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When documenting the
repertoire of an artist
whose had such a long
and distinguished career
as Stevie Wonder, one
sets about a challenging
task. Even if the intent
is only to register hit
singles, the job would
be quite demanding.
However, if you want to
create fresh
interpretations of music
that says something to
what the musical genius
is all about, and avoid
covering the hits that
have already been
covered numerous times,
like “Superstition,”
“Don’t You Worry ’Bout a
Thing” and “I Wish,” you
might want to follow
Yoron Israel’s lead.
Visions – The Music
of Stevie Wonder
(2013) by Yoron Israel &
High Standards picks out
a sampling of Wonder’s
album tracks. Israel
handles drums and
percussion. With him are
Lance Bryant, tenor and
soprano saxophones;
Lazlo Gardony, piano and
keyboards; Ron Mahdi,
bass; Thaddeus Hogarth,
guitar on “Bird of
Beauty” and harmonica on
“Passionate Raindrops”;
and Larry Roland, spoken
word on “Visions” and
“Visions Reprise.”
The first track is
“Another Star,” taken
from the two-disc
Songs in the Key of Life
is delivered with an
easygoing vibe, led by
Bryant’s tenor. Israel
is content to remain
low-key with the rest of
the group, allowing the
power of the arrangement
and Bryant’s play to
carry the song.
Israel opens “Creepin’”
with a drum solo,
letting us know we’re in
for something other than
a straightforward
instrumental copy. The
arrangement is a jazz
waltz with some
stop-time phrases thrown
in. The tenor again
carries the melody with
the piano fills
presenting an ethereal
quality. Throughout,
Israel mixes things up
quite a bit on the kit.
Another song taken from
the Key of Life
is “Contusion,” which
Wonder performed as an
instrumental track,
heavy on guitar and
keyboards. Israel
introduces his
arrangement with a
free-form mix of
percussion and synths.
The recognizable rhythm
starts about a minute
into the piece. Bryant
leads, covering the
guitar part with soprano
sax. After two runs
through the verse and
chorus, Bryant is
unleashed on the
soprano. For much of the
solo, Israel is the only
accompaniment, giving
both players opportunity
to show their chops.
Israel is assistant
chair and professor of
percussion at Berklee
College of Music in
Boston, and music
director at Victor World
Outreach Church in
Randolph, Massachusetts.
He is author of the
acclaimed educational
DVD Creative Jazz
Improvisation for Drum
Set and the online
course, Drum Set
Fundamentals, which is
offered through
www.berkleemusic.com.
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