TRUMPET MASTER TOM HARRELL'S FIERY AND ENGAGING MUSIC
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 09/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five INTRIGUING Stars!! A great performance by jazz trumpet virtuoso Tom Harrell and his quintet. I remember the legendary Mr Harrell when he was lighting up the late-period Stan Kenton Orchestra and the Horace Silver Quintet with spectacular solos and he brings even more matured and award-winning capabilities to this fiery jazz set. Using the classic jazz quintet format, Mr Harrell has written some very challenging, attractive, and in many cases very beautiful songs which allow the group to create intimate musical scenarios as improvisational springboards. He is joined by the talented tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, the inventive Danny Grissett on piano and Fender Rhodes, the nimble bassist Ugonna Okegwo's solid underpinning, and a muscular Johnathan Blake on drums who rounds out the group quite nicely.
The 'Pieces De Resistance', the best of the best, begin with the bittersweet, cleverly disguised waltz-like "Fountain", a beautiful theme over shifting rhythms that gives Mr Harrell his best solo outing of the CD and is now on my overcrowded iPod. He also excells on the solo and the closing vamp on "Sky Life" among many other sparkling solos. "Nights at Catalonia" begins with a Horace Silver-like intro that morphs into a beautiful extended theme that is both lyrical and rhythmically sophisticated. Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery gets off his best solo while soaring on "Contrary Mary", as does pianist Danny Grissett, who also shines on the Fender Rhodes during the very hip "Sky Life". The serpentine "Architect of Time" and the fast burning "Bad Stuff" set off some great individual solos, especially Johnathan Blake's great drum solo on the latter song. "Blue Caribe" serves up a big slice of carribean funk that swings mightily. Decades into a brilliant career, Tom Harrell has produced a beautiful, enjoyable, swinging CD that is a welcomed new addition to his discography and is Highly Recommended. Bravo, Tom !! Five JAZZY Stars.
(This review is based on an iTunes digital download.)"
A Modern Masterpiece
Joel S. Schneider | San Francisco | 02/21/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a GREAT recording...from beginning to end. Tom Harrell is a total musician and a complete artist. One can hear the history of modern jazz in his compositions and in his solos. This music is a perfect marriage of mind and heart. Each song has its own identity and grows more and more fascinating with each listening - each one is a beautiful jewel that reflects a different facet, a different light and color, each time you hear it. If you love Tom Harrell or have only heard him in passing, or, for that matter, have never listened to him before, don't delay adding this cd to your collection. "Light On" is a modern masterpiece."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
