Search - Santi Debriano :: Artistic License

Panamanian Bassist Comes of Age

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 09/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is DeBriano's fifth or sixth outing as leader, and he finally seems to have come into his own. I first encountered this artist in the mid-eighties on a marvelous album by pianist Kirk Lightsey called Everything Is Changed, which also included my first hearing of trumpeter and percussionist Jerry Gonzales. I'll probably review that album sometime (or maybe not). Besides being a very accomplished bassist, the thing that immediately stuck out about DeBriano was his compositional abilities. Two of the best songs on Everything Is Changed were his compositions.The next thing I got by him was a solo effort, which is no longer in print. Following that, I purchased Soldiers of Fortune (still in print on the Evidence label, and definitely worth checking out). Here he employed a strange but ambitious band including punk guitarist and jazz bad boy Dave Fiuczynski. It was quite an effort for its time (late eighties) and still remains one of my favorite jazz CD's.Here on Artistic License, as with his previous album, Circle Chant, he continues to use the violin as one of the primary voices of his ensemble. And he's wisely chosen to retain that remarkable rising star of jazz violin, Miri Ben-Ari. Artistic License is the stronger of the two outings because DeBriano seems to have figured out a few things in the meantime. He's got Ben-Ari more integrated into the ensemble sound, his compositions are stronger, and the addition of saxophone as a frontline pairing with Ben-Ari adds excitement and coloration.One small negative note: DeBriano plays some quite out-of-tune steel drums on Tenor Pan Woogie. Don't get me wrong--I love steel drums; but they are a minor distraction here, played in an almost "naive" way. If he wanted that effect, why didn't he call on a steel-drum master like Andy Narell? Not enough to spoil a fine outing, but a little annoying."

Awsome CD

rikochez | Petaluma, CA | 11/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've not been familiar with Santi DeBriano. But I picked up this disc on the recommendation of a friend. The music really cooks. I especially am impressed with Abraham Burton--this is the best I've ever heard him. Miri Ben-Ari is also stellar. The front line of violin and tenor sax yields some unusual and striking sonorities. DeBriano's tone, pitch, and timing on bass are absolutely above reproach, and Helio Alves on piano was an inspired choice. Definitely a different approach to Latin-flavored jazz, and one that works wonderfully."