Search - Don Braden :: Fire Within

Fire Within
Don Braden
Fire Within
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

Although tenor saxophonist Don Braden utilizes three separate ensembles for The Fire Within, the CD boasts strong continuity. Braden animates his dark, husky tone with blistering solos that build steady momentum with extre...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Don Braden
Title: Fire Within
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: RCA
Original Release Date: 3/9/1999
Release Date: 3/9/1999
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Styles: Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 090266329724

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Although tenor saxophonist Don Braden utilizes three separate ensembles for The Fire Within, the CD boasts strong continuity. Braden animates his dark, husky tone with blistering solos that build steady momentum with extreme logic and passion. He favors long, thick melodic lines delivered in a peppered conversational manner. The inventive take on "Solar" greatly benefits from Braden's well-paced solo as bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts anchor the classic with a funky reggae rhythm. Braden raises the stakes on improvisational gusto with delightful pieces like the Coltrane-ish burn of "The Boiling Point" and the blustery but rhythmically intricate "Thermo." But Braden's keen sense of melody and, more importantly, his musicality shine in the enchanting reading of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". And the album-closing "Doctone" pays homage to late pianist Kenny Kirkland, who was scheduled to record on this CD at the time of his death. --John Murph
 

CD Reviews

It burns!!
Bandy | Singapore | 11/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don Braden is a fine saxophonist of his generation. If I am not wrong, this is currently the best album by Don, most of the songs he is doing here are mostly post-bop contemporary Jazz and the main influence here is obviously inspired by John Coltrane. The first track showcase the quartet's capability of laying a powerful, harmonically astute, swinging foundation, with that beautifully structured saxophone improvisation going in all directions.A hot-driven rhythm section was born to create a new dimension for the project: Jeff Watts, Christian McBride and Kenny Kirkland. Then misfortune struck, Kenny died one week before the session date. Nevertheless, they opted to do this a pianoless trio format in dedication to the great Kenny Kirkland. The Trio did several tracks like , and . The track is a joy to listen, here, this trio drives the music to some funky reggae and humorous grooves, you can hear Watts and McBride interacting behind those mind-boggingly creative improvisations by Don. Although the trio has reached another level, it is saddening to remind them that K Kirkland had left so early..All the musicians are very sincere in dedicating their hardwork and sprituality, to Kenny Kirkland and especially in reverence to this exquisite art form, Jazz.Real Jazz fans should never leave this one out, unless for those neophytes who like to worship that pseudo Jazzy David Sanborn for his pretentious " Soulful spit in the pit " / " Soulful cry" (Soulful noise would be more appropriate!) Or his irritating, childish and unintelligent upper register bursts with that commercialize R&B feel. David Sanborn should listen to this album, learn from it and then take up Banjo... (",)"