Customer Reviews

Fields & Strings

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

 

 

The opening cut, Freddy Hubbard's "Little Sunflower," is absolutely gorgeous. A classic. After that, there is a sameness about the pieces, Fields being accompanied by a skilled string section led by his wife, Gina Kronstadt. Cuts include "Lover Man," "Old Devil Moon," and "Misty," the latter taken at an unusually rapid tempo.

Fields is an excellent musician, and shouldn't be lumped together with Kenny G and others trying to cash in on jazz musak. This is a genuinely lovely album, great to drink scotch by on a wintery evening.

Brandon Fields has crossed over into every Jazz sub-genre possible.

Starting with his thunderous backing of Tower of Power to nearly becoming the definitive voice of the Rippingtons to contributing heavlily to the Dave Weckl Band in recent years, Fields usually saves his best work for his solo albums.

Brandon Fields treats the traditional pieces from a more elegant era in lyrical style. This CD of well chosen standards promises what it delivers.

Fields and Strings features some very creative rhythmic twists. The rhythm trio of pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Dave Carpenter, and drummer Peter Erskine would serve to legitimate these arragements on their own.

You add to that the enhancement of the lush, velvet strings by Gina Kronstadt and you are capturing a side of Brandon Fields that few listeners have known.

In the tradition of Charlie Parker and David Sanborn (both of whom defined this concept), Fields and Strings will stand as one of the best sax and strings recordings to date.

One of my favorite Cd's. If you like smooth jazz this is a great album.

Brandon Fields joins pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Dave Carpenter, and drummer Peter Erskine with string arrangements in this outstanding contribution to the jazz with strings genre. Fields plays with outstanding intonation, tone and swing. This recording stands comparisons with others like it, such as Art Pepper's. With string arrangements, any deviation from outstanding intonation on the part of the jazz player makes for uncomfortable listening, and that is not a problem here! The experienced super - trio of Pasqua, Carpenter and Erskine would be enough to sell me on trying this CD. The conbination of all these factors come together very well. Great job! The CD was produced by the artist and is on an obscure label. The price is low and the CD one of the best I have run across.

Great easy listening music with a touch of jazz - great for studying or just contemplating life.