Customer Reviews

Brazilian Sketches

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It would be difficult to rave too much about this collection by Jim Tomlinson. Clearly he is a tenor player in the Getz/Young mold, BUT, his sound and flowing lines are unique unto themselves. I have rarely enjoyed an album as much as this one put together by contemporary players. It is easily one of the finest Bossa Nova releases since the sixties era when BN was at it's height. Tomlinson has a searing, flowing beauty to his lines that add incredible warmth to these mostly Jobim tunes. That his wife, the incredible Stacey Kent takes part in 4 of the tracks is just another reason for what must be rated as a ***** album. Don't miss it!

I've only seen Jim Tomlinson once, when he came to Tucson as the very skillful tenor sax guy who backed up his talented wife, vocalist Stacey Kent. In this CD, he moves to the forefront and shows how good he really is on eight Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes, plus three more from Marcos Valle, Luis Bonfa and Matt Dubey, and some guy named Cole Porter. Tomlinson is a lyrical, fluid and sensitive saxophonist whose artistry makes you want to hear more. As a bonus, Stacey appears on four tracks. Her vocals and Tomlinson's sax solos on Porter's "I Concentrate on You" and "The Gentle Rain" by Bonfa and Dubey are worth replaying many times. Finally, pay special attention to guitarist Colin Oxley, who moves the songs along well without intruding. All in all, this is a fine album!

Most of my favorites, the greats, are dead, I'm sorry to say. San Getz is gone, as is Lester Young and Paul Desmond. The Cool Jazz sax men who knew that the best place to start is with a pleasing sound.

But Jim Tomlinson is very much alive and brings back, variously, the sound of all three! These songs have Stan the Man Getz's breathy sweet tone (without some of the fire) and Lester Young's phrasing, but also the dry martini sound of Paul Desmond. It's a pleasure to hear a new sax man who pays attention to tone! Here Tomlinson plays a series of (mostly) Jobim songs which were popularized by Stan Getz.

The backup band could be a tad more assertive, and Tomlinson could have made it all instrumental and left the wife at home (Stacey Kent adds something on "So Nice", but not much on "Dreamer"), but that's a minor drawback.

Fine renditions of Bossa Nova classics that could have come from the heyday in the mid-sixties. Well worth the price of admission.

Curl up, have some wine and fly off to Rio.

2005 update - saw Stacy Kent & Jim at Blues Alley in DC and his technique and sound continues to just get better and better and more like Stan Getz, the King. He had a new album recorded. I keep looking for it - can't wait!

This is the CD that inspired a whole fascination with Samba and Jazz for me. I eagerly anticipate every release by Tomlinson and Kent. Great music!

I find it difficult to add anything brilliant when it comes to reviewing this CD. It is definitely beautiful in both its
interpretation and its musical execution. I recommend that you read the other reviews, because they
say what needs to be said about Tomlinson's ability and his music.

Let me just say that you will love this CD and it will be one that you listen to many, many times. It is definitely awesome!!

"At the heart of all great instrumental artistry is the interpretation of melody." ~ Jim Tomlinson ~

Listening to this CD that has nothing to offer but sheer beauty in interpretation and musicianship is so soothing and relaxing. The material is derived from the compositions of the number one tunesmith of Brazilian music, Antonio Carlos Jobim. "Brazilian Sketches" was recorded in 2001 by a beautiful British band that takes pride in their flawless recordings. The main man, Jim Tomlinson, is a remarkable saxophonist who plays his instrument in the tradition of Stan Getz, who himself was one of the greatest saxophonists who ever lived in this planet. His style is defined as smooth, full of mastery, and a lot of finesse. It takes one Jim Tomlinson to relive and recreate Getz's exceptional style of playing. Supporting him in this wonderful recording is a band of fine musicians whom Tomlinson has a long musical association: Colin Oxley (guitar), Simon Thorpe (double bass), Chris Wells (drums/percussion), John Pearce and Dave Newton (piano).

The solid arrangements that are beautifully executed by the talented musicians call for Tomlinson's flavorful and spine-tingling solos, and not to mention Oxley's classic riffs on his guitar solos. Stacey Kent who is Jim Tomlinson's musical partner/wife, provides the charming vocals on a few tracks most notably "I Concentrate On You" and "So Nice," which are two of my favorites from the repertoire. According to him, Stacey Kent is "the single biggest influence in his life and music and he dedicates this album to her."

Jim Tomlinson's self-written Liner Notes reveal how he discovered the music of Stan Getz and why it so inspired him.

"As a fourteen year old saxophonist living in the far north of England, keen to expose himself to the world of jazz, I had a little option when shopping for records but to operate on the rule of thumb, 'if there is a saxophone on the cover, buy it.' This is how I chanced upon the cover of Getz/Gilberto. Neither of the names meant anything to me, but I was intrigued that the saxophonist on the back cover had a handkerchief stuffed down the bell of his horn (I still am!) and I bought the record. Suffice it to say that twenty years later, the music of Stan Getz is a continuing source of inspiration to me and my passion for bossa nova is unabated."

This is one beautiful, smooth and enjoyable CD to play on a perfect summer weekend...a backyard get-together with BFFs, Barbecue, fruits, Cobb Salad, Margarita...and lots of music like this--light, smooth and cool. Simple pleasures!

Jim and Stacy Kent ( a wonderful female jazz artist if you have not heard her yet) go together like cake and ice cream.
This is just good Jazz,
Jim as I mentioned in the title is good with or without Stacy..
I found him by listening to Stacy and he is very good.
He makes your ears and body just feel good knowing there are some good tunes bouncing off of your body.

I like to mix him in with my Stacy Kent CDs when I have her on, but he doesn't need anyone to make him good.
He has what it takes I feel to make you enjoy him alone & that is some excellent yet different Jazz tunes..........
I hate to differ with whomever called him Be Bop, I missed that sound from him completely..........

I haven't stopped playing this one since it arrived...it's mellow, and interesting, and it hasn't tired for me yet.