I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (album)
| I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder | |||
| Genre | Jazz, bebop | |||
| Label | Antilles | |||
| Producer | John Snyder | |||
| James Clay chronology | ||||
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I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart is an album by the American musician James Clay, released in 1991.[1][2]
Production
The album continued a comeback for Clay, who had reemerged on the national jazz scene when Don Cherry asked him in 1988 to play and record with Cherry's group; Clay was inspired by the sound he got at Van Gelder Studio, and elected to use it for I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart.[3][4][5] The album was produced by John Snyder.[6] Clay was backed by Billy Higgins on drums, Cedar Walton on piano, and David Williams on bass.[7] Clay's playing was influenced primarily by Sonny Rollins.[8] "I Mean You" is an interpretation of the Coleman Hawkins version of the song.[9] "John Paul Jones" was composed by John Coltrane.[9]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide | [6] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette |  [5] |
The New York Times said that "Clay plays bass tenor saxophone, mixing blues ideas and insistent single-note phrases with liquid lines that weave their way through be-bop's matrix of harmony and rhythm."[11] The Wall Street Journal stated that "Clay has that smoky Texas tenor sound that's so timelessly appealing, and he's also a former colleague of Ornette Coleman, which makes for interesting style in its full glory".[12] The Hartford Courant opined that Clay's "celebratory sound is pure jazz hedonism."[3]
The Albuquerque Journal noted that the album combines Clay's "experiences with R&B and with straight-ahead and avant-garde jazz styles".[13] The News and Observer said that "there are intimations of harmonic freedom in Mr. Clay's long lines and earthy, full-throated sound."[14] The Omaha World-Herald stated that Clay "is true to the wide-open, bluesy Texas tenor tradition".[15]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" | 5:42 |
| 2. | "My Foolish Heart" | 8:22 |
| 3. | "Rain Check" | 6:29 |
| 4. | "The Very Thought of You" | 6:11 |
| 5. | "I Mean You" | 6:55 |
| 6. | "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" | 5:04 |
| 7. | "Just in Time" | 7:17 |
| 8. | "I Can't Get Started" | 7:08 |
| 9. | "John Paul Jones A.K.A. Trane's Blues" | 7:05 |
| 10. | "Body and Soul" | 7:48 |
References
- ^ Sachs, Lloyd (March 28, 1991). "For purists, Antilles is new label of choice". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.43.
- ^ Mitchell, Rick (April 7, 1991). "Gillespie unites a great sound". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 17.
- ^ a b McNally, Owen (February 21, 1991). "Jazz". Calendar. The Hartford Courant. p. 5.
- ^ Morthland, John (April 26, 1991). "Music Reviews". LA Weekly. p. 77.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette. Penguin Books. 1994. p. 246.
- ^ a b MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 237.
- ^ Stewart, Zan (March 30, 1991). "Texas tenorman James Clay...". Los Angeles Times. p. F3.
- ^ "Whether he's blowin' snakes from his smokin' tenor saxophone...". San Antonio Express-News. August 20, 1993. p. 14F.
- ^ a b Point, Michael (February 28, 1991). "Sax adds hot sounds to trio of new albums". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 19.
- ^ "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ Watrous, Peter (March 3, 1991). "Sing No Blues for Jazz, Since the Music Is Hot Again". The New York Times. p. A26.
- ^ Fusili, Jim (June 14, 1991). "Southern Soul; Sarah's Best". The Wall Street Journal. p. A7.
- ^ Steinberg, David (March 3, 1991). "The Rich World of the Saxophone". Albuquerque Journal. p. F2.
- ^ Cordle, Owen (March 10, 1991). "On the record". The News and Observer. p. 2H.
- ^ Smith, Will (May 19, 1991). "Jazz Sounds". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 9.