Customer Reviews

Extensions

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best new (not classic) instrumental jazz recording I've purchased in 20 years. It came out a decade ago so, nothing better ten years before it or after. And it holds up perfectly after a decade.

It's hard-edged jazz, maybe acid-jazz, I don't know. Rock and jazz listeners with both likely enjoy it. The rhythms employed on some compositions are intricate and complex beyond belief yet they remain accessible. Kevin Eubanks demonstrates that, despite his hot and cold success as a leader (and despite renditions of "Stairway to Heaven" or whatever on The Tonight Show) he IS one of the most innovative living guitarists. Steve Coleman divides the meter so well you lose track of whether he's playing ahead of the beat or behind it. Unbelievable.

20 stars. This album does not deserves less than twenty stars. It is one of the best release from Dave Holland if not his overall best. Surely this has been one of his best combo. Read the names involved here, Steve Coleman, Kevin Eubanks, Marvin Smitty Smith. It's a dream team. It may seem an all star album, a kind of experiment which often don't led to nothing valuable musically if not futile showmanship. This is not the case. This album is nothing less than absolutly amazing under any point of view. Composition, improvisation, interplay. It's stellar post bop, "funky", free atonal Jazz with an accent on melody (it may seems a contradiction but it is just that!). It's free atonal jazz with odd meter signature but even if it may sound awkward the music flows naturally from the very beginning thanks to the incredible rhitmic tandem that Holland and Smith form. Under the soloist there's always an incredible rich rhytmic textures. Dave Holland is truly an amazing player. But here are playing three of my heroes I can't do nothing but absolutly love this album, Steve Coleman, Kevin Eubanks, Marvin Smitty Smith. As a Jazz guitar player myself I think that Jazz guitar in a modern context never sounded so right. And one more thing about Coleman. He's the one that really tried to bring Bird's language to the next millennium, to evolve it, to develope his wild sense of syncopation... he reached an amazing level of expression. In particular he found in this music his perfect vehicle to express his ideas in my opinion. The fluidity he reached here I don't think he played again elsewhere, neither in his own albums (and I own many of his). This album is absolutly a gem. Put it in the cd reader, sit on your most comfortable sofà, closed the light and prepare for an unbelievable music journey!

A tremendous negentropic (energy releasing through open system feedback) jazz record, fully cognizant of Stravinskian concepts of musical value. Don't even think about calling yourself a jazz fan or a fan of serious music for that matter, without owning this record. The greatest drumming since Cobham hit? Marvin Smith; it's on this record. The greatest Bass playing? Where'd you think it was? The greatest guitar playing this side of Mclaughlin? Kevin 'Jay Leno Show' Eubanks; on here friend. The greatest saxophone this side of Dolphy and Coltrane? Do I really need to introduce Steve Coleman?

Complex meter and rhythm are the key to this land of voodoo. Two tracks are in 6/8, the rest are in odd-meters (11/8, 5/4, etc.). But that's just the framework from which the foundation of Holland and Smith supports the fantastic architecture Eubanks and Coleman float above it. All the players are organically fused into a synergistic whole that is THE QUINTESSENCE OF COOL, without sacrificing a shred of sophistication in the process.

This was the Downbeat album of the year in 1990 & remains Holland's greatest band record (even with all the brilliant recent records this one has something special about it). Also, if you like this record, do not overlook the two excellent Kevin Eubanks records "Turning Point" & "Spirit Talk," & the fantastic Holland/Eubanks/Cinelu collaboration "World Trio." Music is the best.

Yes....this is one h e double hockeysticks of a performance. I am not a jazz afficianado.....but I am a lover of ALL musical forms as long as it has heart, and this recording flattened me.

Having never heard Kevin Eubanks, when I listened to his playing I was utterly speechless. If you are new to Dave's work as I was just go for it. And while you are at it, if you liked Eubanks' work on this check out Dave's earlier work with John Abercrombie on Gateway. Methinks Kevin consciously tips his hat to his predecessor quite admirably on Extensions (especially Nemesis!)

this consensus downbeat critics winner is built around the anticipation leading up to the phenomenal "the oracle" . isolate it . drink a stout starbucks coffee . wait ten minutes . play the composition stated above . listen to four geniuses (STEVE COLEMAN , KEVIN EUBANKS , MARVIN SMITH and DAVE HOLLAND) take you to an entirely different plane . it's remarkable every time . every time . sans coffee as well . the rest of the album is great as well . imagine these guys live . my god , it's a high . THIS IS "MODERN CREATIVE JAZZ" - a term ron wynn coined (editor of the first all music guide to jazz) . this WILL NOT appeal to the smooth jazz crowd . songs are written by various members .

For me being a drummer "Smitty" makes this album Five stars. This album has inspired me to pursue a career in music. I thank Marvin "Smitty" Smith for inspiring me. 5 STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just listen to "The Oracle". It's a long track and it takes its time to develop ("slow meltdown", eh?) The theme, which is beautiful, only comes in after 4+ minutes. Coleman & Eubanks solo with deliberate & precise attention to the subtelties of the song. Smith & Holland simmer down below, turning the heat up & down ever so slowly as necessary. This is simply an amazing instance of small-group jazz, done with intelligence that swings. The whole CD is like that. You gotta listen.

if the maestro Duke Ellington were alive his first choice of double bass players would be the inimitable Dave Holland . Holland's arrangements are trans-dimensional , complex , engaging ,and accesible . His fellow cast of musicians are nothing short of superb .

Of all the excellent Dave Holland small group recordings to review, I picked this one. Five stars is redundant and limiting. This recording is one of the most exciting and inspired examples of Mr. Holland's leadership.

Extensions is one of the best studio performances I've ever heard. I was a DJ at a college Jazz radio station when this released and it was extremely well received by fans of all genres of music.