Search - Barbara Dennerlien :: Junkanoo

Another fine progressive soul-jazz outing from B.D.

J. Levinson | Media, PA USA | 11/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Her composing is almost as impressive as her prodigious organ technique on this fine progressive soul-jazz outing of all original tunes from B.D. The grooves range from funky blues and soulful bop to sultry latin. Lonnie Plaxico's solid bass lets her concentrate more on melodic improvisations. Joe Locke's atmospheric vibes, Mitch Watkins' fusion licks, Don Alias' percussive spice, and a top-notch horn section round out the mix. The title track is dark minor Caribbean groove with the haunting feel of a tropical evening.
Lonnie Plaxico - Bass (Electric), Bass (Upright)
Mitch Watkins - Guitar Howard Johnson - Tuba, Sax (Baritone)
Thomas Chapin - Flute
Don Alias - Percussion
Dennis Chambers - Drums
David Murray - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Tenor)
Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Frank Colon - Percussion
Frank Lacy - Trombone
David Sanchez - Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Joe Locke - Vibraphone"

A great jazz album

S. Hawkins | New York, NY | 03/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Barbara Dennerlein is one of the few innovators of the jazz organ out there today. Perhaps, I'm slightly biased, but I have just never been taken in by Joey DeFrancesco.That out, Junkanoo is a great album, featuring some wonderful compositions of Dennerlein's, and featuring awesome organ playing (and good work on footpedals too). It's well worth it for that.The album falls down a little bit though. Dennis Chambers is a great drummer, but his rock rhythms sound sort of strange against what is going on with the other instruments. Also, her choice of instrumentation is occasionally suspect - they don't quite blend at times.Regardless, it's a wonderful album."