Probably the most conclusive answer to the frequently asked question about the meaning and content of his songs is provided by Edgar Winter himself when he simply replies: “I let my music speak for itself”. All-embracing and self-explanatory as this statement may sound, his current album Jazzin’ The Blues still calls for a few footnotes. Two things should be said in advance to clarify the artistic approach of the new tracks. 1st: jazz and blues were Edgar Winter’s first loves. It was never the attempt to attract girls or a desire for fame and fortune that fuelled Winter’s development into a passionate musician, but purely his enthusiasm for these two genres. 2nd: even on his 1999 album, Winter Blues, Winter didn’t restrict himself to performing blues standards or classics – instead he took a critical look at the natural evolution of this music and its many facets, mainly R&B, gospel, soul, jazz, rock, pop and country. And that’s exactly where his new album takes up.
“Jazzin’ The Blues is the next step in a logical development,” Winter points out. “It’s based on the same working concept as Winter Blues, but branches out into jazz. In the process, it touches on the roots of twelve-time blues and evolves into swing, be-bop, funk and fusion. I played my usual range of instruments – various kinds of synthesizers, keyboards, pianos, organs and basses, as well as my main instrument, the alto sax, and occasionally a tenor saxophone. I think it’s very important to find a balance between extensive solos and vocal parts to keep the interest of a broader audience alive.”
One look at the list of guests involved shows just how serious Winter is about his latest project. Like Winter Blues, Jazzin’ The Blues also presents an illustrious list of top musicians, among them the guitarists Steve Lukather (Toto) and Hiram Bullock, bassist Will Lee, the drummers Gregg Bissonette and Rick Latham and trumpet player Lee Thornburg. Together they make the 11 current songs an exciting excursion into different spheres of jazz and blues, complete with haunting solo parts. Once again, the lyrics touch on personal and slightly bizarre subjects, treated in Winter’s inimitable style. Says Winter: “These are true songs with definite statements, messages, characters, personalities and attitudes. They’re interwoven with my occasionally subtle, occasionally eccentric sense of humour. I had plenty of fun with them and feel that they’ll cause a lot of laughter. By the way, they tell their own stories, so you have to pay attention when you listen to them.”
Edgar Winter was born in Beaumont, Texas, on December 28, 1946, as the son of a plantation owner. His brother is the legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter. Following countless gigs in Texan nightclubs, Edgar Winter brought out his debut, Entrance, in 1970, followed by a succession of acknowledged album releases, among them the amazing live recording, Roadwork (1972), or the surprisingly tough rock opus, Standing On Rock (1981), the versatile The Real Deal (1996) and the programmatic Winter Blues (1999). During the Seventies, he also released the hit singles ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Easy Street’, worked with Todd Rundgren, Meat Loaf and Tina Turner (on her The Best album) in the Eighties and was involved in a number of his brother’s releases.
Jazzin’ The Blues proves that Winter has successfully managed the balancing act between present and past, including exciting, even forward-looking new elements into his music at the same time – partly thanks to his renowned colleagues, who were involved in the realisation of his latest offering. “My greatest respect and deepest thanks go out to all those who helped me record this album. Whether you call it jazz, blues or simply music, it was great to do something like this just for fun.” The pleasure is entirely with the listener…
Jazzin` The Blues wasreleased on April, 13th 2004!
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