Customer Reviews

Chasin the Gypsy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

with most tributes you expect a sampling of tunes by the noted artist with maybe an original or two thrown in for good measure. here, mr. carter not only samples the music of django reinhardt, but he creates the whole mood and atmosphere of paris in the 1920s and '30s. the intriguing instrumentation (accordion, violin, two guitars, and a bevy of little-used saxes [bass, f-mezzo, etc.])and choice of titles creates an experience of the sidewalk cafes on a cool night in the city of lights. you almost expect an arrogant waiter to insult you half way through the disc for good measure! mr. carter has always been adept at showing his chops, ranging from neo-bop to out music experiments, but here he reigns in the fireworks to evoke the sound and feel of django. the chops are still prodigious, but the melody's the thing here. particular highlights are the opening tango ("nuages"), featuring the bass sax, the swinging "oriental shuffle," and the beautifully pastoral "la detniere bergere." this is a wonderful album celebrating not only the past talent of django but also the ever maturing talent of mr. carter.

I've been a fan of James Carter for some years now and own every CD he's recorded. Someone once predicted that Joshua Redman would become the next John Coltrane but, if there is going to be a saxophonist to compare with St. John, my money is on Carter.

It's difficult to pin down what he's doing and where he's going because he is still BECOMING what he will be and I don't think he's established a pattern yet that allows us to predict his next recording efforts. No two of his albums have been the same.

Chasin'The Gypsy just blew me away! I've played it over and over and over again and I still love it for its richness of sound, its depth and multi-layered textures. My favorite Carter album had been The Real Quietstorm, a fascinating collection of ballads done in Carterian fashion, but now it has competition from Gypsy. If you haven't been introduced to Carter yet, start with these two CDs. But if you are a straight-ahead jazz fanatic, as I am for ballads, then try Layin' In The Cut or JC On The Set. It's all beautiful music. So, do yourself a favor and listen to this man!

What's next, Mr. Carter? I'm waiting in eager anticipation.

With this CD, James Carter reaffirms himself as the leading force on the tenor saxophone today. Carter has always been known for outstanding technical dexterity and power but has not gotten sufficient credit for the sensitivity and warmth he brings to the music. In this recording, Carter captures the feeling and sweetness of Django without imitating his music. He teams up with his sister, who plays violin, and weaves sounds that make you want to listen to the CD over and over. He also demonstrates his power by tackling the bass sax, an extremely difficult instrument to get any sound out of let alone brilliant melody. While quite different from his previous recordings, this may well be Carter's best.

James Carter may just have the most technique of any saxophone player in the world, and he is barely 30 years old. I can't wait to hear what he sounds like in 20 or more years! This album, Chasin the Gypsy, is proving that Carter will go down as one of the all time great jazz musicians! I highly recommend this album!

James Carter is my favourite modern day jazz man. Period. For me he is right up there with the giants of jazz since he is willing to absorb every single avenue of jazz and make it part of his own unique style. Some have compared him to Rahsaan Roland Kirk (except he only plays one horn at a time). I can see the resemblance; Kirk could play in any jazz style and it would not feel like he was being nostalgic or out of place.

I recently bagged Wynton Marsalis for his tribute to Jelly Roll Morton. So why don't I do the same with Carter? The problem with Wynton is that while he often looks back on jazz history, he rarely looks forward beyond 60s mainstream jazz; never absorbing the avant-garde and fusion. In his celebration of the new millenium, Wynton only looked to the past, AND HE HAD 8 DISCS TO DO IT! Carter only used two. Carter did the right thing by looking back with at Django's brilliant work, but then he cleverly follows it up with a look forward with "Layin' In The Cut". That is the way a true jazz musician should be; look to the past to celebrate what has come before you, but look forward to what you are going to create as your own.

This disc has many highlights, most definately the best thing about it is the frequent use of the bass saxophone (and a nice use of the rarely heard f mezzo) and the high speed swing of "Chasin' the Gypsy". The use of period specific instrumentation (guitars, violin, accordion) is a real treat especially when his cousin Regina Carter is the violinist!

James Carter is making very interesting music within the realms of jazz ,and I LIKE IT. I have the 'Elders' disc and this Gypsy one .. He is NOT trying to reproduce Django on this disc , its just a flavor ..Django (as far as I know never used a Contra -Bass sax),. A label like Atlantic needs to see healthy sales figures so he can do his next one .. 'Gypsy' is a class disc ..a keeper GREAT STUFF >

It's a playful and beautifully played album. It arrived yesterday and I've set the CD player on "repeat" ever since. There is great, joyful quality on this album. Quite simply, this is excellent music.

Given his prodigious technique, absolute mastery of every jazz style, and, finally, "poster-child" good looks, it's a wonder Carter isn't as much a household word as our ex-President. It's discouraging for some of us struggling musicians to hear such strong playing--until you stop to realize he got there, in great part, by paying his respects to all of the great past masters, for whom he can easily be mistaken. Once Carter completes his assimilation of the jazz tradition and determines how he can add it, he will have made the eventful evolution from prodigy to "genius," that title earned by precious few--Louis, Duke, Bird, Trane.

James Carter is the complete virtuoso of jazz. He plays with authority across the entire range of his horns -- from the deepest bottom of his baritone to the tippity-top of a clarinet. What's more, he can sculpt a note with any variety of bends, slurs or flutters. Chasin' The Gypsy is a beautifully arranged and produced tribute to teh great swing guitarist Django Reinhardt.

Saxophonist James Carter has prodigious talent; unfortunately, he also has a tendency to be a hot dog. The result on this outing is a CD that is a glorious mess. Sonically, this is a dazzling CD, full of unusual, powerful, startling, and sometimes-effective sounds. Bell sounds coming out of nowhere, huge tones from the saxophone, crisp drums, subtle guitars, a glorious aural kaleidescope--but not always a glorious musical experience.

Listening to a James Carter recording is like taking a trip to the state fair: lots of fun, plenty of color and bright lights and exciting sounds and smells, but when it is all over, you just can't wait to get home and put all the garishness behind you. And so it is here. Carter has put together a heck of a band for his tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt, including Regina Carter (his sister) on violin, Jay Berliner on steel-string guitar, Romereo Lubamba on nylon-string guitar, Charlie Giordano on accordion, Steve Kirby on bass, Cyro Baptista on percussion, and Joey Baron on drums.

It is Carter's saxophone, though, that dominates the soundscape throughout, especially when he picks up his mighty bass saxophone on several of the cuts. Whoa! If only Carter could have backed off just a little, with not quite so many little flourishes and slides and squeals and pops and smears and trills and so darn many NOTES. If only he had done this, it might have been something of a musical trip to the Hot Club of France; but no, it's the state fair, and the overly boiled hot dogs just have too darn much mustard on them. Guilty pleasure to the max, but then comes the indigestion. Partake at your peril.