THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND — What's Going On (review)

THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND — What's Going On album cover Album · 2006 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
I love albums that take chances. Recording, rearranging and extending a dazzling classic like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' is a bold move and it pays off for me.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band play it big on most of the songs, but still take the time to make sure the melodies remain intact. Opening with a bit of a booming drum sound that also carries a nice snap to its beat, perfect for Chuck D to rap over, it's probably the standout song. His accusatory tone suits the album so well and his updated lyrics also match its purpose, recorded and released as it was in response to the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

Aside from Chuck D's appearance, four more guest vocalists appear, leaving the beautiful 'Flying High in the Friendly Sky' mostly instrumental, save for a cry for help sung by the band in 'group' vocal style. It remains delicate and moving, even fleshed out as it is with (among others) guitar, sax, trombone, trumpet and organ added to the rhythm tracks.

Other songs are expanded, both in length and instrumentation. 'Save the Children' is dominated by a growling sax and 'God Is Love' is given a bit of groove, so much so that it becomes a happy gospel piece, sung by Ian Neville, whose voice is probably most comparable to Marvin's. That said, I'm still of two minds about the arrangement. The following song, 'Mercy Mercy Me' (with vocals by G Love) is another where altering of the mood of the piece doesn't quite work for me, though nothing is performed poorly by any stretch.

In contrast, shortening 'Right On' and 'Wholy Holy' is a stellar move, allowing for a tight groove and energetic soloing on 'Right On' especially. The closer, the seminal 'Inner City Blues' is similar to 'What's Going On' in that the melody is carried by the horns and the vocals are handled by a rapper, in this case Guru. It's not moving in the same way as Gaye's version, instead, it is, like much of the album, charged with anger and is an accusation rather than a cry for mercy that Marvin's original seems to be.

Fans of the original record will find this at least interesting, but do listen first as it's a very different album to Gaye's. Big band fans or fans of the New Orleans sound should love this. The band cooks and most of the vocals are effective (including Bettye LaVette who I nearly forgot to mention) even if the focus is on, unsurprisingly, the fine brass ensemble playing. I've given it three stars because it might not suit everyone's taste to hear a classic album reinterpreted, though personally I really enjoy it.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cabaret Eclectic Fusion
MARIUS NESET
Buy this album from MMA partners
Living Ghosts Post-Fusion Contemporary
MICHAEL WOLLNY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Live at Donte's, Vol. 1 Vocal Jazz
MIKE CAMPBELL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunday Afternoon Fusion
FURIO DI CASTRI
Buy this album from MMA partners
São Paulo Creative 4 : Supernova Avant-Garde Jazz
IVO PERELMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Sunday afternoon
FURIO DI CASTRI
snobb· 6 hours ago
Harmônicos
FABIANO DO NASCIMENTO
js· 20 hours ago
Con Alma
GENE BERTONCINI
js· 23 hours ago
Our Walk (Live)
BEN MARKLEY
js· 1 day ago
Solar (feat. Vicente Archer & Otis Brown III)
JERRY LÉONIDE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed