Since the 70s, Sting has enjoyed a varied career, ranging from punk to reggae to even chamber music.  One of his riskier moves dates back to1985, when he split from seminal rock band The Police to launch his solo career. Surprising many fans, his debut album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, leaned heavily toward jazz. 

To bolster his credibility, Sting recruited much of Wynton Marsalis's backing band (including saxophonist brother Branford) to perform on the album.  Despite this radical move from his signature 70s and 80s punk rock sound (although The Police's Synchronicity veered toward mainstream rock), The Dream of the Blue Turtles proved a massive success, spawning top ten singles such as “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,” “Fortress Around Your Heart,” and “Love Is the Seventh Wave.”  Fueled by this critical and commercial acceptance, Sting brought much of his studio band on the road, and the result is the 1986 CD and documentary Bring on the Night.  Over 20 years later it stands as one of my favorite live albums, a testimony to Sting's talent and diversity.

The documentary chronicles the group's trials and tribulations in rehearsing for the tour, with Sting clearly obsessed with appearing authentic in front of jazz fans.  Seeing him spar with bandmates provides entertainment, but the live performances (recorded between May 29 to Dec 23, 1985) anchor the film.  To fully appreciate the musicianship, however, listen to the double-CD accompanying the movie.  The set list contains not only Blue Turtles songs, but reworked Police classics as well.

Kicking off the set is an extended jam which interweaves “Bring on the Night” and “When the World Is Running Down.” Kenny Kirkland's lengthy jazz piano solo is the showpiece here, a tour de force that sets the tone for the rest of the evening.  “Consider Me Gone,” a Blue Turtles track that creeps up on the listener with its slinky tone and tempo.  Since the original version derives greatly from jazz, the song hardly seems out of place here.  Never neglecting his roots, Sting seamlessly segues from “The Dream of the Blue Turtles” to “Demolition Man,” the latter receiving an unlikely — but convincing — jazz treatment.

Article Author: Kit O'Toole

Kit O'Toole is a lifelong music enthusiast who maintains a music blog, Listen to the Band. In addition, she is the internet columnist and a contributing editor for Beatlefan magazine. She also holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Technology.

Visit Kit O'Toole's author page — Kit O'Toole's Blog