Customer Reviews

The JazzTimes Superband

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

 

 

On "blowing dates" like this one you almost can expect that, for the most part, the compositions are put together quickly and exist primarily as set up vehicles for the solos. And, that's ok when you have inspired soloing going on.

On Jazz Times Superband only the late saxophonist Bob Berg rises to the occasion, playing with a combination of fire, soul, wit,and technical brillance. He even contributed the most thoughtful tune on the date--Silverado. If you're new to his playing he might sound to you like one of the numerous Mike Brecker clones so fashionable today. But, Brecker has said in interviews that he learned much from practicing and playing with Berg in their NYC loft days back in the late 60s and early 70s.
Berg, who sadly died in a traffic accident in 2002 at the age of 51, is always "on."

Strangley, both Randy Brecker and Dennis Chambers, give, to these ears, tired performances. Chambers impresses when he does his trademark polyrhythmic thing during drum breaks but his ensemble work almost sounds indifferent. Brecker, who usually sounds more inspired, sounds as if he's biding time while waiting for dinner to arrive.

Joey DeFrancesco does his "B3 burning thing" displaying incredible facility. But it's obvious that he's never met a bop cliche he doesn't like---played doubletime. There's a new breed of organists out there like Larry Goldings, Sam Yahel, and Dan Wall to name three, who are changing things from the old Jimmy Smith template. Joey should give these guys a listen and learn to edit just a bit. It's nice to honor Jimmy Smith but he invented this style of playing and began putting it on wax almost fifty years ago (1956--A New Sound...A New Star, on Blue Note).

Paul Bollenbeck does some good ensemble work a la Kenny Burrell but his few solos on Jazz Times are a mish mash of Burrell and Grant Green retreads with just a touch of chromatisism to try and sound more contemporary. On several occasions he goes for things that he just doesn't come close to executing cleanly--especially in the lower register. On two tunes with a more "fusiony" slant the guitarist plugs into a chorus pedal but isn't sure if he should play like John Scofield or Mike Stern.

I think that this was an interesting idea conjured up by the producers, but if you're putting together a blowing date with this instrumentation I would've subbed Brian Lynch for Brecker, Billy Kilson or Terreon Gully for Chambers, Larry Goldings for Joey, and Stern or Adam Rogers or Peter Bernstein for Bollenbeck. Bernstein doesn't have the chops of Stern or Rogers but he has a killer tone and uncanny phrasing.
Now THAT would be hot date.

JB

I was unaware of this album until I heard Cut 5 (Cadillac)the day after Bob Berg was killed in a traffic accident on Long Island during the Christmas season.

The recording blew me away - and not just Berg's smokin' solo. Everyone on the session was cooking.

It turned out the other cuts on the CD (most notably Sonny Rollins' Oleo) were equally as impressive and enjoyable. I always loved Bob, Dennis, Joey and Randy. I hadn't heard the guitar player, but he fits right in with this talented crew.

I've always felt that the ultimate litmus test for any musical work is: "Do I like it?" Answer: "A resounding yes!"

i recomend it 100%. All solos are great. Cds this good come out very rarely. I'm a very though jazz critic and few records blow me away like this one did.

I bought the jazz Times Superband last week. Now, I can't help listening to this fabulous record. The music is very enjoyable. I love Bob Berg very much. It was (and still is) one of my favorite tenor saxophone player. I was very sad after is death. when I bought this record, it was a kind of tribute to him. But in fact, I can say all the performers are very good. A very, very, very fantastic CD.

a wonderful collection of vintage Berg with a great group of musicians with the same high musical standards that Bob always delivered in his performances. Though recorded in a studio, the music flows with spontainity and live intensity.

WARNING... If you buy this CD you will not be able to stop listening to it!

This CD is a killer! Everyone is burning. The only bad thing about this recording is in not listing the great Paul Bollenbach as a featured artist. Paul is a fantastic musician and guitarist.

Thank You Concord Records for packaging these great players together.

I must admit that I bought this CD soley for the purpose of hearing Dennis Chambers. However, Joey DeFrancesco is a bad man on the organ! This is great addition to anyone's jazz collection. I'm not familiar with the other guys, so I don't know how they've played in the past. The CD is great though. Even my wife listens to it. Anyway, if you're a Dennis Chambers fan, buy this album. If you want to learn some riffs on the Hammond organ, you should have bought this album when it first came out. Peace

I thing there are few that would agree that this is an absolutely fabulous Cd. Joey DeFrancesco is playing better than ever, and Bob Berg and Dennis Chambers play with such violent raw energy that it is truly something to hear. I am confused as to why Randy Brecker was included on this recording, however, playing the same things we've heard for the past 25 years. Perhaps Nicholas Payton wasn't available. This cd is definitely worth having, however, and if you get a chance to hear this group live, don't miss it! DeFrancesco actually blew up his organ during the first solo when I heard this band a few nights ago! Amazing.

Concord Jazz Records presents "The JazzTimes Superband" featuring Bob Berg (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet & flugelhorn), Dennis Chambers (drums), Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond B-3 organ), plus Paul Bollenback (guitar) some of today's most gifted musicians ever assembled in one group. In celebration of JazzTimes Magazine's 30th Anniversary, this All-Star album delivers a unique brand of hard-driving, funky jazz guaranteed to please listeners of all ages. This dynamic tribute to the soul jazz movement of the '60s, is brought up to the 21st Century in fine fashion. Best of all "The JazzTimes Superband" will be touring in North America and Europe during the summer and fall of 2000. So catch this group with their first recording and enjoy what is to be a total experience in today's world of jazz!

Total Time: 65:51 on 10 Tracks/Concord Jazz - CCD 4889 2 (2000)