Customer Reviews

One 4 J: Paying Homage to Jj Johnson

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

 

 

Steve Turre pays tribute from a well-informed vantage point: he played with J.J. (on the recent Brass Orchestra CD) as well as idolized him. At the height of his own powers of dexterity, taste and musical ideas, Turre puts everything he's got into these renditions, utilizing some incredible sidemen (and women-- check out Rene's playing!) in the process. A well-balanced program gives us the many sides of J.J., a true musical artist who left us all too soon. Highly recommended.

I thik this album holds a wide variety of playing on it, as well as a great example of musicianship. The songs are Steve Turre's tribute to JJ, which is better than just doing a copuy of JJ's playing. I think for musicians, tunes like Wee Dot and Waht is this thing called Love? really show off some great modern trombone playing and are therefore great for transcribing (Wee Dot is perfect, Four Great trombone players playing blues in four different keys, awesome. The only complaint i have is that i would like to a have heard more players. Wycliffe Gordon, Fred Wesley, and Slide Hampton (though he was ill during the time of the recordings) would have added to this album so much.

Driving along one day, I heard some interesting ideas played in the lower register of a tenor trombone. I looked at my XM/Sirius display and saw the name Steve Turre. As soon as I got home, I ordered one of his CDs from Amazon. I hastily inserted it into my computer's CD drive as soon as it arrived.

It was necessary to turn the volume down twice in order to get any connection with what were brilliant, yes brilliant, ideas and incredible technique; unfortunately, I had a hard time keeping the CD playing because of the constant bombarding of my senses with those great ideas, that amazing technique, and Turre's absolute lack of taste.

I did stick it out to the bitter end, hoping to find some semblance of musical content. I think Turre would have made an excellent drummer.