Right Now Move

Charlie Hunter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rope a Dope
• ASIN: B00008J2UW
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,654 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #55 in Music > Jazz > Jazz Jam Bands

Track Listings

1. Mestre Tata

2. Oakland

3. Changui

4. Try

5. Whoop-Ass

6. Interlude 1

7. Wade in the Water

8. 20th Congress

9. Interlude 5

10. Winky

11. Freak Fest

12. Mali

13. Le Bateau Irve

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Two things that mark Charlie Hunter's career are the singular style of his 8-string guitar playing (it sounds more like an organ) and the fact that each album finds him trying new things. For example, 2001's Songs From the Analog Playground was a vocals-oriented affair that featured Norah Jones, Mos Def, and Kurt Elling with some covers, and follow-up Right Now Move (his debut for Ropeadope) features all original instrumentals played by a new band. The 13 songs here are loose-limbed but relatively concise numbers anchored by drummer Derek Phillips's buoyant playing and Hunter's innate ability to groove even as he cranks out catchy melodies. The duo is superbly matched with trombonist Curtis Fowlkes, harmonica player Gregoire Maret, and saxophonist/clarinetist John Ellis, who play so well together that you won't even notice the atypical alignment used up front. Indeed, as the group chatter on "Oakland" makes abundantly clear, Right Now Move is less about thinking and more about being fun and funky. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

The most anticipated jazz release of 2003, and Charlie's first release on Ropeadope Records. Digipak.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His best yet, April 19, 2003

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Right Now Move (Audio CD)

Charlie Hunter's a hard guy to pin down. Sometimes going for the minimalist funk route (his duo outing with Leon Parker), the world music approach (his Bob Marley cover album), and the funk-vocal move (his last), he hasn't always been 100% successful. What he's lost in precision and focus, he's gained in breadth of presentation, and when it all comes together optimally, as it does on Right Now Move, the results are nothing short of spectacular.

This is by far Charlie Hunter's finest album to date. It combines a glorious loose-limbed ease with some (for Hunter) toughness that has sometimes been lacking in the past. The addition of Curtis Fowlkes on trombone and Gregorire Maret on chromatic harmonic add a needed blooziness and grit to the basic jazz/funk proceedings.

There's also a wonderful world-music sensibility to several of the cuts--Latin on "Changui," South African on the classic Hugh Masekela vehicle, "Wade in the Water," and West African on "Mali." These cuts don't necessarily reproduce typical musical moves associated with their world regions as much as they slyly evoke their sensibilities. This is especially true of "Mali," which sounds authentically West African with little actual playing in a Malian mode.

Special mention should be made of John Ellis. He's grown tremendously as a player, especially on bass clarinet. Check out his work on "Le Bateau Irve," where his timbre and fluid playing set the tone for one of the more memorable tunes on the album. But it's all good; no slackers, not let-ups. A continuation of some very fine jazz releases in the first part of 2003.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Release, August 7, 2003

By 

Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Right Now Move (Audio CD)

Wow! Charlie Hunter just gets better with each release he puts out. His unique playing (playing an instrument that is half guitar and half bass can be characterized as nothing more than unique) is kicked up another notch here. It sounds like Hunter has gained confidence since his "Songs from the Analog Playground" release last year. The songs are upbeat, and his playing has a little more edge to it, a little more pizzazz. Hunter has always been a great guitarist, but if he keeps going the direction he's headed in, he'll be a giant.

Hunter's style of music is to mix bass and guitar at the same time. This is easily heard in the opening of "Try". There are some incredible finger gymnastics going on to play eight strings like he does. But the song doesn't focus on Hunter for very long. In jump the horns and this song is off and running. You can tell just from the sound of the music, that these boys were having fun cutting this tune. It's all through the album. Hunter's solo on "Whoop-Ass" is exactly that, showing what an accomplished musician he is. John Ellis' own solo is out there as well. "Changui" is a Latin-sounding song with another great solo from Ellis. Listen to Hunter's guitar under that solo, it sounds almost like steel-drums. Curtis Fowlkes gets a few minutes to shine as well. His trombone solo in "Freak Fest" is great. Not often you hear a trombone take the spotlight, but Fowlkes does a great job. Fowlkes puts a mute in the bell, and belts out another solo in "Wade In the Water", right after an incredible solo shot by Hunter. Check out his bluesy outro on that song. Derrek Phillips on drums puts an amazing performance on throughout the whole album. He is rock solid and scary. Gregoire Maret steps in with harmonica on most of the tracks. He has a sound reminiscent of Toots Thelonious.

Hunter and the boys turn out a great performance on "Right Now Move". I think Hunter is starting to reach out and experiment more with his sound. I've always been impressed with his stuff, but I don't think never as nearly impressed I am with this release. He's been playing with his band for the last few years. Whatever he was looking for, I think he found a winner with this Quintet. This is a solid album from everyone in the band. It is truly a group effort and a must have for Hunter and jazz fans alike.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Release, August 7, 2003

By 

Russell Diederich (Littleton, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Right Now Move (Audio CD)

Wow! Charlie Hunter just gets better with each release he puts out. His unique playing (playing an instrument that is half guitar and half bass can be characterized as nothing more than unique) is kicked up another notch here. It sounds like Hunter has gained confidence since his "Songs from the Analog Playground" release last year. The songs are upbeat, and his playing has a little more edge to it, a little more pizzazz. Hunter has always been a great guitarist, but if he keeps going the direction he's headed in, he'll be a giant.

Hunter's style of music is to mix bass and guitar at the same time. This is easily heard in the opening of "Try". There are some incredible finger gymnastics going on to play eight strings like he does. But the song doesn't focus on Hunter for very long. In jump the horns and this song is off and running. You can tell just from the sound of the music, that these boys were having fun cutting this tune. It's all through the album. Hunter's solo on "Whoop-Ass" is exactly that, showing what an accomplished musician he is. John Ellis' own solo is out there as well. "Changui" is a Latin-sounding song with another great solo from Ellis. Listen to Hunter's guitar under that solo, it sounds almost like steel-drums. Curtis Fowlkes gets a few minutes to shine as well. His trombone solo in "Freak Fest" is great. Not often you hear a trombone take the spotlight, but Fowlkes does a great job. Fowlkes puts a mute in the bell, and belts out another solo in "Wade In the Water", right after an incredible solo shot by Hunter. Check out his bluesy outro on that song. Derrek Phillips on drums puts an amazing performance on throughout the whole album. He is rock solid and scary. Gregoire Maret steps in with harmonica on most of the tracks. He has a sound reminiscent of Toots Thelonious.

Hunter and the boys turn out a great performance on "Right Now Move". I think Hunter is starting to reach out and experiment more with his sound. I've always been impressed with his stuff, but I don't think never as nearly impressed I am with this release. He's been playing with his band for the last few years. Whatever he was looking for, I think he found a winner with this Quintet. This is a solid album from everyone in the band. It is truly a group effort and a must have for Hunter and jazz fans alike.