Light On

Tom Harrell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: High Note
• ASIN: B000QEILNS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #71,590 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRUMPET MASTER TOM HARRELL'S FIERY AND ENGAGING MUSIC, September 12, 2007

By 

RBSProds "rbsprods" (Deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Light On (Audio CD)

Five INTRIGUING Stars!! A great performance by jazz trumpet virtuoso Tom Harrell and his quintet. I remember the legendary Mr Harrell when he was lighting up the late-period Stan Kenton Orchestra and the Horace Silver Quintet with spectacular solos and he brings even more matured and award-winning capabilities to this fiery jazz set. Using the classic jazz quintet format, Mr Harrell has written some very challenging, attractive, and in many cases very beautiful songs which allow the group to create intimate musical scenarios as improvisational springboards. He is joined by the talented tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery, the inventive Danny Grissett on piano and Fender Rhodes, the nimble bassist Ugonna Okegwo's solid underpinning, and a muscular Johnathan Blake on drums who rounds out the group quite nicely.

The 'Pieces De Resistance', the best of the best, begin with the bittersweet, cleverly disguised waltz-like "Fountain", a beautiful theme over shifting rhythms that gives Mr Harrell his best solo outing of the CD and is now on my overcrowded iPod. He also excells on the solo and the closing vamp on "Sky Life" among many other sparkling solos. "Nights at Catalonia" begins with a Horace Silver-like intro that morphs into a beautiful extended theme that is both lyrical and rhythmically sophisticated. Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery gets off his best solo while soaring on "Contrary Mary", as does pianist Danny Grissett, who also shines on the Fender Rhodes during the very hip "Sky Life". The serpentine "Architect of Time" and the fast burning "Bad Stuff" set off some great individual solos, especially Johnathan Blake's great drum solo on the latter song. "Blue Caribe" serves up a big slice of carribean funk that swings mightily. Decades into a brilliant career, Tom Harrell has produced a beautiful, enjoyable, swinging CD that is a welcomed new addition to his discography and is Highly Recommended. Bravo, Tom !! Five JAZZY Stars.
(This review is based on an iTunes digital download.)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only had one of Tom Harrell's albums, this would be the one to have, October 13, 2007

By 

ken hales (Chandler, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light On (Audio CD)

This is one of those albums I find myself listening to over and over again. It connects in an intimate way. It draws you into a sentiment -- a mood that seems to show a sliver of light into the soul of Tom Harrell.

The melodies are engaging. The solos are brilliant. The ensemble is tight.

To me, this album does for Tom Harrell what "Kind of Blue" did for Miles. It defines a style -- a mood. It has an original brilliance. And I think it ranks right up there in many ways.

On each of Tom's other albums, I have found a few songs that I have connected with. On this one, virtually every tune is great -- and, while each tune is definitely distinct, they seem to flow from one to the next to form a continuous work.

Very, very nice!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Masterpiece, February 21, 2008

By 

Joel S. Schneider (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Light On (Audio CD)

This is a GREAT recording...from beginning to end. Tom Harrell is a total musician and a complete artist. One can hear the history of modern jazz in his compositions and in his solos. This music is a perfect marriage of mind and heart. Each song has its own identity and grows more and more fascinating with each listening - each one is a beautiful jewel that reflects a different facet, a different light and color, each time you hear it. If you love Tom Harrell or have only heard him in passing, or, for that matter, have never listened to him before, don't delay adding this cd to your collection. "Light On" is a modern masterpiece.