Customer Reviews

Next Step

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The happy-hat rumbero looks of the CD stirred my curiosity about what was in there to look for. I just bought this cd and casually began to listen the music within. The casual scenario did not last. The music of Kurt Rosenwinkel commands attention. I have not heard music of this kind since the early Abercrombie ECM recordings, specifically Characters, the Abercrombie Quartet, Dejohnette's Directions and the New Directions band. I thought this kind of jazz artistry was long gone history. Rosenwinkell's fond of experimentation and beautiful melodies are important attributes of this young musician to which we can add outstanding composition skills. I am quite interested in the musical career of this guy which I believe would have a long and fruitful future.

I first got into Kurt's music through finding an advanced promo copy of the Enemies of Energy. It totally knocked me out with it's compositional originality and with the very strong solo voices of the quintet. I really felt a depth and vision in this music that is all too rare among the many highly competent jazz artists that record nowadays. It's a quartet date, so Scott Kinsey's keyboard work from Enemies is no longer part of the sound, but that is not a problem. Kurt's brilliant guitar playing is more prominent that it was on Enemies, and on the title track he plays piano (also brilliantly), rather than guitar. The quartet is rounded out by Mark Turner on sax, Jeff Ballard on drums, and Ben Street on bass. All I can say to a prospective buyer of the Next Step is that it is music of a very high order, and its well worth getting into. The only other relative newcomer (as a leader)on the scene that turns me on this much is Avishai Cohen. Buy this disc!

This follow up album to "Enemies" shows that a new guitar hero is in the making. Kurt's use of phrasing, sound, lines and tunes are a true personal thing , not to mention the whole bands subtle interaction and vibe.

I recently saw him in Boston in a different context and he just really has his own sound happening, no matter what group he's in.

a fresh voice has arrived in the realm of jazz guitar and that is Rosenwinkel. What a record...each track is chock full of his hauntingly beautiful tone and phrasing, somewhat reminiscent of Pat Metheny, with a pinch of Kenny Burrell. Comparisons aside, the striking quality of Kurt Rosenwinkel is his originality. Jazz guitar has been waiting for something fresh, and this is it. The album debunks the myth of "contemporary jazz", or what it is supposed to be... Scofield and Metheny have welcomed a new kid into the arena. I look forward to the future releases of KR with much anticipation. Be sure to check out a recording he did with Seamus Blake....

This is the freshest group I have heard in years. The first 3 cuts on this CD are amazing -- melodic, swinging, but brash and original. You can hear the influence of Frisell and Metheney in Rosenwinkle's playing, but he's got a sound all his own. This is impressive and inspiring music. "Zhivago" is a true musical representation of the book by Pasternak, one of the greatest works of fiction ever. It's amazing to me how he has captured the spirit of Russia in this piece -- so beautiful, and so harsh at the same time. The band is only guitar, sax, bass and drums but the group has a big sound. There is a lot of energy in this music.
Kurt Rosenwinkle is an original, and the band sounds really together on all of the tunes. This is music that grows on you, the more you listen.

I didn't think Rosenwinkel could top "Deep Song" but this album proved me wrong. This is his best album yet. Unlike "Heartcore" which is industrious but lacks good songwriting, this album is great from start to finish. And unlike "EC Love Affair" which is a bit to swingy, and at times scattered, this album has a great consistent feel that still manages to vary just enough.

I absolutely love Deep Song, but I gotta admit that even despite my love of Mehldau, Grenadier, Redman, and Yahel, the reason I think this album is better is that the group chemistry is fantastic. Kurt's guitarwork is also much more aggressive on this one. I completely disagree with the negative comments in regards to the sax on this album. I think his playing fits perfectly with Kurt and the group.

If you like great jazz guitar, and great tunes, this is the KR album to check out.

Jeff Ballard's drumming continues to amaze me.

I hope this group of musicians will tour soon.

Simply put......this album blows my mind! It's a very exciting album, especially if you're a guitarist. Rosenwinkel's got a fantastic sense of melody, harmony, and rhythm. He plays like a cross between Wes Montgomery, Bill Frisell, and Pat Metheny with some Kenny Burrell and John Abercrombie thrown in for good measure. Having said that, he's got a very unique style.

The compositions themselves remind me alot of Kevin Eubanks and John Scofield. Most of the songs have a real swinging feeling to them, which I love, but there are also some beautifully melodic songs here too. This album should satisfy all jazz fans with its subtle, low-key tonality.

The musicians are all top notch too. Mark Turner on tenor saxophone plays with incredible ease and never shows off or becomes annoying. Jeff Ballard's drumming is up to par with such greats as Elvin Jones, Harvey Mason, and dare I say Tony Williams? Ben Street on bass provides the songs with some great grooves...he's as good as Steve Swallow or Charlie Haden.

Rosenwinkel proves to be one of the most prolific composers and guitarist on the scene today and anyone who wants to check out his music should start with "The Next Step."

This is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. I can't stop listening to "Zhivago" or "Use Of Light".

Kurt Rosenwinkel has a well earned reputation as one of the most talented of the current generation of post bop guitarists. As an improviser he has a unique approach blending swinging alternate picking passages with legato phrasing that at times reminds one of Allan Holdsworth. To me what puts him above the other guitarists of this generation is that he has an equal amount of talent as a composer and arranger. Check out the cascading first section of "Zhivago", the simple elegance of "Minor Blues", and the intricate unisons on "Filters".

The only thing you can expect from this serious and brilliant jazz guitarist is constant evolution in creativity and improvisation with careful steps . BETTER IMO than Pat metheny bill frisell and their monotonous commercial repetitions succseeds in where others fail. In other words he manages to present the whole musical theme with a mutilayered guitar sound & style broadening its horizons widely familiarizing it easily to his audience and showing how simple is to play good AND fresh music .EXCELLENT.