Norman Connors - Remember Who You Are

Norman Connors' first set since 1988's successful Passion, Remember Who You Are has the drummer/composer not only successfully updating his trademark sound but also broadening his production skills. This effort is his first for MoJazz, distributed by Motown. Connors does an equal amount of originals and covers throughout the recording. He reunites with one of his best vocalists, Phyllis Hyman, for the poignant and well-orchestrated title track. "You and I," featuring a great vocal from Angela Bofill, is reminiscent of Connors' classic sound and melodic changes. Not all of the covers work, though. Spencer Harrison hams it up on the always tricky "Lush Life," but he makes up for it on the solid cover of "A Song for You." The biggest surprise here is Connors' take on Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" -- the track features a charismatic, full-bodied lead from Eve Cornelious, who also co-wrote the added lyrics. The production and arrangement stay true to the song's whimsical nature, and an ultrasmooth acoustic piano solo from Patrice Rushen is featured. There is also some good instrumental work on Remember Who You Are. The moody and atmospheric "Only When She Cries" has a keyboard solo from Jacques Burvick and fine tenor sax from Marion Meadows. John Coltrane's classic "Naima" gets the first-class treatment. A few of the tracks in the contemporary jazz/R&B vein, "I Can't Wait Till I See You Again" and "Just Like This" (featuring Denise Stewart), are skilled enough not to be disconcerting. Remember Who You Are shows Connors truly on his game; the album is another one of his fulfilling efforts. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide

Name Credits A. Miles Composer Albert Crawford, Jr. Programming, Composer, Arranger, Keyboards Alex Brown Vocals (Background) Angela Bofill Performer, Vocals Billy Strayhorn Composer Bob Burnes Flugelhorn Bobby Lyle Percussion, Arranger, Keyboards, Piano Brant Biles Engineer, Mixing Charles Veal Strings, ?, Conductor, Concert Master Darryl Jackson Percussion Daryll Black Vocals (Background), Vocals Denise Stewart Vocals (Background), Performer, Vocals, Arranger, Vocal Arrangement Doc Powell Drums, Guitar Duke Jones Flugelhorn, Trumpet Eve Cornelious Composer, Vocals, Performer, Vocals (Background) Fred Washington Bass Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington Bass Gary Bias Flute Herbie Hancock Composer Herman Jackson Keyboards, Synthesizer Jacques Burvick Arranger, Piano, Keyboards, Piano (Electric) Jay Mitchell Guitar Jerry Peters Keyboards, Arranger, Piano Joe Wolf Programming John Coltrane Composer Juewett Bostick Programming, Arranger, Guitar Kirk Whalum Sax (Tenor) L. Defino Composer L. Russell Composer Larry Burns Keyboards, Programming Larry Farrow Keyboards, Clavinet Lorna Wilson Vocals (Background), Vocals M. Andrews Composer Malcolm Cecil Engineer, Mixing Marcus Belgrave Trumpet Marion Meadows Arranger, Sax (Soprano), ?, Composer, Sax (Tenor) Mike Baker Drums Munyungo Jackson Keyboards, Percussion Nat Bettis Percussion Norman Brown Guitar, Percussion Norman Connors Director, Producer, Tympani [Timpani], Programming, Percussion, Arranger, Drums, Vocal Arrangement Patrice Rushen Piano Patrick Rushen Piano Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar, Programming, Arranger, Keyboards, Composer Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Perri Vocals (Background) Pharoah Sanders Sax (Tenor) Phyllis Hyman Vocals (Background), Vocals, Performer R. Ward Composer Ralph Jones Flute, Sax (Tenor) Ralph Sutton Engineer Ray Brown Trumpet, Flugelhorn Ray Parker, Jr. Guitar Reggie C. Young Trombone Robert Burns Flugelhorn Robert Margouleff Mixing, Engineer Rodney Millon Programming Rodney Milton Programming Rozlyn Sorrell Vocals (Background), ? Spencer Harrison Vocals (Background), Performer, Vocals Stanley Clarke Bass Steve McHeever Executive Producer Tim Nilz Assistant Engineer Tony Jones Bass Tony Warren Vocals (Background), ? Welton Gite Bass, Programming, Bass (Electric)