Customer Reviews

Crazy People Music

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Branford Marsalis is arguably the most skillful of the jazz saxophonists performing, composing and recording in the modern day. Composition is sadly such a rare quality in many of the publicized mainstream artists of today. Four of the seven tracks on this album are originals by Marsalis. The personnel on this album, supporting Branford on both tenor and soprano saxophone, are: Kenny Kirkland (piano), Robert Hurst (bass), and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

The title of this album is appropriate, as the music is structured yet frenzied at moments. "Spartacus", an original composition by Branford, starts the session off with atypical phrasing and timing and is my favorite off of the album. Bassist Bob Hurst composed the second track, "The Dark Knight", opening to his bass and expanding to quiet conversations with Kenny and "Steep". "Wolverine" and "Mr. Steepe", tracks three and four, are also originals by Marsalis and are likewise superb. Keith Jarrett composed track 5, "Rose Petals", giving Kenny plenty of showoff time. "Random Abstract (Diddle-It)" is another Marsalis original, introduced by Marsalis and Watts which expands out into song that would make Ornette Coleman proud. The final track, "The Ballad of Chet Kincaid", is a Quincy Jones composition that was the theme song for The Cosby Show, then under the name "Hikky-Burr". Branford states, "We altered it a bit." They sure did, you might not even recognize it.

The sound quality on this album is excellent and the acoustics are equally outstanding. "Crazy People Music" is comprised of some of Branford's finest work to date, in due part to the contributions of the late piano legend Kenny Kirkland. I would recommend purchasing this CD along with Branford's 1999 "Requiem", another Marsalis quartet album featuring Kirkland and Watts again, with Eric Reeves on bass instead of Bob Hurst. So toss this one into your cart or on a wish list, and be sure to add it to your collection soon!

when this album was released back in 1990, it marked a transition for mr. marsalis. he moved away from the neo-bop of the young lions and into more free jazz territory sculpting a sound reminiscent of both john coltrane and ornette coleman, yet very much his own voice. right from the outset ("spartacus"), we find mr. marsalis taking the approach of coltrane's 'meditations' or 'coltrane plays' albums in that a melody or phrase is stated then twisted and turned and explored as layer upon layer of music is unfolded."dark night" flows from the modalism of miles davis' classic '60s quartet, while "wolverine" jumps and dances like ornette with his first major quartet."mr. steepee" is based on the coltrane tune "mr. p.c." "rose petals" is an amicable nod to the ecm sound. the album closes with two classics, the first a burnout again like later trane, while the closing "the ballad of..." changes the pace drastically, easing us out with a groove. one of mr. marsalis' finest records with his classic quartet (tain on drums, bob hurst on bass, and the now passed and greatly missed, kenny kirkland on piano).

...my "true" jazz collection back in the early 90's consisted mostly of shirley horn, grover washington jr., some terence blanchard, courtney pine, stanley clarke and marcus roberts...any other jazz that i owned was proly some fusion or smooth jazz/jazz-funk stuff...stuff that i really dont get into much anymore...
but i remember gettin this on cassette when it came out and it was like the crown jewel of my jazz collection! when i wasnt playin my public enemy, de la soul and ice-cube cd's - when i wanted to lissen to somethin "grown", then i played this damn-near to death! i really credit this album (along with ones from the above mentioned artists) for nurturing my growth into the realm of (not jus jazz, but) good, quality music...period!

and so the addiction began...