Saxophonist Dave McMurray has announced the Nov. 14 release of his fourth Blue Note album I LOVE LIFE even when I’m hurting, an affirmation of his indomitable spirit and a celebration of the love that he has for his hometown of Detroit, as well as for the many musicians with which he’s collaborated. McMurray has also released the official video for the album’s lead single “We Got By,” a soulful cover of the Al Jarreau classic featuring vocals by Kem.
McMurray says that his rendering of the soul-jazz ballad “We Got By” is 30 years in the making. He and Kem, who’s also spent considerable artistic developmental time in Detroit, have a long history as well as a shared affinity for Jarreau, whose alchemic blend of jazz and R&B is perfectly captured in Kem’s supple vocals.
“I was heavily influenced by Al Jarreau too,” says McMurray. “I listened to his first album [1975’s We Got By] all the time. From watching Kem progress as a singer, I’ve always had him in mind to sing on my version.”
WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “WE GOT BY” FEAT. KEM
McMurray conceived of the album title after having a deep discussion about the death of a friend who had been worn down by illness, eventually giving up and dying alone. McMurray’s response to that painful revelation was one of resilience: “Man, I love life even when I’m hurting.”
Afterward McMurray wrote down that statement because it meant so much to him. “That ended up being the album title, because I kind of wrote songs around that,” he explained, “songs about positivity.”
McMurray wrote six of the nine compositions, all of which burst with soulful melodicism, emotional immediacy, and irresistible grooves. Co-produced by McMurray and his longtime collaborator Don Was, the album was recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, Michigan, with a deeply talented cast of Detroit musicians including bassists Was and Ibrahim Jones, keyboardists Luis Resto and Maurice O’Neal, guitarist Wayne Gerard, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and vocalist Herschel Boone.
“Making this album was such a cool project,” McMurray concludes, “because everyone on it is somebody that I love.”
