Customer Reviews

Requiem

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

 

 

Having come to listen to Branford Marsalis only recently I am kicking myself that it has taken so long to start exploring the music of this very creative gentleman. Through his career the key characteristic he has displayed is the degree to which he stretches himself over different music types and band formats. Some may appeal whereas others may not. Therefore it seems wise to consider each Branford release individually - this one is no exception.

With this release Branford is in reflective, emotive and expressive mode. He has replaced his driving and funky jazz sound with something more individual and searching. One is reminded of the more reflective side of Coltrane's output from the early 60's - Alabama for instance. This is where Branford really works best in my opinion. He displays a compositional capability which articulates and develops his ideas to a degree beyond other jazz musicians and the result is deeply satisfying and moving.

This music has hit all of my hot buttons - it's creative but still accessible, the sound is fantastic, expecially Branford's sax, and the ensemble playing is superb. It is immediately apparent that the quality of the compositions, all but one by Marsalis, is outstandingly high. All of the compositions sound excellent especially "Trieste" and "A Thousand Autumns".

Marsalis has managed to create music which is truly expansive and original (at least to my ears) and which has a natural flow and progression. The musicians are excellent; of particular note is Kenny Kirkland who makes a strong contribution to the production. In addition the quality of the recording is high.

I cannot recommend this music highly enough. Just go and buy it!

I was fortunate enough to see Mr. Marsalis and his inspiring Quaret in Calgary a month before Kenny's passing. The songs on "Requiem" are a sample of the incredibly challenging music they had performed on this tour. Without question, I think the symbionic level of group interaction on this recording outshines anything I have heard from any Marsalis outing. The fact that it is comprised of first takes is a testament to the level of musicianship we are dealing with here. This is easily my favourite CD of 1999.

How sad that this is the last recording of Branford's quartet, when it is easily their best and shows all the earmarks of a band with the potential to get even better. I've questioned Branford's depth as an improvisor in the past, but no more - at times here, he sounds as amazing as Joe Henderson in his prime. Kirkland always was a beautiful, profound musician, and this album is just one more painful reminder of what a loss he is to the world of jazz and music in general. And, let's not forget Jeff Watts - his drumming alone on this album would be reason enough to buy it. I agree that this is definitely a contender for the best jazz album of the year.

mr. marsalis has certainly grown and deepened over the past fifteen years. this album is superb. his thoughtfulness is apparent as well as his incredible mastery of his instruments. the feel here ranges from mood pieces "a thousand autumns" to all out burners, where he is continuing to explore free jazz. as a last glimpse of kenny kirkland on piano, it is priceless. mr kirkland was an incredible musician and will be missed. i thought it interesting that mr marsalis chose to leave the material as a collection of first takes, rather than alter anything after mr kirkland's death. the freshness and the feeling shine through. a gem!

Branford Marsalis has been the most creative and imaginative person playing music today.He hears music like great European classical composer did, in terms of structure. This album is what Branford does best, leading a straight ahead quartet session with plenty of space for powerful improvisations.The hard-bopping <Doctone> opens the set, immediately showcasing Branford's prowess as the best improvier.Next, Paul Motians <Trieste> displays the quartets ability to construct several textures and mooods within a single composition,a great dynamic contrast can be heard.And <A Thousand Autumns> from start to finish, an extravangantly melancholy ballad with Branford playing emotionally.It reflects the sadness people have in their lives,a dedication to Wayne Shorter.The soprano sound of Branford on <Bullworth> is just great, with watts New Orleans-style funk groove drives the music for a spicy change of pace, Branford played 'outside' for some fierce changes at high intensity level leaving you breathless.Branford ended this album with a great composition <16th St. Baptist Church> Funky from the start, ending with touching and bittersweet emotions, a hidden track.Overall, this album showcase Branford's quartet as a best unit with telepathic intuition, very few peers can compare.

Requiem is actually not as easy as many people may think (like the previous reviewers).You can't access to this one if you just started out with jazz, it is too complex for amateurs. Keen in starting out with some jazz recordings? try Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen or Ben Webster <accessible Jazz, not smooth out garbage.> If you like John Coltrane's <Live at the Village Vanguard> or <Love Supreme>...<Crescent>,you will like this one.And If you like Grover Washington, Walter Beasly or David Sanborn (whatever...), you may not like this one (may like in other cases).

You gotta be warned about Requiem which is NOT FOR SMOOTH OUT LOVERS.In this album,you are listening to Jazz in it's puriest form, creative improvised music.Like sometimes it may sound abit harsh(Tensions)... neither the pretentious Sanborness nor the nonsensical "soulful blow (sickening!)" from the many many so-called "Jazz musicians"(Everette Harp, Nelson Rangell...).

P/S.I apologise If I have offended any smooth out or R&B lovers

What an album. I'm sure it'll receive lots of praise from all the hardcore Jazzheads, but this album has a lot to offer those who want to get into jazz. For those who are only mildly interested in jazz, you need this album. I'm sure it will inspire many new fans with it's wonderful sense of intimacy and edge of your seat action. Uncork, and enjoy !!!

If you like serious jazz music, you won't be disappointed with the fresh, inspired playing of all the musicians on this recording. Though sometimes Branford can be difficult to digest, this music is melodic enough to be listenable but true to the demands of jazz music. Kenny Kirkland plays with his usual sparkle and Tain's drumming is right out front, where it belongs. Beautiful photography and original music, played by first class musicians, what more can I say?-Bob Lazar

I choose to rate cd's against other cd's by the same or similar artists, and by those standards this is a more-or-less great cd. I haven't had enough time to fully study his newest cd, CONTEMPORARY JAZZ, yet, but in comparison to all of Branfords other cd's this is one of the very best. I'd say only BLOOMINGTON is better. Right off the bat I will just say that for whatever reason, I have never really been a fan of Branford's ballads. They just never really emotionally affect me in any substantial way. So basically CASSANDRA and the tail end of 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH don't do much for me.

On the flipside though, this cd also illustrates what Branford and his various bands usually do best, the power-swing of songs like DOCTONE, the swinging funk of BULLWORTH, or the swirling melodic beauty of LYKIEF, on which Kenny Kirkland plays absolutely brilliantly! This version kills the version on THE DARK KEYS, mainly because Kenny isn't on that one and he is on this one. He really makes all the difference in the world for this song.

I think people who judge Branford and his bands against bands like Coltrane's classic bands are sort of missing the point. Branford isn't trying to write and perform Gods music. I think what he is trying to do is to explore rhythm to his fullest extent, and on this subject he and his bands excell. Branford and Tain together are a power-duo of rhythmic versatility and telepathy, and as on this cd, Kirkland is right there playing off of every idea, every phrase, every time-shift.

No, this cd wasn't finished when Kenny died, and no I haven't heard CONTEMPORARY JAZZ enough yet to fully digest it, but I can't imagine it is as good as REQUIEM. I've seen the new band in concert and so far it has never been as good as the Kirkland band. Joey Calderazzo has more chops than emotional depth and his playing just does not have the lyrical flow and love-spirit that just drips out of almost everything Kenny Kirkland played. In a word, Calderazzo is rather boring. And in a word, Kirkland was rather fantastic.

I guess what I'm saying is this... If you aren't a fan of Branford Marsalis then you will not like this cd, but if you are a fan of his you'll probably end up thinking this is one of his very best cd's.

This is by far one of the best if not the best release of 1999.From start to finish this c.d. is amazing.This Album is unfinished work in the wake of pianist Kenny Kirkland's untimely death last November.But it's hard to hear what could have been improved.Turn down the lights, grab your significant other, and listen to "A Thousand Autums" Absolutely Wonderful! Great! GREAT! MUSIC! give it a listen.

This is one of my favorite Jazz albums period. I saw this band (with Calderazzo) back in summer of 1999 and must say that their presence as a band was huge! The first track Doctone has such a wonderful opening. I really enjoy Branford's playing on both Tenor and Soprano here. He seems to be streching here in different ways than I have heard him on other albums (listen the to the track Lykief). I dig the albums that have been made since with Calderazzo, but this last recording with Kenny Kirkland is my favorite from this long standing group. "Tain"'s drumming is great from swinging to playing with a groove to brushes. The bassist Eric Revis does well in anchoring the sesssion. If you don't have this one-you need to get it. For the bad reviews here, everyone has their opinion, but this album has much to offer both the casual and advanced listener.