Nelson Rangell - Blue (2015)

Nelson Rangell's sparkling two new recordings, "Blue," a contemporary jazz album of beautiful, engaging and virtuosic flute and piccolo works and "Red", featuring Rangell's driving, soulful alto and tenor saxophone are, separately and together, the most extensive, compelling and unique efforts of his career. In past reviews Jazziz Magazine states " Rangell peppers with effortless complexity seeming at times almost superhuman" and that Rangell is "rich in inspiration, long on chops and powerfully unique in voice". The Times Of London notes Nelson Rangell's" extraordinary facility on a range of instruments and undoubted virtuosity". Flute Talk Magazine writes "Nelson Rangell creates the impression that anything is possible when he improvises" and Saxophone Journal states simply "Nelson Rangell is a spectacular flutist".
On all of Nelson Rangell's previous 15 label recordings his flute work and the directions that instrument naturally guided him towards played a secondary role to his saxophone which was in simplest terms, regarded as the more commercial investment by each of those companies. While Rangell sees his musical aspirations as ultimately being no less "commercially minded" on the flute, the scope and diversity of the compositions and arrangements on "Blue" are unusually wide for any single project let alone one done in tandem with an entirely separate album. "Blue" features nine tunes from as varied a group of composers as Stevie Wonder to jazz adaptations of classical pieces by Maurice Ravel. Gabriel Faure and Sergei Prokofiev. The disc's stylings include everything from R and B to up tempo straight ahead jazz and classical. The unifying thread that bridges the diversity of material throughout the album is Rangell's unfailingly soulful approach, beautiful sound and technical mastery running through each song. "Blue" includes 2 original pop jazz gems as well, eleven songs in all. Also featured are inspired and fresh contributions by contemporary jazz legend Bob James on 4 of the eleven tracks. James plays with not only his patent artistry and musical insight but with tremendous fire and range.
The simultaneous release of two highly enjoyable and vastly diverse recordings, featuring different instruments has rarely, if ever, been done by an artist. Nelson Rangell is a dynamic player on both flute and saxophone with tremendous ability, a strong voice and much to say. "Red" and "Blue" are both hugely accessible, while taking Nelson Rangell's artistry and contribution to contemporary jazz to a new level.

Tracklist:

01 - Little Face
02 - Dizzy
03 - Le Tombeau De Couperin
04 - Children's Games
05 - Peter and the Wolf
06 - Sweetest Somebody I Know
07 - I Loved You
08 - Pavane
09 - Free as a Bird
10 - Ao Mar
11 - The Magician (El Mago)