I Love Life Even When I'm Hurting

サックス奏者デイヴ・マクマレイのブルーノート・レコード4作目がリリース。

この作品は、彼の不屈の精神を証明するとともに、故郷デトロイトへの愛、そして共に活動してきた数多くのミュージシャンたちへの賛歌となっている。アル・ジャロウの名曲「We Got By」をKEMをヴォーカルに迎えカヴァーした楽曲が先行リリースとなっており、ソウルフルな仕上がりとなっている。
アルバム・タイトルは、病に蝕まれ、ついに諦めて孤独に逝った友人の死について深く語り合った後にマクマレイが思いついた。その痛ましい現実への彼の反応は、不屈の精神だった。「おい、俺はたとえ苦しんでいても人生を愛しているんだ」その後マクマレイはこの言葉を書き留めた。彼にとって非常に意味深いものだったからだ。「それがアルバム・タイトルになったんだ。その言葉を中心に曲を書いたからね」と彼は説明する。「ポジティブさをテーマにした曲たちさ」
マクマレイは9曲中6曲を書き下ろし、いずれも魂のこもった旋律美、感情の即時性、そして抗いがたいグルーヴに満ちている。マクマレイと長年の共同制作者ドン・ウォズが共同プロデュースした本作は、ミシガン州ロイヤルオークのラストベルト・スタジオで録音された。参加したデトロイトのミュージシャン陣は極めて才能豊かで、ベーシストのウォズとイブラヒム・ジョーンズ、キーボーディストのルイス・レストとモーリス・オニール、ギタリストのウェイン・ジェラード、ドラマーのジェフ・カナディ、パーカッショニストのマヒンディ・マサイ、そしてヴォーカリストのハーシェル・ブーンが名を連ねている。
「このアルバム制作は本当に素晴らしいプロジェクトだった」とマクマレーは締めくくる。「参加してくれた全員が、私が心から愛する仲間たちだからだ」
＜パーソネル＞Dave McMurray(sax) Ibrahim Jones(b) Luis Resto, Maurice O'Neal(key) Wayne Gerard(g) Jeff Canady(ds) Mahindi Masai(perc) Herschel Boone(vo) Don Was(b) KEM(vo)

I LOVE LIFE even when Im hurting is saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Dave McMurrays fourth Blue Note outing and follows his two Grateful Dedication volumes. These tracks celebrate everyday life, loss, gratitude, and McMurrays Detroit hometown. A luminous Motor City cast accompanies him: Keyboardists Luis Resto and Maurice ONeal, guitarist Wayne Gerard, bassists Don Was and Ibrahim Jones, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and vocalists Herschel Boone and Kem. Some bandmates have been collaborators for more since the 80s, and also play with him in Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble. McMurray plays tenor and soprano saxophones and flute. He composed six of the nine cuts. The name of the game is groove. Stylistically, McMurray crosses vocal R&B, jazz, neo-soul, Afro-Latin, and funk. Opener "This Life" offers solo tenor horn and a spoken word intention, inspired by a friend who succumbed to a long struggle with illness and died alone. Single "The Jungaleers" commences with tenor, organ, bass, guitar, and drums playing nocturnal jazz-funk that alchemically shapeshifts into modal Afrobeat, then Afro-Latin salsa fueled by drums and percussion, and layered saxes. "Just a Thought," a soulful contemporary jazz ballad, was composed for his wife and daughter. His tenor goes right to the melody as Gerards guitar is painterly underscoring his playing, while electric piano hovers underneath. "7 Wishes 4 G" is lithe and funky. Its a contemporary groove jazz jam that sounds like Detroit on Saturday night. McMurrays sax solo is raw before his reverbed flute soars in with psychedelic undertones. Detroit soul man Kem offers his vocal in an elegant reading of Al Jarreaus "We Got By" that channels Leon S. Ware and Stevie Wonder in building on the original with soul-jazz saxophone, glistening electric piano, and an elegant bassline that frames drums, guitar, and percussion. Its followed by Yusef Lateefs "The Plum Blossom" from the iconic Eastern Sounds. This read is uptempo, fingerpopping, and bluesy, rippling with percussion. McMurrays flute soars and pulses, engaging the rhythm section over a winding upright bass in an improv interlude before returning to the vamp. Moody keyboards and cymbal washes introduce the title track. McMurray plays primarily soprano. The modal piano vamp meets his soprano and wah-wah guitar in a stately, slow progression until the bridge, then adds an Eastern-tinged melody. Tempo changes in the middle are offered by acoustic piano, a funky bassline, and breaking snares. "Find Your Peace (4 Tani)" is a wonderfully labyrinthine stroll through melodic post-bop and graceful, inventive, contemporary jazz with killer rhythmic invention from Canady and a sweet solo by Gerard. "The Wheel," wonderful cover of a tune from Jerry Garcias first solo album, weaves together Americana, blues, and jazz into melodic, psychedelicized grooves. McMurrays ragged tone puts an exclamation point on it. In sum, I LOVE LIFE even when Im hurting is seminal, the strongest, most emotionally powerful outing in McMurrays catalog. Its composed, arranged, and produced with sophistication, grace, and soul and sets a new standard for excellence in contemporary jazz. Its quite possibly his masterpiece. ~ Thom Jurek