Jane Ira Bloom has not only created an identifiable sound on the soprano sax, but as this recording aurally illustrates, she is an inventive composer capable of evoking three-dimensional life portraits, mental videos where... more » the listener is both the audience and the director. She is joined here by pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Bobby Previte. Bloom's lyrical and weighty tones yield literary solos that develop notes and phrases in Hemingwayesque fashion, as evidenced by the spellbinding, dream-timed "Always Hope"; the chamber-waltz "Tell Me Your Diamonds"; the intricate, Afro-Tropical beats of "Jax Calypso"; "It's a Corrugated World"; and the spylike melody mazes on "Five Full Fathoms." On "Monks Rec Room," Bloom and Hersch perceptively capture Thelonious Monk's playfulness and humor, and two classic American popular songs, "Time After Time" and "How Deep Is the Ocean"--which interlocks with an avant-impressionistic intro entitled "Chagall"--showcase Bloom's gift for mixing the old with the new with her soprano sax spells. --Eugene Holley Jr.« less
Jane Ira Bloom has not only created an identifiable sound on the soprano sax, but as this recording aurally illustrates, she is an inventive composer capable of evoking three-dimensional life portraits, mental videos where the listener is both the audience and the director. She is joined here by pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Bobby Previte. Bloom's lyrical and weighty tones yield literary solos that develop notes and phrases in Hemingwayesque fashion, as evidenced by the spellbinding, dream-timed "Always Hope"; the chamber-waltz "Tell Me Your Diamonds"; the intricate, Afro-Tropical beats of "Jax Calypso"; "It's a Corrugated World"; and the spylike melody mazes on "Five Full Fathoms." On "Monks Rec Room," Bloom and Hersch perceptively capture Thelonious Monk's playfulness and humor, and two classic American popular songs, "Time After Time" and "How Deep Is the Ocean"--which interlocks with an avant-impressionistic intro entitled "Chagall"--showcase Bloom's gift for mixing the old with the new with her soprano sax spells. --Eugene Holley Jr.
"I just happened to catch this performer's gig last night in NYC at Sweet Basil's [5.22.99] She played a cut from this new album - "Climb inside her eyes" and it was fantastic! A great ballad. Right up there with Miles & Coltrane. I would've bought the CD right there at the bar, based on that one tune, but I knew I'd get it for less @ amazon! It's amazing to hear a) a woman jazz musician b) a woman jazz musician who writes & plays this great.I'd say for all of the above reasons, this is a must-get."
High Class Sounds
Tim Jeter | VA | 01/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is thinking mans music. Every piece on this CD is elegant. Ms. Bloom is one of the most technical composers in jazz. People who buy The Red Quartets will raise their music IQ. If you dont have this you are missing out on a great musical experience."
Brilliant writing complemented by fine musicianship
Ian Muldoon | Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia | 06/24/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD opens with a piano repeating an insistent percussive chant like motif joined by an arco bass, and then a soprano sound emerges as it were from the soundscape, building and building until it reaches full throated aria-like, its joyful climax, at which point the piano dispenses with its repetitious figure to engage in a musical conversation with the soprano sax and then returns to its opening motif at the end. It's a most affecting and memorable even catchy composition. I love it. A great entree to this delicious programme of two standards and nine originals including a quirky MONK'S REC ROOM which features a note bending soprano along with Mr Hersch's delighful nod to Mr Monk, and the swinging JAZ CALYPSO, the one track that highlights Mr Previte's outstanding drum sound. Mr Previte's supportive presence throughout the programme is a classic instance of the player respecting the music over the musician. But it is TELL ME YOUR DIAMONDS and CLIMB INSIDE HER EYES that show to best effect the beauty of the sound of Ms Bloom's instrument as well as the fineness of her feeling combined with the satisfaction of the structure of the composition. It is on the latter composition too that Mr Dresser's arco playing is used to great effect (but dig also his solo on EMERGENCY - get down!! Boomshukalaya!!) For me the seductive charm of this music rests a great deal on the lovely sound Ms Bloom gets from her instrument whether it's the note-bending asides she drops from time to time (on JAX CALYPSO) or the exquisite dreamy opening to CHAGALL/HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN. Her sound is one of the most beautiful I have heard on this instrument in improvising music. Bechet may have the fullness and depth, Coltrane the passion, Lacy the inventiveness, but Ms Bloom combines some of all of these qualities with a beautiful sound. Touches of Coltrane can be found in IT'S A CORRUGATED WORLD for example, but for me the overriding memory of this fine programme of music is the sweetness of her sound particularly on the ballads. A CD that I expect to be returning to on a regular basis over the coming years."
Dude, buy this album.
Matt Wright | Harrisonburg, VA | 10/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All musicians on this album are just in great form: from the heat of Mark Dresser to the chill of Fred Hersch and Bobby Previte's luke warm mediation letting Ms. Bloom fly over all and create wonderful music. Her compositional style doesn't just give a horn the head and go into solos, but shares the head with instrumental blends (sounding quite new and fresh even for a quartet) and building to send Music straight into solos. They don't build the groove, the compositions allow them to keep it in motion and just color it or dent it. It's so dirty and so clean, like steralzed mud. I highly recommend it."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
