Shelby, Marcus
Noir Records, 2008, CD
Instrument: Drums
Issue: 14.2
Jazz Ruler Type: Ballads, Blues
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 
O’s Notes: Bassist Marcus Shelby leads an orchestra through seven original compositions that depict the life of Harriet Tubman. She was a remarkable hero and Shelby studied her past to depict her story through music. You can feel the pain, the tiring journey and brief celebrations. The titles are meaningful descriptions: “Life On The Chesapeake”, “Stampede of Slaves”, “Ashanti Stomp” and “Over Here Lord” are a few. In addition to the large instrumental ensemble, there are four vocalists singing, scatting, shouting, pleading and praying. The overall tone and sentiment is dark, accurately depicting Tubman’s lifelong unselfish struggle to obtaining freedom for African Americans.
Publicist: Braithwaite & Katz
