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| Wynton Marsalis: New CD From the Plantation to the Penitentiary On March 6, Blue Note Records will release Wynton Marsalis' moving new album From the Plantation to the Penitentiary, a clear-eyed and uncompromising look at the cracks in America's facade of prosperity and happiness. By turns soothing, urgent, playful, and angry, From the Plantation to the Penitentiary distills Marsalis' recent observations on our modern American way of life as he's traveled the nation as a performer, teacher, and private citizen. Through the sultry alto of 21-year old singer Jennifer Sanon, he gives voice to the 'tattered ragmen' of America in 'Find Me, ' rebukes our misogynistic entertainment industry—'I ain't no bitch and I ain't your ho'—in 'The Return of Romance, ' and denounces the uncontrolled financial exploitation of modern America in which 'there's never enough' in the frantic 'Super Capitalism.' The most striking track on the album is 'Where Y'all At?, ' a rare spoken-word vocal performance by Marsalis, in which he demands to know what's happened to all the responsible leaders in America. The album has its bright moments as well: the languid 'These Are Those Soulful Days' was inspired by the friendship between his 10-year old son and Walter Blanding's 11-year old twin daughters that the three have maintained almost since birth, while the bouncy and soulful instrumental 'Doin' Our Thing' lets Marsalis and his band interpret various types of 4/4 grooves anchored, of course, by the swing. The seven tracks on the album are all new compositions, with lyrics and music by Wynton Marsalis, four of which feature vocalist Jennifer Sanon. Walter Blanding (reeds), Dan Nimmer (piano), Carlos Henriquez (bass), and Ali Jackson (drums) round out the quintet. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |