Search - Branford Marsalis :: Royal Garden Blues

Bop/post-bop virtuosity

11/11/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Branford exibits total mastery of all that came before him. Not content to simply rely on those old cliche bebop runs, he exhibits the rare ability to create new and beautiful melodic variations on each melody. And by the way, the piano playing is SPECTACULAR!"

Fresh

Johnson Lee | Irvine, CA USA | 10/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's face it; you don't want to hear Coltrane or Rollins all the time! Listen to 50s' Blue Note or Prestige tenor albums for about a week and listen to an album like this - it would be like breathing fresh air.

In this album, the improvisation is endlessly creative. Branford's tone is constantly attractive, sometimes with feather-like lightness, sometimes with full-round tone (but without heaviness). The ballads are heart-felt and graceful - you almost feel like you are listening to a piece of classical music. Up-tempo tracks have the kind of flamboyancy that makes you tip-toe.

This is the first of Branford's albums I ever heard. I am determined to buy some more."