Free (Marcus Miller album) explained
Free is a studio album by jazz bassist Marcus Miller, released in 2007.
Background
The album's title track is a cover of the 1977 Deniece Williams song. UK soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae provided lead vocals. "Higher Ground" is a song originally recorded by Stevie Wonder, and "What Is Hip" was originally performed by Tower of Power. "Jean Pierre" was originally performed by Miles Davis on We Want Miles, 1982. Blues singer Keb' Mo' performs lead vocals and co-wrote with Marcus Miller the track entitled "Milky Way".
The album's US version has not only a new title, Marcus, but the tracks have been remixed/recut. Four additional tracks have been added to the album as well.
Track listing
All tracks written by Marcus Miller, except where indicated.
- "Blast" - 5:43
- "Funk Joint" - 5:42
- "Free" (Deneice Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts, Susaye Greene) - 5:39
- "Strum" - 5:40
- "Milky Way" (Miller, Kevin R. Moore) - 5:38
- "Pluck (Interlude)" - 3:55
- "When I Fall in Love" (Edward Heyman, Victor Young) - 5:24
- "Jean Pierre" (Miles Davis) - 7:26
- "Higher Ground" (Stevie Wonder) - 6:30
- "What Is Hip?" (David Garibaldi, Emilio Castillo, Stephen M. Kupka) - 5:58
Personnel
- Marcus Miller – keyboards (1), programming (1, 3), sitar (1, 6), bass guitar (1-6, 8-10), organ (2, 7, 9, 10), guitars (2), bass clarinet (2, 6, 7, 10), Rhodes electric piano (3, 6-8), synthesizers (3, 5-7), clavinet (4, 9), string synthesizer (4), Moog synthesizer (4), percussion (4), Wurlitzer electric piano (5), acoustic guitar (5), guitar riff (5), guitar solo (5), drum programming (5), fretless bass (7), tambourine (10), B♭ clarinet (10)
- Bobby Sparks – synthesizers (1, 2, 8, 9), clavinet (3, 6), organ (3, 5), Moog bass (8)
- Bernard Wright – additional synthesizers (1), organ licks (2)
- Chester Thompson – organ (10)
- Andrea Braido – guitars (1)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – acoustic guitar (3, 4, 6)
- Keb' Mo – guitar (5), lead vocals (5), backing vocals (5), sample vocals (6)
- Poogie Bell – drums (1, 2, 4, 8-10)
- Jason Thomas – drums (6)
- Teddy Campbell – drums (7)
- Julian Miller – percussion programming (1)
- Gregoire Maret – harmonica (1, 2, 4, 7-9)
- Keith Anderson – tenor saxophone (1, 2, 8, 9)
- David Sanborn – alto saxophone (3, 10)
- Tom Scott – tenor saxophone (4)
- Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet (1, 2, 8, 9), flugelhorn (3)
- Lalah Hathaway – vocals (1), "ba da yap" vocals (3)
- Corinne Bailey Rae – lead vocals (3), backing vocals (3)
- Kenya Ivey – additional backing vocals (3)
- Tavia Ivey – additional backing vocals (3)
- Ulisa Ivey – additional backing vocals (3)
- Gussie Miller – backing vocals (5)
