So around the end of last week I got in a CD that threw me for a bit of a loop: Everybody Wants To Be A Cat: Disney Jazz Volume 1.
This is a rather unassuming looking album for being a Disney release, and pays respect to the kind of weird sleek and clean look that a lot of artists have been using lately (It works for this, but the trend is annoying in most cases. Remember kids, album art should contain some amount of art, not just a picture of you in your snazzy suit). Sure enough, there on the back we have the Disney Pearl Series logo, proving that is a real Disney album, and the pickings are good. This is clearly not just some in house production for the sake of a cash in. The artists who have come together are wide ranging, and bring some really killer interpretations to the table, most notably Esperanza Spalding’s soft and dreamy version of “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and The Bad Plus with their whacked out “Gaston.” Dave Brubeck even pitches in with a Disney jazz standard “Someday My Prince Will Come,” and while it doesn’t stand up to my personal favorite Miles Davis version, it stands strong among the selection, and it’s always a plus to see that Dave is putting out work. This is in no way the most revolutionary album released in a while, but it’s Disney! The album is fun, and anything that brings a smile to my face is just as important. Honestly, grab it at the local music place, or listen to it here, and just let the magic flow through. You’re inner child will thank you.
About the author
Jazz and Blues Boss - Got questions about jazz or blues? I'm the one to ask.