Study in Brown

Clifford Brown, Clifford Brown & Max Roach, Max Roach | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1955
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000046NG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,954 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When these nine sides were cut in February 1955, trumpeter Clifford Brown was not even 25 years old, but he'd already emerged as jazz's greatest trumpeter this side of Miles Davis. Whereas Davis made his mark through conception, composition, and cool tones, Brown was a blowing, blaring, blistering fire who navigated chord changes without a second's pause. This record will give listeners plenty of chance to marvel at his fleet improvisations and sharp tone, which remarkably never lost its fullness at any speed. The m.o. of the quintet was pretty well set at this point: reinvigorated standards augmented by crafty introductions and taken at full bore; sprite originals with complex melodies; and an urgency unmatched in jazz before or since. Pianist Richie Powell and tenor Harold Land admirably keep pace with the leaders. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Limited edition Japanese-only 200 gram vinyl LP pressing of this classic album complete with OBI strip. Universal. 2007 --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling Portrait of the Boppist!, May 26, 2000

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Study in Brown (Audio CD)

This is another outstanding CD headlined by Brown and Roach, with the same fabulous line-up as the 1954 "Brown and Roach, Inc." You can't go wrong with either CD, both feature Brownie's blistering (at times) pace and full rounded tones, Roach's archetypal bop drumming, soulfully rapid soloing by Harold Land, and consistently excellent, creative work by Ritchie Powell (piano) and George Morrow (bass). Roach adds more texture and flash. His drumming is recorded much better here than on "Brown and Roach, Inc."; his fans may want to pick this one first

It opens with "Cherokee," and, after a somewhat trite beginning, Brown and Land get down to it with zip and verve. Land compliments Brown's tone beautifully, and together they swing and move all over the bop landscape. Ritchie Powell's long piano lines sound Tatum-esque, and Max Roach is particularly effective here (as he is on "Jacqui" --a clinic in bop drumming!). "George's Dilemma" features exquisite solos by Brown and an "island" beat. This is a slower, more relaxed number, with superb work by Land and bell-like sounds from Powell. This and "Gerkin for Perkin" are more in the "straight-ahead" genre, and may be enjoyed by bop and non-bop fans alike.

Powell sounds almost Basie-like on "Sandu," featuring excellent phrasing and dynamics by Brownie. His trumpet is more in the "cool" mode here, and it's just as incredible as the bop. Finally, "Take the A Train" mirrors the opening number in its somewhat gimmicky beginning (though I happen to like instruments emulating train sounds!), followed soon by dazzling work by all players. Brownie, as always, sounds self-assured and interesting, with soaring high notes. Powell's atmospheric comping (with a too brief excursion into Monkish dissonance) and Roach's pyrotechnics continue to astonish. More solos by Brown and Land, and then Roach slows the train down via smooth brush strokes and a final beat on the bass drum.

Although it's easy to dwell on the solos, this band played great ensemble music: They complement each other superbly. Extending beyond bop, this creative gem is most highly recommended!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, and not just because of Clifford, November 9, 2006

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Study in Brown (Audio CD)

One of the three most important (not to mention brilliant) trumpet players in the history of jazz, Clifford Brown adds to his luster on this varied program of nine engaging tunes. The 1950's were indeed a "golden age" for jazz, offering up many such recorded programs by trumpet-tenor frontlines plus rhythm section. In the early sixties, modal harmonies began to prevail along with simple melodic riffs played over a single interminable rhythmic pattern. The shift can be heard not only in the musical transformations of Roach-led groups but the ensembles of Miles, Blakey, Silver, and Adderley.

"A Study in Brown" isn't a perfect session, but it would be hard to fault not just Clifford but the equally sublime Harold Land. Perhaps the man never got his due because his tenor is so completely in synch with Clifford's horn that the two speak as a single voice during the ensemble sections, uncannily so during the unison passages. It's not just the tightness but the phrasing and "contouring" of their lines. In fact, it's Land, more than Clifford, whose attention to dynamics and the "swelling" of phrases assures that the ensemble choruses take on a breathing, living quality (subtleties such as this, incidentally, would be lost, or "flattened out," were this a Blue Note rather than Emarcy recording).

Land has the unenviable task of following Brown on most of the solos, and he's invariably up to the challenge. His fluid technique, purposeful melodic ideas, and expressive use of dynamics constitute a musical voice that is no less inimitable and personal than Clifford's. The primary anticlimax occurs during the Richie Powell piano solos that follow Land's inventions. On "Land's End," Harold takes not only the first but the best of the solos. On a couple of the tunes (e.g. "Take the A Train") the disappointment is that he's given less solo time than Clifford.

The trumpet-tenor sax format of hundreds of jazz combos and thousands of recordings certainly was overdone, soon becoming tiresomely limited and repetitious. But not with this pair. The combination of Brown and Land provides a study in colors and textures that's all but inexhaustible.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This man...Is a genius!, August 29, 2003

By 

JetTone12 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Study in Brown (Audio CD)

Clifford Brown was a genius. On top of that, he was one of the greatest musicians. His bebop flurries are the highlights of songs like "Cherokee" and "Swingin'". Richie Powell, the pianist and brother of Bud, is also prominent throughout, as is Max Roach on drums and Harold Land on tenor. "Jacqui", Powell's composition, is a fun, bouncy tune. Clifford plays amazing solos on pretty much every selection, but considered some of his VERY best work are his solos on "Cherokee", the bouncy blues "Sandu", and his masterful sound on "If I Love Again". As the liner notes say, he has some Miles Davis-like moments there, but he is definitely still Clifford! The album's best performance, however, is the last one (last but not least I guess :)). "Take The 'A' Train". Clifford's group was actually the first to ever do this song with actual train effects. This rendition is simply ingeniously played. Max Roach's brushwork is classic. All in all, this album should be owned by ALL jazz or trumpet fans!