''Free'' is a studio album by

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

bassist Marcus Miller, released in 2007.

Background

The album's title track is a cover of the 1977

Deniece Williams Deniece Williams (born June Deniece Chandler; June 3, 1951) is an American singer. She has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs " Free", " Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two ''Bil ...

song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetit ...

. UK soul singer

Corinne Bailey Rae Corinne Jacqueline Bailey Rae (; born 26 February 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. She is best known for her 2006 single "Put Your Records On". Bailey Rae was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2006 in an annual BBC po ...

provided lead vocals. " Higher Ground" is a song originally recorded by Stevie Wonder, and "What Is Hip" was originally performed by

Tower of Power Tower of Power is an American R&B and funk based band and horn section, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968. There have been a number of lead vocalists, the best-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted th ...

. "Jean Pierre" was originally performed by Miles Davis on '' We Want Miles'', 1982. Blues singer

Keb' Mo' Kevin Roosevelt Moore (born October 3, 1951), known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician and five-time Grammy Award winner. He is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link ...

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 produced by Marcus Miller; except where indicated #"Blast" #"Funk Joint" #" Free" ( Deneice Williams, Hank Redd,

Nathan Watts Nathan or Natan may refer to: People *Nathan (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name *Nathan (surname) *Nathan (prophet), a person in the Hebrew Bible * Nathan (son of David), biblical figure, son of King David an ...

, Susaye Greene) #"Strum" #"Milky Way" (Miller, Kevin R. Moore) #"Pluck (Interlude)" #"

When I Fall in Love "When I Fall in Love" is a popular song, written by Victor Young (music) and Edward Heyman (lyrics). It was introduced in the film ''One Minute to Zero'' as the instrumental titled "Theme from One Minute to Zero". Jeri Southern sang on the firs ...

" (

Edward Heyman Edward Heyman (March 14, 1907October 16, 1981) was an American lyricist and producer, best known for his lyrics to " Body and Soul," "When I Fall in Love," and " For Sentimental Reasons." He also contributed to a number of songs for films. Biog ...

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Biography Young is commonly said to ...

) #"Jean Pierre" (

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

) #" Higher Ground" ( Stevie Wonder) #"What Is Hip?" ( David Garibaldi,

Emilio Castillo Emilio Castillo (born September 24, 1950) is an American saxophone player and composer, best known as the founder of the band Tower of Power. Background In 1965, Emilio Castillo took to music after he and his brother Jack were caught stealing by ...

, Stephen M. Kupka)

Personnel

*Marcus Miller - bass, fretless bass, guitar, bass clarinet, keyboards, organ, synthesizer, string synthesizer, Moog synthesizer, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, clavinet, clarinet, sitar, percussion, tambourine, programming, drum programming *Andrea Braido - guitar * Paul Jackson Jr. - acoustic guitar *Bobby Sparks, Bernard Wright - synthesizer *Chester Thompson - organ *Charles "Poogie" Bell, Jason Thomas, Teddy Campbell - drums *Julian Miller - percussion programming *Gregoire Maret - harmonica *Keith Anderson, Tom Scott - tenor saxophone *

David Sanborn David William Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album ''Taking Off'' in 19 ...

- alto saxophone *Michael "Patches" Stewart - trumpet, flugelhorn *

Lalah Hathaway Eulaulah Donyll "Lalah" Hathaway (born December 16, 1968) is an American singer. In 1990 Hathaway released her first album titled ''Lalah Hathaway''. After releasing another album, titled '' A Moment'' (1994), it debuted at number 34 on the To ...

- vocals on "Blast", "ba da yap" vocals on "Free" *

- vocals on "Free" *

Keb' Mo Kevin Roosevelt Moore (born October 3, 1951), known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician and five-time Grammy Award winner. He is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link ...

- sample vocals on "Pluck" *Kenya Ivey, Tavia Ivey, Ulisa Ivey, Gussie Miller - backing vocals

External links

* {{Authority control 2007 albums Marcus Miller albums Albums produced by Marcus Miller