Customer Reviews

Kind of Brown

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Start to finish this is a shiney production of straight ahead bop. Its consistency is excellent. No tune is a let down. Those who prefer smooth or commercial jazz will be out of their element. I am reluctant to call this music throw back but it does draw from the best of the 50s and 60s.

This may be the best jazz I have bought this year. Procure this CD and enjoy.

No, it is not a remake of Miles Davis's Kind of Blue. It is top notch modern jazz by a group of great musicians. The songwriting is solid, and the recording sounds very good. I highly recommend this CD.

Christian McBride records another masterpiece of moderized mainstream jazz, paying homage to the likes of Ray Brown, Sam Jones and Paul Chambers. Beautifully done!

Bassist Christian McBride has been a popular element of the jazz scene for some two decades. He's played in groups led by such notables at Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, Bobby Watson and Roy Hargrove and has some nine albums to his credit as leader. On "Kind Of Brown", McBride's latest, he fronts an excellent quintet for a stimulating set of music that ranges from funky to straight ahead. Members of Inside Straight include saxist Steve Wilson, vibist Warren Wolf, Jr., pianist Eric Reed and drummer Carl Allen.

It's a welcomed opportunity to hear the fine alto and soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson on this recording - who has been unpretentiously creating a substantial body of excellent work as either leader or sideman. Vibist Warren Wolf, Jr. will come as a new name to many, although he is beginning to appear as accompanist on a few albums and has one obscure leadership date issued - on the Japanese Pony Canyon label, that will be very pricey. Expect to hear much more from him in the future but, for now, we can content ourselves in enjoying his wonderful tone and playing as part of Inside Straight. Eric Reed is an accomplished and captivating pianist who fits right into the excellent rhythm section with the superb drummer Carl Allen and McBride's plucky bass.

The program includes a number of McBride compositions including the funky "up" blues "Brother Mister", bright melodies such as "Rainbow Wheel" and "The Shade Of The Cedar Tree", the langorous "Starbeam", a gospel-tinged "Used 'Ta Could" and a tune that evokes thoughts of some of Bobby Hutcherson's adventurous Blue Note dates in "Stick & Move"; as well as Freddie Hubbard's "Theme For Kareem" and pianist Reed's complex "Pursuit Of Peace". Although McBride takes short, engaging solos on several numbers, the album is a group effort and showcases each member to similar extent, aside from lovely bowed work on "Where Are You" with spare accompaniment by Reed.

McBride possesses a firm yet agile bass sound and it's really a joy to listen to his insistent beat with the vibrating bass strings in supporting role or solos. He owns the instrument, and his work is both authoritative and interesting, especially when he dips down into the lower register. During "The Shade Of The Cedar Tree", one thinks of Mingus and his prominent sound while simply driving the group while listening to McBride's confident, tuned-in pulse.

Wilson, who plays mostly alto and some soprano saxophone on the album, is in typically fine form, getting around on the horn with an at-ease almost belying the technical skill required to pull it off; and he's saying somethin' in the process. Wolf drops his mallets in mellifluous tones and consistently engaging choruses. Comparisons to Bobby Hutcherson are not out of order. Reed doesn't overwhelm or rely upon heavy-handedness; rather, deftly runs the keyboard conjuring attractive solos that fit right into the pocket of each number in the fashion of a John Hicks. Allen is, of course, a highly versatile drummer who provides consistent support, creative but not obtrusive accents and exciting flourishes in brief solo opportunities.

This is very positive-feeling music in a diverse program that affords the listener much insofar as fine soloing from first-rate artists and excellent group harmony.

I WAS PRIVLEDGED TO HEAR THE WHOLE SET FROM THE C'D AND WAS BLOWN AWAY.I would say this is the best one yet from McBride and his tight group. Not one song was a let down, each complemented the next. Buy it and swoon !

This album is absolutely amazing. All these guys can really solo and the band feels really good together. Favorite moments: vibes and bass solo on rainbow wheel, vibes and sax solos on starbeam.

Straight-ahead jazz that's perfectly produced. These original compositions have a timeless feel. I'm not a huge vibes fan, but they're tastefully played here ... and the sax playing is delicious. Not to mention McBride's bass -- mature and complex without trying too hard. Overall a relaxed but tight small combo putting out a record that deserves a place in anyone's jazz library.

I cant say enough about this recording. It doesn't mimic any other artists style. All original stuff here. Destined to become a classic must own recording.

Like many jazz bassists, Christian McBride has made a solid career from his instrument, often playing beside better known stars (Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, many more) but receiving only passing mention. In recent years, he has struck out as the leader of his own group and offers in this release a number of impressive "straight ahead" jazz tracks. The chords and sounds are modern, though, and the group has some nice experiments with tempo changes and off-beat rhythms. I like the explosiveness of Theme for Kareem (tk 2) and minor tonalities of Rainbow Wheel (tk 3). For an Andrew Hill kind of feel, try Pursuit of Peace (tk 7); for a Lionel Hampton kind of feel, try Stick and Move (tk 9). Track 10 is too slow in my opinion, and track 1 grates on me for being borderline smooth-funk. Still, the album gels due to the skilled artists McBride collected for this quintet. Worth a spin.

The musicianship is superb. The songs are ordinary in their execution. This could be well done with a better arranger/producer. I'd recommend it for someone interested in techniques, the the album is a bit lacking in soul. Definitely not any relation to "Kind of Blue." If you want to hear Christian McBride shine, buy 5-Peace Band instead.