Customer Reviews

Nocturnal

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm going to "nail my colours to the mast" and say up-front that I love this disc as do all my friends who have heard it! Here's why..

"Nocturne" is an outstanding album of largely traditional Cuban and Mexican themes allied to great levels of musicality with strong production values. As the title suggests the music is generally down-tempo and lyrical and uses the jazz idiom but heavily infused with a voluptuous latin warmth. The two prime movers behind this exceptional undertaking are the Cuban Gonzalo Rubalcabo, piano, and Charlie Haden, double bass. In addition other musicians are brought in to play on several tracks each, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, David Sanchez and the violinist Federico Britos Ruiz.

Even given the strong material and outstanding musicians, the results surpass all expectations. This is largely due to Haden's musical manifesto which is to focus on expression as opposed to flashy technicalities. To say that he succeeds here is something of an understatement. Each instrument is perfectly placed in the arrangements and is sympathetic to the material. Of particular note is the use of Ruiz's violin which deserves a special mention for its lyrical phrasing. Overall, the lush fullness of the sound and the perfectly measured pace of the music create a vivid ambience.

This is an album where the musicians play so well together there is a rare magic in the result. The production is so charged and atmospheric that the emotion is almost tangible. What creates this effect is the way in which the musicians express the music together so beautifully, particularly Haden, Lovano and Ruiz. Their shared appreciation of the music and each other's skills has allowed this group of musicians to create something utterly sublime which transcends genres. I'm beginning to run out of superlatives here so to wrap up I'll leave you with one last thought: Check out how many five-star reviews there are here for this disc - have you ever seen such a level of unanimity for any other review? No? Then do yourself a favour and buy this very special disc!

Another chapter in Haden's love affair with the jazz of the post-war late 1940's. This time with a distinct Latin/Cuban flavor. The sound is thick and at times lush-a sound I associate with film-noire. You can practically see gentlemen in expensive suits and fedora hats packing heat and glamorous women in lovely cocktail dresses drinking highballs and dancing before the orchestra late into the night.

Haden has assembled his band and arranged the music with loving care. You have to give him high marks for his devotion and vision. The downside is one tune tends to blend into the next to the point that it all sounds like one 65-minute melody. Plus there is the added sour note that I find this kind of music unintentionally depressing. Others may not care for the prominence of the jazz violin in many of these cuts or the over use of muted brass instruments this music seems to call for.

On the other hand, others may love the stylishness of the late 1940's as it calls forth pictures of classy tailoring, mature men and women, sophisticated romance and frank manners. The musicianship is impeccable while rarely calling special attention to individual players. Make no mistake; this music is very elegant and beautiful-belonging to a time lost and long ago.

Some years ago, in a matter of six months, I had laid my father and grandparents to rest. As I was driving home several weeks later, I suddenly realized that my parent's world--the world I had been born into--was gone. The neighborhoods, the concerns and the daily ways of life had been replaced by more modern ones. As the last of the "greatest generation" is slipping away from us, baby boomers are quietly gathering of pieces of their parents' lives and world. They are just pieces-remnants of a moment we barely caught sight of. This album is a small window on a very real world and a time lost long ago.

The fact that I have this CD is a tribute to Amazon's cross referencing and suggestions. I picked up Andy Summer's Green Chimney's and somewhere along the way saw Nocturne as a recommendation. I liked Green Chimneys. It's a nice recording. I love Nocturne. I imagined there was jazz music like this, but my limited exposure hadn't led me to the right spot. I'm no technical expert, but I know I could listen to this all day long. Have since picked up Beyond The Missouri Sky (good, but not as good as Nocturne; and to be fair a different sort of recording) and the first Quartet West CD (just getting into it, but very good). My impression of Haden is that he is a romantic with a strong sense of place. While the Quartet West recordings seem to be anchored in film noir Los Angelas, this recording seems determined to evoke the Cuba that we get a glimpse of on the album cover. I kept thinking of the Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love as I listened, not for the style of music, but for the cultural milieu they both evoke. If you listen to the samples and like them, you will love this ambum.

The CD is truly exquisite. As usual, Charlie Haden explores a musical form and introduces his audience to a magical listening experience. "Nocturne" offers the listener a series of beautiful melodies that linger in the mind. I initially heard the selections on the Paris Jazz internet audio channel and was so impressed I headed straight to Amazon.com to find the CD. If you are a fan of fine music you will greatly enjoy this offering. It is highly recommended.

Charlie Haden is one of my favorite musicians ever. His ability to improvise from so deep in his heart and say so much with just a couple of notes is simply amazing. I have heard people say (including musicians) that Charlie is not so good. What they mean is that he's not impressive, because he doesn't show technical virtuosity on the bass. I am a bass player, and yes, I could sit down and learn a Haden solo in 10 minutes. But that is not the point. The point is he IMPROVISED IT - He came up with a beautifully melodic and evocative solo in the spur of the moment, and therein lies the true artistry. This CD is a breathtaking collection of Latin American boleros, used as the springboard for the most evocative, sublime and beautiful playing that you could get anywhere. Gonzalo is an absolute genius, and Federico Britos' violin playing is simply marvelous. I feel elevated when I listen to this!

This is one of the most beautiful recordings I have ever heard. I have been playing it continuously for 3 weeks, but the music is so fresh I never get tired of hearing it. The songs are all ballads, but each song is so unique that the listening remains inspirational throughout. Gonzalo Rubalcaba displays his usual deft touch on the piano, and Pat Metheney's guitar work on Noche de Ronda is wonderful. The violinist is excellent, and Joe Lovano's saxophone work is superb. The unusual combination of piano trio, sax, and violin is different and fresh, and it really works. I can't recommend this recording highly enough; every cut on the CD is excellent. I would give it 6 stars if they let me! "Nocturne" is a beautiful recording that will stand the test of time, and will find its way into your player over and over again.

If Weber's assertion that anything truly original benefits from reduction, then Charlie Haden's ongoing distillations of film-era jazz are continuing to improve not only the songs in question, but also the genre, which has suffered by addition too much of the time.

It's fair to ask: how so? By adding whomever to Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson, studios virtually ensured a playable, but mediocre result. Jazz has been brought along not by big names, but by groups who insist on its place firstly as a group phenomenon and only secondly as a vehicle for individual expression. Haden's experience proves this point. Back when jazz was the culture, this was understood.

So now on to the music - what makes this highly understated album worth owning? "Nightfall", "Noche de Ronda", "Contigo En La Distancia--En Nosotros". Listen in particular for how Haden works with the pianist. Jazz companionship is not always regarded as the highest and best outcome of a broad musical endeavor more associated with virtuosity of late, but it is one hell of an achievement, and these and other songs resonate with simple phrasing which references a common center. "El Ciego" is matter of another color entirely and the violin work is what you come to expect. I wish there was more of it on this CD.

I reserve the right to place 4 stars on this if only because perfection is reserved for the other-worldly, but this is a fine and, considering present circumstances, rare example of conversational jazz. Enjoy.

...that hasn't already been said. As an eclectic and demanding listener rarely do I feel strongly enough to praise a CD. The recording quality is lush, the music is exceptional. Few notes are wasted, everything fits. It's mellow for sure, but isn't this what we're looking for in music, something to relax by? Brushes on drum skins often sound like tape hiss on most recordings but even they work on this CD. And I love the way the bass is not wasted by being obscured in the background. The musicians are devoted to making beautiful music and they succeed like I've rarely heard.

There are no flashy solos, no daring arrangements, hardly any variation in tempo and mood, and yet the listening experience is entirely pleasant, soothing, and, yes, rewarding. A remarkable feat. Haden, Rubalcaba, and the rest of the musicians and production team obviously shared a great chemistry. The only gripe I have is with the percussion, which is relegated to a basic timekeeping role and gets a bit repetitive. Other than that, "Nocturne" comes close to easy-listening perfection. Also a very well-engineered CD, by the way. The bass is warm and full, the highs, crisp and detailed. A good reference CD for stereo shopping (if you can find a quiet room.)

At first I gave this album 5 stars. But upon further reflection I felt I had allowed strong public sentiment to cloud my judgment. "Nocturne" is very nice. I think you should buy it. But is it really as much of a masterpiece as, say, "Kind Of Blue?" Is there the same degree of artistic originality? Will it endure the test of time in the same way? Are we reviewers, in our eagerness to heap deserved praise, allowing grade-inflation to rear its pernicious head? There's nothing wrong with a solid 4 stars, folks.

Beautiful, relaxing, and classy. Mostly boleros, played with warmth and depth of heart. It is best to listen to this album as a whole as every song brings out the integrity of the next.