The Melody Lingers On
Houston Person · 2014
56 min · 10 tracks · jazz
Smooth, soulful jazz arrangements intertwine with Houston Person's warm saxophone tones, creating an intimate listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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My Funny Valentine Start here — This track captures the essence of the album with its emotive melody and Person's expressive saxophone playing, making it a standout interpretation of this classic standard.
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Only Trust Your Heart — Person’s delivery on this track showcases his ability to blend lyrical storytelling with intricate musicality, embodying the album’s overall warmth and sophistication.
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Try a Little Tenderness — The arrangement highlights a playful interaction between the instruments and Person's saxophone, illustrating his knack for creating a conversational feel within his music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases strong compositions and skilled arrangements while maintaining a smooth, cohesive sound.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of smooth, flowing melodies that highlight Houston Person's saxophone throughout each track.
- Each piece is arranged with a focus on subtle interplay between the saxophone and accompanying instruments, creating a cohesive sound.
- The tempo remains predominantly relaxed, with only slight variations that maintain a laid-back atmosphere across the entire record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady melodic exploration throughout
- heartfelt moments of reflection
- warm saxophone for intimate settings
- for late-night unwinding
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tempo shifts
- prefer fast-paced listening experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and mastery in Houston Person's established jazz style.
- Career context
- By 2014, Houston Person was well-established in the jazz scene, celebrated for his distinct sound and contributions to the genre. 'The Melody Lingers On' comes after a series of successful projects, marking his continued evolution as an artist and showcasing his expertise and passion for timeless standards.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Grant Green· Jimmy Smith· Charles Earland
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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You're Nearer
The bridge presents a shift in tempo, enhancing the emotional depth by emphasizing yearning through rhythmic variation.
This structural choice intensifies the longing expressed throughout the song, allowing listeners to feel the weight of each note.
Tracklist
- 1 My Funny Valentine Start here 6:24
- 2 Gone Again 4:42
- 3 You’re Nearer 4:31
- 4 Minton’s 4:35
- 5 Bewitched 6:00
- 6 Only Trust Your Heart 7:20
- 7 They All Laughed 4:39
- 8 Try a Little Tenderness 5:47
- 9 The Song Is Ended 5:14
- 10 You Can’t Lose With the Blues 7:43
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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