Legends & Lions: Blues (2006)

About this title: Legends & Lions: Blues is a series assembled by Detroit's Mack Avenue label that pairs its roster's veteran artists with its up-and-coming personas thematically. The first two volumes in the series -- Swingin' and Swoonin' -- were successful in their way. The Blues volume is another attempt at the formula and it meets with very mixed results. First off, one wonders how the label defines the word blues. The version of John Coltrane's "Equinox" here, by the brilliant Gerald Wilson Orchestra, brings out the blues in its soloist's parts, but the band underscores the changes and stretches them ... read more

Tracks:

1. St. Louis Blues [Handy]
2. Blues for Matt B [Jones]
3. Equinox [Coltrane]
4. Willow Weep for Me [Ronell]
5. But I Was Cool [Brown]
6. River's Invitation [Mayfield]
7. Unchain My Heart [Powell/Sharp]
8. Jumping with Symphony Sid [Feyne/Young]
9. Groove Merchant [Richardson]
10. Blues for Manhattan (The Diminished Triangle) [Wilson]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.