Search - Aaron Germain :: Before You Go

A highly recommended cd of jazz and beyond

Alexey Berlind | Oakland, CA | 03/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aaron Germain is one of the finest bass players of the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the composer of the excellent pieces on this CD. The album highlights the playing of some of the most talented and cutting edge musicians of the SF Bay, including sax and reed man Sheldon Brown, pianist Matt Clark, and drummers Brian Bowman and Jeff Mars.



It is worth noting that this is very much an ensemble recording, with a nice balance of solos and features among all the members of the band. While Germain's bass playing and solos are beautiful, impressive and very well recorded, it's the compositions and the band that shine as a whole: tight, expressive and interactive, playful and creative. All the instruments are well recorded and balanced and pleasant on the ear.



Most of the cd is a thematically united group of jazz tunes, balanced between fairly burning modern jazz pieces like Culebra; pretty, midtempo compositions like the upbeat jazz-waltz Lakefood; and pensive pieces like the bossa-feel Higashi Nakano and gorgeous ballad Admiral Drive, which features the melody beautifully played by Germain on the acoustic upright bass. In addition to this sweet batch of songs is a Brazillian chorro-style piece Bellabou Baiao, with a crack group of guest Brazilian stylists like drummer Phil Thompson and accordion player Colin Hogan among others, where Germain shows off his tastefully dexterous and melodic electric bass chops. There is also a most impressive funky piece in 9/8 featuring some fine Fender-Rhodes playing by Matt Clark and the unstoppable drumming of Jeff Mars, who locks up super tight with Aaron's adroit basslines to make an intricate composition groove irresistably.



I have thoroughly enjoyed this album, both as a listener and musician, and feel it deserves some national recognition and serious props. Highly recommended."