Customer Reviews

Full Stride

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

 

 

This album, from the opening,has a smooth flowing texture that gives it a care-free vibe and it almost seems like the album was recorded completely live in one take in the studio. All the songs flow like day and night and the song qualities really have a symbalism to the moods and atmosphere of both parts of the day. Very enjoyable Smooth Jazz.

Ben.
the 15 year old.

Until yesterday, I've never heard of Rick Braun. While shopping for new Jazz tunes, I ran across the CD, "Full Stride". Normally I'm reluctant to purchase music by an artist in which I'm unfamiliar. Needless to say, I threw caution to the wind and purchased, "Full Stride." I'm very happy with my selection. Every cut on this CD was written and played with total musical aplomb. There's no doubt about it. This entire CD is so good that it is rather difficult for me to tell you which tracks are the best. You won't come up empty handed if you decide to make this CD a part of your Smooth Jazz collection. Nicely done Mr. Braun!

This is a brilliant album. Technically excellent, perfectly balanced (from catchy tunes like "Hollywood and vine", "Aqua funk", to more spiritual ones like "China Bath"), with a unique voice on the caressing "soul on soul" (track number 8 : Maysa Leak is former lead singer of Incognito, Jean Paul Maulnick's band). I can hardly see anything negative on this album, which is probably one of the best in its genre released in the past 6 months, together with JK's "What's the word" and Jeff Lorber's "Midnight". Rick Braun proves it is possible to play the trumpet without being too "classical" or too "jazzy", and keeps improving with each new album.

I've been a Rick Braun fan for some years now, and have listened to his progression of CD's. I always end up coming back to play "Full Stride" because it has such a smooth flow to it, and gets you in a happy, mellow mood. It's great to listen to when I'm driving along the coast on Highway 1 in Northern California. It's great to listen to when I'm with my girlfriend on a nice Sunday afternoon just relaxing. Particularly the 1st 3 songs on the CD, A Very Good Thing, Nightfall and Hollywood & Vine are great set-ups to the rest of the songs, ending with the great tune Aqua Funk. Although I enjoy the other Rick Braun CD's, "Full Stride" is truly my favorite. You will enjoy it too from start to finish

I'm a big RB fan and I've been looking forward to this album for some time. Generally I'm impressed and I'm definitely glad I bought it. However, it seems to lack some of the soul and feeling of Body and Soul, his previous album. It's interesting that RB moved away from Paul Brown as his producer for all but one of the tunes - maybe this is the missing influence?

Hard to believe that Mr.Braun could improve on the stunning "Body and Soul" Tracklist, but this album seems more focused and is by far the great horn player's best work. This should be looked upon as a lesson in Smooth Jazz. No collector of the genre should be without a copy.
"Moonshot" , "One Love" and the Absolutely perfect summer anthem "Magic Moment" are enough to warrant the cost of this CD.

If your in to mellow, this is the cd you have been looking for. I love this album. A gift from a friend and I couldn't be happier.

This has to be one of Rick Braun's best works. Went to fetch the cd from the Postman, stuck it in the cd shuttle in the car and it stayed there for quite a long while. From the first track "A Very Good Thing", RB makes an unequivocal statement: he wants to play for you and good! I highly recommend it! >> Arthur A. Madonsela >> South Africa.

This is one of the albums I've been waiting for and has been worth the wait....

Rick Braun has been my heroes growing up in jazz. This is the first CD I ever listen to him but have not purchased yet. Maybe one day I'll own it. This is a classic right thurr.