Customer Reviews

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

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

 

 

Well the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (HBE) seems to be getting close to their 10,000 hours with this release (google Malcolm Gladwell 10000 hours). As a 19+ year trumpet player, I've enjoyed the musical style and tunes from HBE Flipside (2001) and Jupiter (2005) releases but of course am overly critical of trumpet playing. The problem I always came back to was "young" sound from the trumpets - most apparent in Balicky Bon (Jupiter Album).

Well the few years between those albums and this release has given the group enough time to properly age. The players have a much more confident sound with maybe 1 or 2 hints of the older freshman-in-his-first-concert feel I often got from the early recordings. Their same style is certainly there but with refinements. Good comparisons of before and after include Balicky Bon (2005) with Ballicki Bone (2009) and the two releases of the previous title tracks Jupiter as well as Flipside (updated arrangements of both are in this release). Though the tunes are the same, the arrangements and playing have matured over time. I believe one of the benefits of HBE's music style is their ever changing/emerging music (which would help street performances morph to provide frequent listeners something unique each time).

The one major disappointment I had with this release is the fact that they use some electric bass in Ballicki Bone!?!? In re-watching one of their videos on youtube, they mentioned how HBE worked to create an organic music experience - that they used no electronics; could set up on an unlit stage in the middle of nowhere and create their music, etc. (so this electronic infiltration seemed contrary to their original philosophy). Now don't get me wrong, it's still a 5-star song and it actually took me over 1/2 the song to be sure it was electric (and if I hadn't told you, you might not have even noticed ;) ... listening to it a few more times, I'm also fairly certain there are at least two times where they switch over to tuba for their bass line but I'll let you listen for that yourself.

Overall, Hypnotic Brass has matured from their early works and created a great CD release. If you enjoyed their earlier work in any capacity you shouldn't be let down with this collection of their music. And if you were content with their previous stuff, then you can buy this one for the updated arrangements.

I actually picked up this cd about two years ago, from the artists themselves. They were performing on the 6 line, and when I came up from the train... I heard this incredible music. Say what you want about NY, but the acoustics in the subway system are fabu. When I got closer, I saw this large group of guys performing, playing their instruments...and playing their hearts out. After the set, I went up and talked to them, and was really impressed with thier dedication to their craft. I purchased a cd, and I keep it in my Ipod. Now..the sound quality is neglible, but Im glad they finally got a studio album produced....because the cd I have, really didnt do them justice. I think they are a great bunch of guys...and fantastic musicians.

Read about them in the New Yorker magazine, saw the clips on YouTube. I enjoy this CD. A brass and drum kit group, sons of a jazz musician, honing their chops on the streets, hawking their CDs, doing a TV interview now and then. My favorites on this one are Ballick, Marcus Garvey, Sankofa (a longer version is on the nice CD Lagos Shake: A Tony Allen Chop Up), Rabbit Hop, War and Alyo. If you like this, also check out Souljazz's Freedom No Go Die.

This is an excellent album by a very talented group of musicians. The tempo is fast and the sounds are engaging. The ensemble layers their play well and the drums playing is skillful and enjoyable. The music reminds me a bit of drum corps at high school but in all of the best ways and none of the bad. The rich sounds are worth a listen. I think you'll get hooked, as I did.

My only complaint is the recording process seems to have flattened out the music. I've seen better recordings of this band on YouTube. The sound is more dynamic and more alive. On the album it feels more controlled and lacks the high end of the spectrum.

If you get a chance to see them perform live do so.

The jury's still out on this one. I love brass, but this one is different. It may take some getting used to.

The product arrived faulty due to long distance shipping in the period of Christmas but the exchange was arranged with maximum professionalism and full understanding of the problem - I didn't even didn't have to send back the product as it would be very costly for me. The new cd was in perfect shape and everything turned out great. Many, many thanks!