Cassandra Wilson – Silver Pony

November 16, 2010 / No Comments / Tags: cassandra wilson, herlin riley, jazz, jazz vocals, john legend, marvin sewell, ravi coltrane, silver pony, thejazzpage

(Blue Note Records)


Singer Cassandra Wilson’s newest recording is a collection of performances that catches her in a Mississippi state of mind. The title of her Silver Pony comes from Wilson’s memory of being allowed to sit atop a pony at the age of four, in her Jackson neighborhood, decked in cowboy hat and chaps, to pose for a photo, which is the basis the album’s cover art. For the most part, the project has the strong blues feel and sound associated with the Delta region of the south. Some of the performances are from live shows in Spain, while others are completely in studio, with the band featured as much as Wilson’s on some tunes. The musical lineup includes Marvin Sewell on guitar, Jonathan Batiste on piano, Reginald Veal on bass, Herlin Riley on drums and Lekan Babalola on percussion. Ravi Coltrane guests on two tracks, including Wilson’s duet with popular singer-songwriter, John Legend. This is a fantastic showcase, which further demonstrates that Cassandra Wilson is a great artist in every sense of the word.

Click here to listen to a clip of “Forty Days and Forty Nights”.

Tracks: Lover Come Back to Me, Went Down to St. James Infirmary, A Night in Seville, Beaneath The Silver Moon, Saddle Up My Pony, If It’s Magic, Forty Days and Forty Nights, Silver Pony, A Day in the Life of Fool, Blackbird, Watch the Sunrise.

Website: http://cassandrawilson.com