Vocals
Lyndon Rochelle Drums
Justin Brown Background Vocals
Tivon Pennicott Tenor Saxophone
Chris Turner Background Vocals
Andrew Olson Alto Saxophone
Tree Palmedo Trumpet
Stanley Mathabane Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Savannah Children's Choir Choir, Chorus
Sam Seacrist Alto Saxophone
Noah Hocker Trumpet
Noah Conrad Trumpet
Nicole Glover Tenor Saxophone
Matt Warming Trombone
Kiran Bosley Trumpet
Kama Bell Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
John Carey Alto Saxophone
Jerry Stalnaker Bass Trombone
Jeff Rathbone Baritone Saxophone
Javier Nero Trombone
Ian Garner Trombone
Hayden Conrad Tenor Saxophone
Benjamin Seacrist Trumpet
Benjamin G. McDonald Trumpet
Ashton Summers Trombone
Anthony Diamond Saxophone, Soloist
Aaron Reihs Tenor Saxophone
Technical Credits
Terri Lyne Carrington Additional Production
Gil Goldstein Arranger
Wayne Shorter Composer
Joe Ferla Engineer
Susaye Greene Brown Composer
Dave Love Associate Executive Producer
Q-Tip Producer, Executive Producer
Bob Stark Engineer
Joseph Vitarelli Composer
Stevie Wonder Composer
Thara Memory Arranger, Horn Arrangements
Paul Blakemore Mastering
Blair Wells Engineer
Algebra Blessett Composer
Brian Montgomery Engineer
Esperanza Spalding Arranger, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Writer
Raydar Ellis Engineer
James Frazee Engineer
Daniel Florestano Executive Producer
Fernando Lodeiro Engineer
Roland Nicol Illustrations
Dan Hallas Producer
Zulema Mejias Producer
Susana Ojeda Photo Assistance
Pilar Sanz Director
Nuria Monferrer Production Director
Jeff De Blois Illustrations
Arantza Benito Melgar Associate Executive Producer
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