Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids

Billy Bang | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Justin Time Records
• ASIN: B000OONOXW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,465 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beauty and power, June 30, 2007

By 

James E. Anderson (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Audio CD)

An exceptional recording. The improvising is coherent and especially in the first 2 numbers quite wonderful, paticularly Andrew Bemkey's comping and soloing on piano on Nothing But Love. The opener, Silent Observation, has a groove reminiscent of classic blue note of the 60's but with the group interplay much more interesting and satisfying. Sound quality is superior. Smokin'!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top notch Bang!, May 11, 2007

By 

Lawrence L. Powell "larryp" (Weston, Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Audio CD)

This was recorded in 2003 with a rhythm section unknown to me and Frank Lowe. It is a beautiful record; Frank Lowe is playing with one lung (he was dying of cancer). This is very modern music, not out; simply great music. If you like/love modern jazz add this to your collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a grand piece of music, January 26, 2008

By 

Case Quarter (CT USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids (Audio CD)

todd nicholson begins silent observation with a walking bass for a real cool blues with soaring solos played with the rest of the quintet and he doesn't let up until his own very somber solo bowing setting a mood altering conclusion by the entire quintet.

andrew bemkey leads the way on nothing but love, billy bang on violin and frank lowe on tenor sax harmonize a calypso beat evocative of sonny rollins. lowe, truly a warrior, takes over extending the piece with his marvelous tone.

on dark silhouette bemkey gets things off again, opening with an introspective nod toward monk, taking his time in developing the song until you almost believe the piece is a solo for him--he's five minutes into his solo when you hear a non-intrusive plash by drummer, tatsuya nakatani, and the applause of an appreciative audience. bang's playing on this one is nothing less than, for a better phrase, asian magic blended with free jazz speaking in tongues violin. lowe follows bang. nakatani, and i believe, nicholson follow, it's difficult to tell the buildup is so inaudible that i wonder if that was intentional, a matter of having to be there, or the recording equipment being at fault.

at play in the fields of the lord is a spirited romp. billy bang, not above and beyond wit, breaks out with fly in the buttermilk, shoo fly, shoo.