Search - Chick Corea, Roy Haynes, Kenny Garrett :: Remembering Bud Powell

Rich with enthusiasm, conviction, and heart.

12/27/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing is genuinely inspired throughout. No one sounds half-hearted, not one note sounds contrived, and the songs are wonderfully different from each other. The album didn't immediately serve my ears, but met me halfway; leaving me 'educated', and better for having purchased it. It's true what they say about loving the albums you aren't initially fond of, because that was true with Remembering Bud Powell. It was above me, but I am growing to appreciate the maturity of the album. Except for Bud Powell (Corea's invention), all of the songs come from Powell's songbook. And yet despite their age, the arrangements sound youthful and new, due to the level of enthusiasm displayed by Corea and his friends. Even Roy Haynes' drumming sounds richly melodious; subtle changes in volume and rhythm indicate an involvement and ownership of the music which surpass usual expectations of a timekeeper. While listening to the album one becomes aware of the uniqueness of one particular musician, and that is Kenny Garrett. His playing is angular , extremely expressive, and always interesting. His playing on Mediocre is so intricate and unexpected that it must be dealt with-either by hating it or loving it. The unspoken connection made by this group of players is best exemplified during the transitions from solo to solo. I find that my favorite thing to look for in this album, besides the individual sounds of Garrett and Haynes, is the interaction between soloists, and the way each player expects and anticipates the other's thoughts. Haynes solos glide brilliantly, without anxiety, leaving one with the impression that he's able to think in the present as well as in the future, all at the same time. Haynes' playing is so distinct and complex that one would have a hard time air-drumming to his ride cymbals and snare drum strikes. They are not typical, but are unique to his own ear and musical shape. Willow Grove, Tempus Fugit, and others reveal how much space Haynes is able to appropriately fill up: what with one-handed rolls on the snare and with irregular ride cymbal patterns, he supports the music with a thick layer of accents and ideas. Without exaggeration, it is amazing. I look forward to listening to this album every day. This album is too deep to ever become irrelevant or boring."

Great music, but watch out for the format!

A Cyclist | Longmont, Colorado | 01/25/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Note that Amazon has two versions of this disk. The [lower priced] version is a standard stereo CD. The [higher priced] version, however, is encoded in DTS surround sound. The DTS version is will work only if your system includes a DTS decoder, and must be played on a DVD player; a standard CD player can't read it. On the other hand, if you have a DVD player and DTS decoder, you *must* get the DTS version; the difference it makes in the definition of individual instruments is dramatic! (DTS is a relatively new format intended mainly for home theater. It's similar to Dolby Digital, in that it provides six discrete channels of sound.)"

Good addition to Jazz Collection

Patricia Mccarty | Modesto,CA USA | 07/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a super tribute to Bud Powell. I wasn't a big Chick Corea fan but changed my mind. This is a great CD to add to any jazz lovers collection."