Seeds from the Underground is the thirteenth studio album by saxophonist Kenny Garrett. It was released on April 10, 2012, on Mack Avenue Records and received two Grammy Award nominations in Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo categories, as well as an NAACP Image Award nomination in the Outstanding Jazz Album category, a Soul Train Award nomination in the Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group category, a Jazz Awards nomination for Alto Saxophonist of the Year and an Echo Award win in the Saxophonist of the Year category. It features Garrett in a quintet with pianist Benito Gonzalez, bassist Nat Reeves, percussionist Rudy Bird, and drummer Ronald Bruner, along with a small choir.
Critical reception The album received a 77/100 score on Metacritic, based on four reviews from mainstream media.
Track listing
Personnel Musicians Kenny Garrett – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, piano Benito Gonzalez – piano Nat Reeves – bass Ronald Bruner – drums Rudy Bird – batá, percussion, vocals Donald Brown – vocals Rusty Chops – vocals Sengbe Kona Khasu – vocals Nedelka Prescod – vocals Misha Tarasov – vocals
Technical Kenny Garrett, Donald Brown, Maria Ehrenreich – producer Gretchen Valade – executive producer, liner notes Greg Calbi – engineer (mastering) Todd Whitelock – engineer (mixing) Fernando Lodeiro, Tim Marchiafava, Damon Whittemore – assistant engineer Will Wakefield – production manager Tino Passante – studio manager Randall Kennedy – creative director Timothy Zach – art direction, design Keith Major – photography
Awards and nominations Year Result Award Category Work 2012 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Jazz Album Seeds from the Underground 2012 Soul Train Awards Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group Seeds from the Underground 2013 Grammy Award Best Jazz Instrumental Album Seeds from the Underground 2013 Grammy Award Best Improvised Jazz Solo "J. Mac" on Seeds from the Underground2013 Echo Award Best International Jazz Saxophone Performance Seeds from the Underground
Chart positions Chart (2012) Peakposition US Billboard Top Jazz Albums10
References