Jazz breaking news: Beatles, Stevie Wonder And King Crimson Numbers Feature On Kurt Elling’s New Album The Gate

Produced by lauded rock producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Rolling Stones) The Gate runs to nine tracks opening intriguingly with a King Crimson song ‘Matte Kudasai’ from their 1981 Discipline album. This is followed by Joe Jackson song ‘Steppin’ Out’ which Elling previewed at Ronnie Scott’s club in London during a short residency that began back in late-June. Elling’s band at the time included guitarist John McLean and Quartet West pianist Laurence Hobgood both of whom feature prominently on the album, while Bob Mintzer takes on the Ernie Watts saxophone role on The Gate, an album characterised by a 'vibe' rather than an overarching theme, although it is dominated by contemporary rock and jazz covers.

Elling’s band on The Gate also includes renowned bassist John Patitucci and two drummers, Terreon “Tank” Gulley (who made a huge impact on Christian McBride’s album Vertical Vision in 2003) and drummer Kobie Watkins who has worked extensively with Sonny Rollins. Experienced session man Lenny Castro also makes his mark on percussion.

The third track on the album is a cover of Herbie Hancock’s ‘Come Running To Me’ from his 1977 album Sunlight when Hancock did a rare Vocoder-ed vocal. It’s followed by Lennon/McCartney’s ‘Norwegian Wood’ from Rubber Soul, a song that coincidentally Hancock popularised in jazz on his 1996 album The New Standard. Elling’s version features a stand-out guitar solo that punches a big hole through the heart of the song. The remaining songs on the album are ‘Blue In Green’; ‘Samurai Cowboy’, with Elling’s characteristically knowing lyrics; a cover of the 1979 Earth Wind and Fire hit ‘After The Love Has Gone’; Stevie Wonder’s ‘Golden Lady’ from 1973’s Innervisions, a stunning arrangement which again Elling performed to great effect at Ronnie’s; and the closer, Don Grolnick’s ‘Nightown, Lady Bright’ featuring spoken word written by Ellington and additional lyrics from Elling himself.

Elling will be touring in the UK with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra during the month of the album release appearing for dates in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling from 11-13 March followed on the 14th by a concert at the Barbican in London again with the SNJO and French accordion star Richard Galliano. Check Jazzwise in 2011 for an exclusive interview with Kurt on what promises to be one of the first major jazz album releases of the year.

– Stephen Graham