Customer Reviews

Soul Gestures 1: Thick in the South

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

 

 

Two words: great album!
Lay down and relax, it will clear your head, no doubt about it. This is for those hot days or even better hot nights to cool you down. Practically an all-ballad CD, blues influenced and the guys aren't rushing things so it's pretty slow. Hard to pick a favorite, because they're all good. And how can they be not when there's Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone); Marcus Roberts (piano); Bob Hurst (bass); Elvin Jones, Jeff Watts (drums). Well if a had to pick a favorite I'd say it's `So This Is Jazz. Huh' or `L.C. on the cut'. Wynton Marsalis and the blues.

Although most critics believe Wynton Marsalis's "Thick in the South" is the strongest third of his grossly underrated "Soul Gestures In Southern Blue" series, I must disagree. The band plays well, but the songs just aren't as gripping as the other ones are in volumes 2 and 3 (Uptown Ruler and Levee Low Moan, respectively).

The strongest part of this album is easily the title track. Wynton wastes no time busting into his high-octane solo, which is followed by an equally intense performance by Joe Henderson. The original version of "So This Is Jazz, Huh?" is also a part of this album, but it pales in comparison to the second version on "Levee Low Moan".

Overall, with the exception of the title track, this is only a lukewarm album. If the title track did not exist, then I would not recommend it.

"Thick In The South: Soul Gestures In Southern Blue, Vol. 1" is a great release for Wynton Marsalis who not only plays exceptional trumpet, but also writes great compositions. Having listened to, "Black Codes (From The Underground," this is a very different approach for Wynton. It's alot more laid-back then "Black Codes," but this doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

All of the musicians (as usual) are stellar. Wynton is joined by Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone), Marcus Roberts (piano), Bob Hurst (bass), and Elvin Jones, Jeff Watts (drums). Again, Wynton surrounds himself with two jazz legends like Henderson and Jones, but don't let their star status outshine the other musicians who turn in an equally great performance.

"Thick In The South: Soul Gestures In Southern Blue, Vol. 1" was released in 1991 and is apart of a fantastic series, which like other reviewers have said, is overlooked and underrated.

If you're a fan of bebop and post-bop, then you should really check out this series.

Soul Gestures In Southern Blue:

Thick In The South, Volume 1

Uptown Ruler, Volume 2

Moan Low Levee, Volume 3

I like all three of these albums that came out together - (but Uptown ruler is a little weak). This is a moody set that swings and stretches out.
Give it time and relax into this one. The band is so tight - try to take in all the parts that play off each other and build on top of each other. This is the period when the band was at their best.
After you buy these three disks, check out the uneven but inexpensive live at the Village Vanguard.

This is one of Marsalis' best and unfortunately gets overlooked too often. It bootysmacks!