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Preaching to the Choir
Studio album by Vincent Herring
Released	April 30, 2021
Recorded	July 31 – August 1, 2020 and November 20–21, 2020
Venue	Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	65:21
Label	Smoke Sessions
Producer	Paul Stache, Damon Smith
Vincent Herring chronology
Bird at 100 (2019) Preaching to the Choir (2021) Soul Jazz (2024)

Preaching to the Choir is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring, which was recorded in 2020 and released the following year on the Smoke Sessions label.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Jazzwise
The Times

Jazzwise reviewed the album stating,

One of the less-lionised among the Young Lions of the 1990s, Herring perhaps didn’t get the same publicity because he spent a long time in the quintet of Nat Adderley, ostensibly deputising for the leader's brother. Not that he sounds much like Cannonball, except in the constant manipulation of his tone and articulation to enliven his phraseology, and in the rhythmic and melodic variety that regularly brings a smile to the listener's physiognomy. Similarly, the programming poses no problems for listener or performers, featuring groovy heads by among others Cedar Walton and Wes Montgomery alongside well-worn (but now refreshed) standards by Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Burton Lane and Ellington ... This is enough to guarantee a rewarding listen, but worth mentioning too is that apparently Herring undertook the session while suffering a debilitating bout of rheumatoid arthritis – you would never know it!

The Times said, "Vincent Herring made this album thinking it would be his last. A bout of coronavirus left him with rheumatoid arthritis — a worry for any saxophonist. Yet his abilities aren’t impaired and nor is his attitude. Although the CD booklet shows his masked quartet playing behind Perspex screens and quotes him on the pandemic and politics, instead of fretting or finger-wagging he goes full steam ahead on a session of smile-inducing swing".

Track listing

1. "Dudli's Dilemma" (Vincent Herring) – 6:00
2. "Old Devil Moon" (Burton Lane, Yip Harburg) – 7:47
3. "Ojos de Rojo" (Cedar Walton) – 6:53
4. "Hello" (Lionel Richie) – 5:56
5. "Fried Pies" (Wes Montgomery) – 7:37
6. "Minor Swing" (Cyrus Chestnut) – 6:03
7. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Duke Ellington) – 6:26
8. "Preaching to the Choir" (Vincent Herring) – 5:02
9. "Granted" (Joe Henderson) – 6:37
10. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (Stevie Wonder) – 7:32

Personnel

• Vincent Herring – alto saxophone
• Cyrus Chestnut – piano
• Yasushi Nakamura – bass
• Johnathan Blake – drums

References

1. "Preaching to the Choir". Smoke Sessions Records. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
2. ^ Priestley, Brian. "Vincent Herring: Preaching To The Choir". Jazzwise. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
3. ^ Pearson, Chris (2024-07-24). "Vincent Herring: Preaching to the Choir review — a session of smile-inducing swing". The Times. Retrieved 2024-07-24.

• Vincent Herring albums
• 2021 albums
• Smoke Sessions Records albums