Memphis Jazz Box

Memphis Jazz Box
Compilation album by various Memphis jazz artists
Released	March 9th, 2004 re-released 2008
Recorded	various dates between 1995-2003
Genre	Jazz
Length	2:33:46
Label	Icehouse Records
Producer	John Threadgill Jack Cooper John Phillips
Compiler	Jack Cooper
cat. # - Ice House Records IHR 5902

"The Memphis Jazz Box"^[1][2] is a 3-CD box set by Memphis jazz artists, first released by Ice House Records in March 2004 and then re-released to the public in 2008. Volume one and two have a combined 24 tracks from a wide variety of artists who were currently working in Memphis during the time the set was produced. The third CD is the Jazz Orchestra of the Delta Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter recorded in 2003 for Summit Records.

Background

The Memphis tradition of jazz music dates back many years to the time of W.C.Handy, Jimmie Lunceford, and Phineas Newborn. Memphis is a city with a long musical heritage that is an integral part of the American sound consisting of work songs, spirituals, blues, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. Through this tradition, Memphis is a music city that serves to foster musical talent that is unique. There is a wide range a music on the CD set that represents the current flavor of what Memphis music is; from the traditional sounds to Joyce Cobb and W.C. Handy to the contemporary sounds of fusion with the band Voodoo Village. This box set of three CD was produced commercially to promote the city and the jazz music generated from the Mid-south region. This was the second such boxed set produced by Ice House Records and the Chamber of Commerce. The first set, produced in 2001, featured "Best Of. . ." tracks from Sun, Stax, and Hi Records.

Track listing

Recording sessions

• DISC ONE - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume one

Recorded completed in several studios in Memphis to include Ardent Studios, Young Avenue Sound, Sam Phillips Recording Services

• DISC TWO - The New Memphis Jazz Collection, volume two

Recorded completed in several studios in Memphis to include Ardent Studios, Young Avenue Sound, Sam Phillips Recording Services

• DISC THREE - Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta

Please refer to the Recording sessions section on that Wikipedia/CD page.

Personnel

Musicians

• DISC THREE - Big Band Reflections of Cole Porter, Jazz Orchestra of the Delta

Please refer to the Personnel Section on that Wikipedia/CD page.

Production

• Producer: John Threadgill
• Co-producer: Jack Cooper
• Manufactured: John Phillips, Select-O-Hits,
• Mastered: L. Nix, Ardent Studios, Memphis, TN.
• Graghic design & concept: Blake Franklin, Street Level Graphics, Memphis, TN.
• Liner notes: Jack Cooper
• Discs 1 and 2 - All tracks compiled by Jack Cooper
• Disc 3 - All tracks composed or arranged and produced by Jack Cooper

Promotion

The CD release party was held in AutoZone Park on March 18, 2004 at 5:30 pm., in the upper club room convention/party level: it was promoted well and the Commercial Appeal as well as the Memphis Business Journal.^[15][16] The box was conceived through cooperation of the nonprofit Mid-south Jazz Foundation, the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, the Shelby County/Memphis Music Commission, the University of Memphis School of Music, and Select-O-Hits. Numerous artists from the CD set performed at the event, it was well attended and sponsored by the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Interviews were done on WKNO-FM 91.1 and WUMR with the producer of the set, the tracks from the set have had extensive play on WUMR radio which is the jazz radio station for the Mid-South region. It has also had airplay on other jazz radio stations around the country.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Commercial Appeal	[17]
DISC 3 - L.A. Jazz Scene (Los Angeles)	(very positive)[18]
DISC 3 - Jazz Journal International (London)	(very positive)[19]

• All Discs

"A new collection, The Memphis Jazz Box, states with classy pride the case for the Bluff City's jazz heritage, notably those currently working on the local scene...The box stands as a fine effort, a nice cross-section..."

Bill Ellis, Commercial Appeal^[17]

• Disc #3

"...the result is a cohesive ensemble that understands (the) musical direction so well that they reproduce precisely what (the arranger) has intended...Balance and phrasing, suitable textures, and mellow harmonic ties follow with glamourous effects."

Jim Santella, L.A. Jazz Scene^[18]

"...(the arranger) is to be congratulated on the way he orchestrated some of (Porter's) best known songs, maintaining interest, despite the familiarity with the material."

Gordon Jack, Jazz Journal International^[19]

Sources and external links

• Allmusic.com, The Memphis Jazz Box
• The Memphis Jazz Box at Discogs
• OCLC 70659608

References