US Store | 
Limited Edition 180-gram double LP released to celebrate Harold Mabern’s 80th birthday on 20 March 2016. Mastered for vinyl by Kevin Gray and pressed at Memphis Record Pressing. Features a tip-on gatefold jacket with Jimmy Katz photography and 2,000 Harold Mabern interview about the project.
AFRO BLUE, Harold Mabern’s second release for Smoke Sessions, features the pianist paired with five distinctive guest vocalists: Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling, and Alexis Cole. Mabern provides sensitive and supportive playing behind these incredible singers, and the resulting chemistry makes these songs special. “I love vocalists. I love to play for singers because that’s really how you learn how to play the piano jazz-wise. They go through every aspect of music— changing keys, slow tempos to fast, playing rubato, playing verses, all of the Great American Songbook—that’s really how you learn how to play,” says Mabern.
There is a world of music, and there are a lot of memorable performances on AFRO BLUE, but Mabern’s soulful, blues-driven style is the constant highlight. He is joined by a stellar supporting cast—Jeremy Pelt, Eric Alexander, and Steve Turre form a killer horn section, while John
Webber and Joe Farnsworth complete his reliable rhythm team. Guitarist Peter Bernstein also makes a special appearance on Steely Dan’s “Do It Again.” Mabern adds, “I’ll tell you, it was really the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. It was definitely a challenge, but I think we pulled it off. I’m quite pleased with it, you know.”
released April 14, 2015
Harold Mabern – piano
John Webber – bass (except 5)
Joe Farnsworth – drums (except 5)
GUEST VOCALISTS
Gregory Porter – vocals (tracks 2 & 3)
Norah Jones – vocals (tracks 4 & 5)
Jane Monheit – vocals (tracks 6 & 7)
Kurt Elling – vocals (tracks 8, 9 & 10)
Alexis Cole – vocals (track 11)
GUEST GUITARIST
Peter Bernstein – guitar on “Do It Again”
HORNS
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 11)
Steve Turre – trombone (tracks 2, 4, 6 & 11)
Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone (except 5, 12, 13 & 14)
Recorded Live August 21 & 29, 2014
at Sear Sound, Studio C, New York City
Produced by Paul Stache
Associate Producer: Damon Smith
Recorded & Mastered by Roman Klun
Studio Assistants: Ted Tuthill & Grant Valentine
Mixed by Roman Klun & Paul Stache
Photography by Jimmy Katz
Design by Damon Smith & Paul Stache
Gregory Porter appears courtesy of Universal Music France
Norah Jones appears courtesy of Blue Note Records
Kurt Elling appears courtesy of Concord Jazz Records
Jeremy Pelt appears courtesy of High Note Records
Eric Alexander appears courtesy of High Note Records
Executive Producers: Frank Christopher & Paul Stache
