Customer Reviews

Footsteps of Our Fathers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Marsalis and his exceptional bandmates have accomplished something fairly rare in jazz. They pay homage to four greats--Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and John Lewis--by performing their songs in the masters spirit, but without muting their own outstanding younger voices. This requires an extraordinary sensitivity to the jazz tradition as well as a mastery of one's own instrument and one's own musical conception.

Mr. Marsalis plays the Coleman piece on soprano, an interesting choice since I don't think Mr. Coleman has recorded on that demanding and expressive instrument. Marsalis lays down an Coleman sensibility without either copying or being cloying.

Next is Sonny Rollins's "The Freedom Suite," a challenging piece--sans piano. Sonny could carry a trio in his prime (and still plays well in other settings), and so can Brandford. Again, the piece is recognizibly Rollins, but distinctively Marsalis. It does not disapoint.

Brandford shows some courage in performing all four movements of a piece of jazz-sacred music (if you will), John Coltrane's, "A Love Supreme." Few have touched this since its release in 1964, although Wynton Marsalis performed the whole piece (with Elvin Jones) on NRP a few months ago. (No CD from this has been released, sadly. It was masterful.) Every movement of this extremely moving piece is, again, well within the mood and texture of Trane's original; but something new and good is added. Branford wisely does not attempt to out play Coltrane (as he makes clear in his liner notes). That would be absurd, anyway. However, Branford adds his own strengths, and at times plays more "outside" than Trane did at that period of his development (1964). Some of Brandford's playing reminds me a bit of some of Trane's supersonic runs on "Interstellar Space." That is no small achievement.

The last piece lowers the intensity, but not the tastefullness. However, I might have put "A Love Supreme" at the end of the recording. Silence is most appropriate after the original piece or after this version. Silence...

All the players shine, but, besides Branford, I particulary enjoy Jeff Watts--a very inventive, nimble, but powerful percussionist. Not many--if any--other drummers could provide the needed spark and sensitivity for "A Love Supreme," originally performed by Elvin Jones. Watts solos might even be a notch above Elvin's, since Elvin's strength, to my mind, is his time keeping more than his soloing.

The musicians responsible for this beautiful album should be contratulated. Thank you, gentleman. The musicians who inspired it should be praised as well. (Only Ornette and Sonny remain in the land of the living.) But the highest praise belongs to the Giver of every good and perfect gift, aesthetic or otherwise.

Douglas Groothuis

Branford Marsalis has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Clearly the most adventuresome of the Marsalis brothers, Branford is bold, creative and very imaginative. His previous two Quartet recordings were evolutionary and great warm up fodder for "Footsteps of Our Fathers." Branford and company pay homage to Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and John Lewis on this bold and beautiful testiment of Jazz. One could easily get lost in the past with these four compositions, but Brandon manages to update and modernize these classics without disrespecting their places in Jazz history. It is fun to here these masterpieces played by a modern master.

The Quartet is in top-notch form on all levels and the music flows well throughout the disc. The group chemistry is very strong and each member gets a chance to solo and show their respect to these great "Fathers". My favorite highlight is the way Jeff "Tain" Watts and Eric Revis solo during the transitions on "A Love Supreme. These guys are great musicians. Joey Calderazzo is amazing. He has great imagination and skills. Branford's touch and feel are on the money throughout this disc. He can play tenor with the best of them. His solo on "A Love Supreme" knocks me out. John Coltrane would be very proud. I would love to hear this band tackle a couple of Dexter Gordon tunes on the next CD.

There is a feeling of freedom and independence on this recording. As challenging and difficult as some of this music is to play, there is a relaxed peace vibing throughout the entire affair. If this is what we can come to expect from Branford and his new recording label, they are off to a wonderful start. Great job Branford. I can't wait to catch you live. Peace & Enjoy.

I'd have to agree with most of everyone's remarks but for one critical issue: the recording itself. Bass and drums are so pumped throughout the playing that shamefully, it almost becomes a struggle to hear the fine playing of Marsalis and Calderazzo- let's face it, though this is a quartet, they represent the polyphonic voices in the unit (NOT to slight Watts and Revis, but they are too upront in the mix at the expense of sax and piano). This time the fault lies with the production. A pity, because with the slightest adjustment on the board this could all have been avoided. Still, it kicks with a variety of moods and clear reverence for the masters of the genre, who Marsalis is assuredly and rapidly joining through his output and devotion to pure jazz.

I think controversies are good to music, and especially to jazz, where the conroversy can be included in the music itself.
I was attracted to this cd mainly because of the controversy sorrounding the Marsalis brothers. After listening closely to the music, I can see that both sides of the controversy have their truths.
On the positive side, it is clear that Marsalis is a wonderful student of the tradition of jazz, and that he has the deepest respect for the giants - Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, Coltrane and John lewis - whose music he chose to play here. I personally share his love for tradition, and I believe that this is one of the most important traditions we can draw on today. His playing does not intend to compete with his heroes - he stays fairly close to their interpretations and approach. Branford, like his brother, is a wonderful player whose seriousness about his craft should be applauded.
On the less positive side - there is one essential feature in Colman, Rollins and Coltrane which is totally lacking in Marsalis - URGENCY. Despite what is written in the (wonderful) liner notes, Marsalis does not play as if the struggle continues. The emotional urgency which characterized his heroes (especially Trane but the others as well) is for me the number one reason for listening to them and for loving them. The fragileness of Coltrane, the dry humor in Rollins, the total individuality of Coleman - these do not have their match in Branford.
I have heard urgency in the playing of today's musicians - Steve Coleman, David S Ware, James Carter, Greg Osby, and Joshua Redman - so it is not something lost with the times. And this accounts for the missing fifth star of this very good cd.

This CD is great to listen to, not only does it give a fresh voice to these pieces but somehow manages to reinvent them at the same time. Dare I say that I actually prefer this "Love Supreme" to the original? Well, not exactly, but it is quite good and Branford's playing is incredible...although I was a little dissapointed in the piano solos as I felt they just did not match Branford's level. Otherwise, the bass player keeps things moving along, and on the "Interlude" of the Freedom Suite tracks he lays down a very sweet groove.

Please support Branford instead of buying the latest Wynton rehash!

Branford send me into outter space with this recording. What fab musicianship. Almost no one swings as hard as this band and as hard as Branford himself.

The version of Coltrane's "A love supreme" just takes it to the next level. I actually enjoy his version better than the original, although I can respect Coltrane for the composition for sure...

Each member of this quartet is stunning and I would highly recommend this CD...

This is an excellent recording. I would like to see a live version on a DVD, similar to Sting's "All This Time." I listened to Footsteps on the bus home from work and when I closed my eyes, I imagined myself in a Paris Jazz club. Having seen Branford perform with his Buckshot LeFonque group, I am completely hooked to his musical genius.
[edit]
This is now the most played album on my iPod. "A Love Supreme" is truly incredible. I have not heard the original, but I am back to Amazon to add it to my cart. The liner notes are very interesting, giving background info on the selections and original artists. Fantastic purchase. [/edit]

This record is great. Buy it. Don't copy it. Buy it. You won't be sorry. This IS jazz.

I think I have just about every album Branford's made. This new one is good enough (I mean, he hasn't yet made a BAD record), but I don't like it as much as Requiem or Contemporary Jazz. The playing is fine, but this quartet's interpretation of these compositions isn't especially memorable. Nothing leaps out at me as particularly compelling or novel here, as it did on his previous two recordings. Frankly, I prefer Tain's new album over this one, too.