Night and Day

Willie Nelson

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Night and Day Review

by Alex Henderson

It might come as a surprise to learn that Night and Day is a jazz-minded instrumental album, but it shouldn't. Willie Nelson had been bringing jazz elements to his country-pop foundation since the late '50s, so recording an instrumental album that spotlights his guitar playing and illustrates his appreciation of jazz was a logical move. Night and Day isn't a hard bop blowing date; fusing pre-swing jazz with country and pop, Nelson draws on such influences as Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli and favors lyricism that is melodic, straightforward, and uncomplicated. When he tackles well-known standards like "All the Things You Are," "Night and Day," Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose," and Reinhardt's "Nuages," Nelson the guitar-playing instrumentalist isn't much different from Nelson the singer: He still brings a great deal of charm, vulnerability, and charisma to the studio. One of Nelson's strongest assets on this CD is fiddler/mandolinist Johnny Gimble, who fits in perfectly. Released when Nelson was 66, Night and Day is an album that was long overdue.

Track Listing

Title/Composer Performer Time Stream
1
Vous et Moi
Walter Bullock / Jule Styne
Willie Nelson 04:12 SpotifyAmazon
2
Nuages
Marcel Eugene Ageron / Django Reinhardt
Willie Nelson 03:39 SpotifyAmazon
3
Night and Day
Cole Porter
Willie Nelson 04:32 SpotifyAmazon
4
Over the Waves
Traditional
Willie Nelson 04:03 SpotifyAmazon
5
All the Things You Are
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Willie Nelson 02:31 SpotifyAmazon
6
Sweet Georgie Brown
Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
Willie Nelson 03:39 SpotifyAmazon
7
September in the Rain
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
Willie Nelson 03:20 SpotifyAmazon
8
Gypsy
Bill Reed
Willie Nelson 03:10 SpotifyAmazon
9
Honeysuckle Rose
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
Willie Nelson 03:33 SpotifyAmazon
10
Bandera
Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson 02:43 SpotifyAmazon
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Night and Day

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