Customer Reviews

Orleans & Claiborne

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

 

 

I took a chance on this CD after seeing the trumpet player Troy Andrews on television (studio 60) and wanting to hear more...I was not disappointed.

In places on this enjoyable CD the youth of this group shows - in some ways this makes for a raw, fresh sound. In others it simply reminds you that these young men have years ahead of them to hone their craft. In places the CD really takes off though, most notably on the third track, "get down", a hard driving tuba-bass heavy funkified jam that will have you dancing around in your living room in your boxers, hoping the neighbors aren't looking in your windows. This track was worth the price of admission alone.

I love the blend of styles, though it doesn't work as well for some of the tracks as others. Still, there's plenty of good music on this CD, and I'm glad to have supported these players with my purchase. I almost wish the entire CD was funk, as that is what these guys seem to do best. Echoes of Tower of Power shine through in places - they all seem to play more confident on the funk tracks.

I gave it 4 stars, but 3.5 seems a bit more appropriate. No insult to the group at all - the music is excellent, but production quality is not entirely consistent, and in places it comes off as a bit raw. Where it works though, it really works - track 7 is a terrific funky horn-based jam and they're really in the pocket throughout. Likewise with the aforementioned "get down" (track 3), and track 8 is another bright spot on the CD.

I look forward to hearing what these guys do with their bright musical futures. If you're a fan of upbeat funky music with a tight horn section and subtle hammond organ throughout you will probably enjoy this CD.

I just want to confirm the previous review and add that I like the rawness of the recording, I think it's intentional, and meant to shake you out of the ultra smooth moments like tracks 1 and 2. Shorty is all over the place and everywhere he goes is familiar ground. I just saw him in December 09 in NYC and he opened the show with a Middle Eastern romp that was phenomenal. It's a shame there isn't more live recorded output since this is his only studio recording. The band keeps shifting and recreating itself every six months in fascinating ways, we need to keep recording Shorty - it's the most exciting thing to happen in the funk/Jazz/world music scene in years. He may be in cult status at the moment, but he's world class. See him live, he's also a hell of a singer.