Love Will Find a Way is a jazz album by Philip Bailey released in November 2019 on Verve Records. The album reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
Overview Love Will Find a Way was produced by Philip Bailey. Artists such as Bilal, Chick Corea, Kamasi Washington, will.i.am and Robert Glasper also featured on the album.
Critical reception
With a four out of five stars rating Mike Hobart of the Financial Times wrote "The 12th solo album from Earth Wind and Fire's lead singer underscores his octave-spanning falsetto with generation-crossing, jazz-heavy support. The A-list collaborators include Chick Corea, Kamasi Washington and Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah alongside drummers Steve Gadd and Kendrick Scott. With pianist Robert Glasper heavily involved in production, the jazz influence goes deeper than the instrumental breaks which embellish most tracks." Andrew Gilbert of Jazz Times exclaimed "Bailey sounds energized by the contributions of 21st-century jazz players steeped in the EWF catalog like bassist Derrick Hodge, drummer Kendrick Scott, and keyboardist Robert Glasper." Gilbert added "Amid a resurgence of the spiritual jazz sound, Bailey offers a welcome reminder that the L.A.-based EWF played a vital role in its creation." Daryl Easlea of Record Collector who gave a four out of five star rating wrote, "Earth Wind & Fire mainstay Philip Bailey’s first solo album in 17 years is a remarkable dive into contemporary jazz." Simon Adams of Jazz Journal also opined "this set is a youthful return to form."
Music critic Ann Powers of NPR placed Love Will Find a Way at No. 5 on her list of the Top Ten Albums of 2019. Phil Freeman of Stereogum also gave Love Will Find a Way an honourable mention in his list of the Ten Best Jazz Albums of 2019.
Track listing
Personnel Philip Bailey –vocals, backing vocals, percussion, arrangements Kenny Barron – acoustic piano Chick Corea – keyboards Robert Glasper – keyboards, arrangements Casey Benjamin – vocoder (10), saxophone (10) Adam Hawley – guitars Lionel Loueke – guitars Adam Rogers – guitars Mike Severson – guitars Alex Al – bass Carlos del Puerto – bass Derrick Hodge – bass Christian McBride – bass, backing vocals, arrangements Teddy Campbell – drums Steve Gadd – drums will.I.am – drums, arrangements Jerome Jennings – drums Kendrick Scott – drums Manolo Badrena – percussion Luisito Quintera – percussion Kevin Richard – percussion Steve Wilson – flute, saxophone Miguel Gandelman – tenor saxophone Kamasi Washington – saxophone Garrett Smith – trombone Ray Monteiro – trumpet Christian Scott – trumpet Alisha Bauer – cello Ginger Murphy – cello Daphne Chen – violin Lisa Dondlinger – violin, concertmaster Herman Jackson – arrangements Valerie Bailey – backing vocals Bridgette Bryant – backing vocals Joey Diggs – backing vocals Bilal – lead and backing vocals (3)
Production Philip Bailey – executive producer, producer, liner notes Trinity Bailey – executive producer Robert Glasper – producer (1, 3, 5, 8) Chick Corea – producer (2) Christian McBride – producer (4, 9) will.I.am – producer (4) Herman Jackson – producer (6, 7, 10) Harvey Mason, Jr. – vocal producer Russell Elevado – recording, mixing Bernie Kirsh – recording Keith Lewis – recording Brian Montgomery – recording David Rideau – recording Alex DeTurk – mastering at The Bunker (Brooklyn, New York) Rafaela Hernández – production manager Ferni Onafowokan – A&R administration Natalie Weber – A&R manager Philip Doran Bailey – project consultant Josh Cheuse – creative director Tishaun Dawson – A&R direction, design Jabari Jacobs – photography
References