Sketches of MD

Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium is one of the few live albums by Kenny Garrett, his first for Mack Avenue Records, released in 2008. The Mack Avenue label was based out of Garrett’s hometown of Detroit. Garrett is featured in a quintet with tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, keyboardist Benito Gonzalez, bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Jamire Williams.[1] The "MD" of the title track refers to Garrett’s old bandleader Miles Davis.[2]

Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium
Live album by
Kenny Garrett featuring Pharoah Sanders
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2008[1]
VenueIridium Jazz Club, NYC
GenreJazz
LabelMack Avenue Records
ProducerKenny Garrett
Kenny Garrett chronology
Beyond the Wall
(2006)		 Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium
(2008)		 Seeds from the Underground
(2012)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz[2]
AllMusic[3]
DownBeat[4]
The Guardian[5]
PopMatters[6]

In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek wrote: "What is most pleasing about Sketches of MD is that Garrett is as concerned with offering his audience a solid and utterly engaging show as he is with having himself thought of as a banner-carrying sophisticated jazzman."[3]

DownBeat's Jim Macnie called the album "frustratingly static," and commented: "Garrett may be a fire-starter, but his party records need a bit more design."[4]

John Kelman of All About Jazz described the recording as "an album of unabashed blowing and multiplicity of stylistic references," but noted that the rendition of "Happy People" "turns tedious."[2]

Writing for The Guardian, John Fordham stated that the album "catches the incandescent quality of a typical Garrett gig," and remarked: "It's good party music, but the kind of spontaneous turns that make you jump are rare."[5]

In an article for JazzTimes, Steve Greenlee suggested that Garrett's association with Pharoah Sanders "is pushing Garrett to new heights," and noted the influence of "John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Cannonball Adderley and others."[7]

Claudrena N. Harold of PopMatters commented: "If you've had the fortune of seeing Garrett live, the magic he captures on this disc... should come as no surprise." She called the opening track "a perfect showcase of the intellectual curiosity and spiritual probing that makes Garrett's music so captivating," and wrote: "Shrieks and honks by Garrett and Pharaoh Sanders not only conjure up spirits from jazz's illustrious past, but summon us to participate in their spiritual communion."[6]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Ring"Kenny Garrett14:34
2."Intro To Africa"Kenny Garrett9:21
3."Sketches of MD"Kenny Garrett10:02
4."Wayne's Thang"Kenny Garrett10:58
5."Happy People"Kenny Garrett11:41

Personnel

Musicians

  • Kenny Garrett – alto saxophone, bass clarinet, organ, synthesizer
  • Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone, vocals
  • Nat Reeves – bass
  • Benito Gonzalez – piano, electric piano (Fender Rhodes), synthesizer
  • Jamire Williams – drums

Production

  • Kenny Garrett – producer
  • Gretchen Valade – executive producer, liner notes
  • Al Pryor – executive VP of A&R
  • Jonathan Duckett – engineer (recording)
  • Greg Calbi – engineer (mastering)
  • Raj Naik – art direction, design
  • Casey Conroy – creative direction
  • Maria Enrenreich – director of creative service
  • Jimmy & Dena Katz – photography

Chart positions
Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Jazz Albums[8] 11

References
  1. "Sketches of MD: Live At The Iridium". Mack Avenue Records. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  2. John Kelman (October 6, 2008). "Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD: Live at The Iridium". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  3. Jurek, Thom. "Sonny Simmons: Music from the Spheres". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. Jim Macnie (November 2008). "Reviews / Kenny Garrett: Sketches Of MD: Live At The Iridium" (pdf). DownBeat. pp. 70–71. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. John Fordham (September 26, 2008). "Jazz review: Kenny Garrett/ Pharoah Sanders, Sketches of MD - Live at the Iridium". The Guardian. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  6. Harold, Claudrena N. (January 21, 2009). "Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD: Live at the Iridium". PopMatters. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  7. Greenlee, Steve (November 1, 2008). "Kenny Garrett: Sketches of MD". JazzTimes. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  8. "Billboard Jazz Albums, 2008". Billboard Magazine. 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
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