Copperopolis (Dig)

Charlie Hunter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rope-a-Dope
• ASIN: B000E1XO8A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,374 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As impressive as Charlie Hunter's mastery of his eight-string guitar is, it may not be as strong a mark of distinction as his success in devising an original jazz-funk sound in a genre long ruled by guitarist John Scofield. Since arriving on the scene from San Francisco in the mid-'90s, Hunter has gotten stuck in a rut or two, but as efforts like Copperopolis demonstrate, he has the rare ability to renew his sound. Recorded in New Orleans, a setting reflected by an unlikely second line take on Thelonious Monk's "Think of One," the album may be his most appealingly varied. Hunter and his regular cohorts, tenor saxist John Ellis and drummer Derrek Phillips, thrive on the usual shimmering grooves and sonic embellishments, but with Ellis adding melodica and Wutrlitzer to his bop-fueled attack, they attain a lighter, more coloristic quality. And when Hunter forgoes the textural touches to lay into a blues riff, lean and mean, they rock harder than ever. It's thinking man's fusion music for listeners who want more instant gratification than they can get from the jam-band scene. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I just saying "Blue Shoe", February 17, 2006

By 

Karen McDaniel (Kettering, Maryland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Copperopolis (Dig) (Audio CD)

If you're a fan (like me at least) you want to hear the Charlie Hunter Trio you know but you also want to hear something new. This CD is decidedly more electric and very, very funky. "Blue Shoe" is my favorite tune-it's got a head-bobbing groove and kind of reminds me of Hunter's stuff with go-go beats because it's not aggressive but it definitely makes you want to move. Like the other Hunter CDs, this one has a performance quality so it holds together well end-to-end. I highly recommend it. My one small issue is that like the other CDs there are no liner notes to speak of. If you are old school from the days of buying vinyl, no liner notes continues to be a let down.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A recap of the 2005 Jazzfest Preservation Hall residency, February 8, 2006

By 

Rich (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copperopolis (Dig) (Audio CD)

This CD is a must! Charlie and the trio keep growing as musicians with each new release. Last spring I had the opportunity to catch a couple of performances while they had a short residency at Preservation Hall during Jazzfest. Those performances were of a very differnt trio. Hunter was using more distortion than usual and Ellis was playing a Wurlitzer in many songs. The trio was in rare form; they were controlled yet still rocked the house! Their cover of 'Think Of One' alone was worth the price of admission. Little did I know that those performances were essentially the rehearsals for this recording. If you have ever enjoyed any of Hunter's recordings then do yourself a favor an get this one. It will be like listening to him for the first time...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, January 14, 2011

By 

M. Barrett "beer?beer!" (Idaho) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Copperopolis (Dig) (Audio CD)

Solid progressive jazz album. There is no doubt that Charlie Hunter is a great palyer and with this album you deffinatly hear a range of influences from rock, blues and a dash of country. Charlie's work on "Copperopolis" shows how progressive he is by making a trio sound like a big band. The songs are long and very complex, which keep sit interesting all the way to the end. This album sets the stage for his next album "Mistico". Recommended tracks: Frontman, Blue Sock, Cueball Bobbin', Drop the rock.