| Blues, Jazz |
An album that presents itself almost as a historical document, and here’s how the story begins:
It was a Sunday afternoon, December 17, 2023. I was on my way to the Cadieux Café, on Detroit’s east side, to attend a concert by PD9—also known as Planet D Nonet. Normally, I’ve got music playing in the van no more than five minutes after backing out of the driveway, but that day, for some unknown reason, I drove for several minutes in complete silence.
It didn’t take long before the melody of a Joe Williams recording began to rise naturally in my mind, as if summoned by something beyond me. Where had it come from? To this day, I have no answer as to how or why it happened;but in that moment, I made the decision to ask RJ Spangler whether PD9 might be interested in collaborating with me on a project centered on Joe Williams.
There was already a scent in the air; blues, jazz, a voice more blues than jazz; and I knew I was on the right path. Upon arriving at the venue, I saw RJ was busy setting up the stage for the concert, surrounded by people vying for his attention. I decided to wait until the next day to call him and share my idea. He called me back shortly afterward, full of enthusiasm:
“I just talked to the guys in the band,” he said. “They said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”
This is not merely a tribute; it is a contraction of traditional blues shaped by the masterful voice of Dr. Leonard King. What follows is a memorable concert, where the musicians’ artistry lies in offering up a silver platter upon which Leonard King’s voice can shine. And it works perfectly—their jazz sensibilities bring a genuinely fresh perspective to the material. The arrangements are, in fact, the album’s greatest strength: remarkably crafted, and at times evoking the very spirit of New Orleans.
Dr. Prof. Leonard King continues: “As for the repertoire, I told RJ that the selected pieces would focus mainly on Joe Williams’s life and work after he left the Count Basie Orchestra—with one exception: The Comeback. RJ asked me to choose eleven tracks for the project (though, due to time constraints, we recorded only nine). He then reached out to bassist/arranger Jeffry Cuny and saxophonist/arranger Ryan Bills to transcribe the scores from the original recordings. For some of the pieces, I asked them to inject their own musical character, to make them more personal—more in line with PD9’s identity. I’m deeply grateful to Jeffry and Ryan for bringing their own ‘ray of sunshine’ to this repertoire, and especially to RJ Spangler, who understood the significance of this project right away.”
Everything is said right there. This is not an attempt to make something new from something old; no. This is the rewriting of history itself. And what a history. To step into the space once occupied by the great Count Basie is no easy task, and certainly not one for amateurs.
Albums like this are rare and bold. They are acts of reverence and of risk. This one deserves a place in the collection of every jazz and blues lover alike; a return to the source, a musical homecoming that will fill your heart with joy. Without a doubt.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 7th 2025
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