Customer Reviews

Thunder

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I pre-ordered this album a while ago and received it yesterday. I absolutely recommend it to every fan of Stanley, Marcus and Victor. This is to my opinion the Jazz album of year. S,M & V show here why they are the best at what they are doing. There is no showing off as pretends one of the reviewers; S, M & V just have uncommon technical skills with their instrument. There are Great compositions, great arrangements and great a sound; in summary, this is great music! The leading and supporting roles are appropriately shared. I find the first song of the album ("Maestros de las Frecuencias Bajas") outstanding. The rhythm used in "Mongoose Walk" is similar to what can be found in some of Richard Bona's albums, a typical central African rhythm: this was perhaps a little salute to Richard. "Los Tres Hermanos" and "Milano" just melt you down, Waooooo!! The harmonies from the basses don't make you feel like you are missing the presence of an electric guitar. The re-arrangement of "Tutu" is outstanding: Stanley's line on the acoustic bass is awesome. Butterscotch does a cool vocal beat box in "Pendulum".

This album is simply GREAT!!!

We saw these three at the Hollywood Bowl and were amazed at their music. Different and interesting. Not every song is great, but the majority of them are worth listening to again and again. I would definitely make this purchase again.

There are people who won't appreciate this album, but they won't be bassists, music students or jazz aficianados. To listen to the three masters at work is chilling to this longtime student of the instrument. Victor Wooten's double-thumping style is unmistakable; I saw him do it in a college classroom and still can't get it. Stanley Clarke's tenor bass work on the Spellbinder custom is like no other player out there and reminds this reviewer of the late 80s work, If This Bass Could Only Talk, in which Clarke featured the late jazz-tap dancer Gregory Hines. Having a tap-dancer on a record was unheard-of in its day, and Clarke cuts new ground again with a bass trio that he clearly leads. Yet it is Miller who is the glue, often as the pacesetter with slap-pops and other rhythms but also as the producer of the album and its main keyboardist. And if my ear and knowledge of the prior works of these three treats me well, it is Miller that plays the perpetual motion lead bass line in "Classical Thump." Even though all three of these cats play with similar technique, what makes this album most delightful is trying to decide who is doing which line.

An instrumental masterpiece. Maybe a follow-up would include Louis "Thunderthumbs" Johnson just to drive the point home.

Stanley, Marcus and Victor have outdone themselves. A great new version of Clarke's "Lopsy Lu". If you are a fan of any of these bassist, you won't be disappointed with Thunder. Great recording . . . lots of bass!

This is a great CD and a must for all bass players.It is great to see true masters of their art. It sure would be nice if it would inspire some real talented musicians who can play back to the music recording industry.

Take this with you on your desert island if you only have your 10 favorite albums to bring...this album is ADDICTING!

We heard the three men playing together at North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, this year. We were completely taken by surprise on how funky and dynamic it was. My husband, who had not heard any of the three before, and usually likes rock, was superenthused and I was happy I could get him more excited about jazz than usually.

The men were just Gods on the guitar, cool stances (put a beard on the three of them and they could have been the Jazz ZZ top) and they got the big hall rocking

This something to behold. The album is fantastic; and live is even better. Believe it or not, these are the short versions of this material. Unlike some instrumentals which are sharp and ear piercing, this is more reminiscent seeing Yo-yo Ma on steroids. There are sweet tones that are both warm and exciting.
The amazing thing about this CD is that each musician finds his own place and there is no clash between the multiple basses. They listen to each other and expand on each other. I would list my favorite songs, but each time I listen to the CD I develop a new "favorite". These musicians truly are the Masters of the Bass Frequencies.
We saw them at a club called Razz Ma Tazz in Barcelona and it was fantastic! The encore was an incredible rendition of School Daze that featured solos and a collaboration by the three best bass players alive today. Buy this disc and see this band. It is a once in a life time opportunity.

Already a big fan of all three uber-bassists, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten and Stanley Clarke, this cd came as a wonderful surprise. Melodic and jazz-infused, the music is a bass players wet dream. The casual music listener probably won't get their fancies tickled by this one, but if you're a musician who appreciates precision, virtuoso performance, Thunder is a must. Fans of David Sanborn, Bela Fleck and Return To Forever will be especially pleased. The magical tone Marcus Miller achieves on his stand up bass is absolutely exquisite. I won't review particular songs here. Suffice it to say, this is a solid piece of work by the best of the best in the world of bass players.

The supergroup concept has seemed to be the fossilized remains of classic rock; that is until this bass trio hit the low frequencies on its debut album.

Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten have each redefined the use of the electric bass in jazz. Together, they work as a tight unit through defined parts of melody, rhythm and harmonics. There are some freestyle jams, but this is a truly a band that is giving each other space to shape their parts in each song.

The leaders of the performance pack are Thunder, Tutu, Pendulum and Grits. Special guests include Chick Corea, George Duke and Michael "Patches" Stewart. This is a solid first effort and a superstar lineup that has the potential to flourish over time.