Customer Reviews

Vibes, Straight Up

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

 

 

Wow! THIS IS A HOT NEW CD!. I have played it several times in the last 24 hours.

Steve Hobbs is a great composer and player, but it's been a while since I have heard him on a record that is all standards. The arrangements are good, but the focus of this recording seems to be on the playing. The CD has excellent playing by all, and the tunes are mostly 5-6 minutes in length, so the CD has a nice flow to it.

What jumps out at me is the Hobbs and O'Connell play off each other. Hobbs' playing is as spontaneous and unpredictable as ever, but it seems more mature. He does a great job of building melodic themes in his improvisation, while having strong timing.

Bill O'Connell is a very energetic pianist who sounds even better than he normally does on this recording. O'Connell's note choices are different from Hobbs, however his use of complex rhythms, that maintain melodic movement are similar. O'Connell's comping during melodies and behind Hobbs' solos is excellent.

John Riley plays some outrageously good drum solos on this outing. Peter Washington, plays great bass lines, which outline chord changes and reflect the melodies as well.

I feel sure this CD will do very well. It's best release I have heard from a vibes player in years.

Why did I wait so long to add this tremendous CD to my collection? Words are inadequate to describe the plethora of emotions when listening to Hobbs as he masters the southern classics with an indisputable style as only he can. It literally gave me chills. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!Vibes, Straight Up

Hobbs has taken some southern gems and put his cool touch to them.
His back up pulls it together...bass, keyboards, percussion.

Here's what happened last time I reviewed a Steve Hobbs CD. I wasn't looking to review anything, just popped the disc in. What I heard there, on "Second Encounters," prompted me to go immediately to the computer and write a review. Five stars, by the way, that one.

So, here I am again, only this time I popped in my recent purchase of "Vibes,Straight Up." And here I am, back at the computer. What a terrific recording. Others here have commented well upon the merits of this CD, so here are just a few of my own.

A glance at the song selection here makes one skeptical. Someone is either very daring or has absolutely no idea what will songs will sound good together.

I mean, what the...?, "Woody Woodpecker" and "The Old Rugged Cross" find room for each other on the same disc? Yet they do, and nothing is out of place.

What at first might seem like a random collection of songs chosen for their Southern roots or connections (see liner notes) is also an object lesson in looking past any obvious disparities and finding and displaying those aspects that give them a uniqueness as a collection. Mr Hobbs took the dare and surefootedly comes out on top.

Not to belabor the point, but it points up my delightful surprise, because it was hard not to be skeptical about "Woody Woodpecker" as a song choice. But Mr. Hobbs takes it out of what could have been a cloying, cartoon context and gives it a great, swinging jazz treatment. Now that's hard to do. What was skepticism about the entire collection, and about the songs as individuals, gives way to joy at the lively and deep musical imagination at work here.

A general observation on Hobbs' playing. I love how at times he plunks down notes like tacks falling on the floor. You listen and think they've all fallen and, oops, here's some more. When Hobbs plays, I listen, then I listen for more.

Here's a great ensemble. All are admirable, but why have I not heard of Bill O'Connell before? What a touch this guy has. Listen to his comping on "St. James Infirmary," or especially, "What a Difference," how he lets his notes hang perfectly before damping them off. It's unobtrusive, but the way he adds and subtracts emphases makes him a real force in this quartet.

Steve Hobbs is working successfully on many levels here, from outside of, and inside of the songs. This a great disc. Five stars, for sure.

P.S. Also note the warm, clear sound quality here. Nice job, Mr. Knoop.

After opening at #26 on the national chart for airplay following its release, "Vibes, Straight Up" went straight up, to #1, where it has been for two weeks so far.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought the album. As a drummer, I was looking to buy some John Reily tracks--and he does a nice job here. But what you essentially get is another standards album (Cherokee??? Again?? Really?) and the playing on many of the tracks, particularly by Hobbs, is sub-standard. Hobbs sounds like a college player playing with professionals as he stumbles through lines and can barely keep up on the up-tempo tracks. I don't recommend this album: if you're looking for standards, go in another direction. If you're looking for a vibes album, I'd check out at least a different Hobbs disc if not a different vibist altogether.