Kinda Up

Oliver Lake | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2000)
• Original Release Date: March 7, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Justin Time Records
• ASIN: B00004I9UD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, April 5, 2001

By 

Mark Twain (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kinda Up (Audio CD)

I saw these guys in NYC on a friend's recommendation and immediately bought this album when it came out. (and another for a gift). Oliver Lake has been playing for years and his craftsmanship shows. This album has the most original and best use of Steel Drum in a jazz style. It's really worth listening to.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most joyous jazz record of all time?, January 28, 2003

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kinda Up (Audio CD)

Why do so many brilliant, original, monumentally creative jazz musicians get virtually ignored? Case in point: Oliver Lake. The fiery alto and soprano saxophonist has made many fine albums, but is almost invisible on the jazz scene (which itself represents less than 5% of records sold).

Kinda Up is his finest. He'd wanted to make a record with a steel drummer for some time, but had never found one he thought would properly mesh with his unique sound and concept. He found a wonderful partner in Lyndon Achee, who takes a very in-your-face approach to his instrument. About as far removed from the refined approach of Andy Narell (himself a very fine player) as one could get, Achee plays steel drums with an abandon I've never heard before.

Much of the music features intense melodic doubling of sax and steel drums, with additional tricky harmonic passages adding sophistication and mystery. The result is a kind of musical exuberance seldom if ever encountered in a jazz instrumental setting.

Special mention should be made of Pheeroan akLaff. This well-traveled and very accomplished drummer seems to have found the perfect musical partnership here: He's a literal monster on his kit, pushing the proceedings practically over the edge all the while providing amazing color and rhythmic chicanery. Also worth mentioning is Lake's soprano playing. He gets the brightest, most penetrating sound of anyone I've heard on this difficult instrument.

With its effervescent personality, its masterful musicianship, its entirely engaging island ethos--probably most clearly manifested in the Calypso "Yes You Broke"--Kinda Up is one of my all-time favorite jazz albums.