Search - Jeff "Tain" Watts, Terence Blanchard, Branford Marsalis :: Watts

One of the best of 2009

skip norris, music hall detroit | detroit, mi usa | 02/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jeff Watts, without question, is the hardest swinging drummer in the jazz idiom today. With that being said, this recording just might be the best jazz recording of the year. Some may say that's presumptious or maybe a bit arrogant, however, Watts, McBride, Marsalis and Blanchard more than deliver the goods on this recording. McBride's tone is extremely gritty and negroid - bringing in the down home richness of a friend chicken dinner. Terence Blanchard delivers lessons of heroic nuance, passion and soul-sophistication. He more than reasserts that he still has a lot to say about the direction of modern day trumpet playing. Branford Marsalis, after more than 25 years of sharing bandstands with the finest musicians in the world, is without question the finest tenor/soprano soloist in the game. Marsalis reminds us of the great 200 meter champion Michael Johnson - it's not a question he's going to win, but by how far. Marsalis, like Jeff Watts, is in a class by himself. Marsalis' solo on Katrina James is soulful, mournful and inspirational in it's delivery and impact.



Jeff Watts has again raised the bar in regards to improvisation, composition, and band leadership. Like Elvin Jones and the modern master Roy Haynes, Jeff Watts has thrown down the gauntlet and issued a direct challenge to cry babies and wannabees who choose not to swing.



It'll be more than interesting who takes up the challenge.



Skip Norris

Jazz Artistic Director

The Music Hall for the Performing Arts Center

Detroit, Michigan

"

Juan Tainish does it again!!

R. Reid | Washington DC | 02/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Is there ANY question who is the pre-eminent drummer in all of jazz today?

Jeff Watts does it again. If you're a fan of Branford Marsalis, or Wynton's earlier work, then you already know who he is.



But this time, he comes with a line-up that is akin to an All-Star team in basketball.



Christian McBride on bass,

Branford Marsalis on saxophone,

Terence Blanchard on trumpet,



AND WATTS?!?! Incredible!!



If you remember, this group is three-fifths of the very excellent group that did the music for the "Mo' Better Blues" soundtrack. Under Watts leadership, this group is hard-driving and hard-charging from the opening tip. You will love this disc!





"

Tain keeps getting better

James E. Anderson | Australia | 02/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have every commercially available tain-under-his-name album and love this the best. His writing has got even better - more adventurous, complex and playful and it works a treat.



Blanchard (trumpet)and marsalis (sax)play better than I've ever heard them before too - more creative and risk taking than usual and they always pull it off. And McBride isn't too shabby either!



Tain's playing is excellent as always and tends to be even more funky than on previous recordings.



(No offence intended but having no piano keeps the artistic style coherent - on previous recordings with these players the music can be smokin' with the pianist laying out, then piano comes back and the mojo nosedives: it all suddenly sounds old-fashioned and irritating, no matter how good the piano playing)



This CD is more than worth the money for cuts 2 and 3 alone. Hugely recommended."