Search - Branford Marsalis :: The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born

Essential '90s jazz

01/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record, along with Branford's "Trio Jeepy," "Bloomington," and "The Dark Keys" will make for an absolutely essential boxed set one day. But this record is the crown jewel of these complex, highly swinging, and fiercely beautiful albums. This is improvisatory interaction at its crisp and passionate best. Marsalis, Watts, and Hurst deliver outstanding performances, and their experience as a working band shows here. These guys are practically breathing each other's air. Breathtaking balladry, playful blueses, and clarity of thought dominate this album.Do not pass this up (unless, like the above reviewer, you can actually stomach Kenny G)"

Perhaps Branford at his best

Joshua Sellers | New Orleans, LA | 07/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like good jazz "in the tradition," this is a must for any jazz collector. "Roused About" has a great monkish feel to it (named after one of Monk's tenor players). "The Beautyful Ones" is a sublime ballad, and reminds me of Coltrane's meditative pieces like "Alabama"-- but very "operatic" in some sense. The musical approach is largely free, and emotionally tense, but not necessarily atonal (think 60's Miles Davis, not Ornette Coleman). If you are into Kenny G, don't buy this album-- this is real jazz-- not instrumental pop!"

Fair on B. Marsalis

Hiram Gomez Pardo | 08/04/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have never seen in me the right to comment, let alone criticise, about either recorded music or the recording musicians. Yet, the only review I read on a URL associated with Branford Marsalis's 'Beautiful Ones' urged me to my keyboard for the sake of fairness.This album is by far the best of Mr. Marsalis and his fellow jazzmen, Bob Hurst and Tain Watts. Tunes ringing in my mind, I can go as far as to argue that this little ensemble of a trio is one of the most elegant of modern music and can hardly be heard to its best on any other CD. I cannot imagine a serious Brandford Marsalis listener having missed this one out. Totally intriguing."