Jacques Schwarz-Bart‘s Brother Jacques Project was first published in 2003 under the name Inspiration. First published in Japan as a small series, the album quickly sold out. With Jacques’ agreement, Le Bananier Bleu published a second series, again in 2003, under the MusicMetis label.
Seven years before Rise Above, this first version, led by saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart, is identical in every respect to the one released by Dreyfus Jazz in 2010, except for two previously unreleased tracks, Mind Soother and Tryin’ Times, which will not be included (and we wonder why…). With Stephanie McKay (vcls), Terreon Gully, Johnathan Maron and Jason Lindner. On Home, bassist Me’Shell Ndegeocello takes over, accompanied by Gene Lake and Federico Peña. This 2003 version also contains the single Forget / Regret, a version of which appears on Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor.