Customer Reviews

Wood

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

 

 

Bromberg's been known mainly for his electric playing in recent years, which is a pity, as he's an absolute MONSTER on the upright. His tone is incredible- that great woody, growl is so think you can taste it- and his interpretation of standards like "Speak Low" and "Dolphin Dance" puts him up with some of the best. The solos are a treat, too- imagine Miles' "All Blues" played as a bass solo! I'm still trying to figure out how he gets two lines moving in different directions like that. Six stars.

"Wood" is a good title, you can hear the resonous quality of the strings and the wood of the bass in this very good new recording.

The jazz trio with piano usually features that instrument but Brian Bromberg turns his oversized instrument into a melody maker. He is literally all over the instrument, playing rhythym, melody, accompanyment and high chiming overtones all at the same time. It often sounds like he has four hands, but he never loses track of the song he's playing while showing of his exceptional technique. Mr Bromberg has great tone, the quality of this 18th century wood bass shines in it's notes.

A pleasing album from beginning to end. I really liked what he has done with the Beatles "Come Together" not following the path I had assumed he would. Other great songs are "Speak Low" and the swinging Bill Evans type version of "the Days of Wine and Roses" with the lead in the bass. One of the most consistently satisfying new albums of the year, a must for bass lovers.

Excellent recording. 4 1/2 points for performance, 5 for recording. Deserves to get 5 stars if it were more popular.

Buy this album! The more you listen, the more you'll like it.

I am a producer/engineer and have played electric bass since 1980. As a new fan to jazz and upright bass, I have been listening to different players. Brian Bomberg plays a 300 year old German bass on this project and WHAT A TONE!!! I believe anyone who enjoys double bass will love this project.. ...did I mention this ol' boy can play??

The tone of Bromberg's 300 year old bass and his technical virtuosity are an unbeatable combination. One of my favorite albums. If you like Bromberg's performance here, check out Alan Broadbent's album (You and the Night and the Music) to hear a similarly masterpiece performance. Highly recommended!

I'm about to gush, so I should admit up front that I am a bass player and that undoubtedly colors my experience of this work.

I was dubious about this album given Bromberg's past efforts. I was wrong to be. This is pretty straight ahead stuff. Bromberg plays flawlessly. There is allot of virtuosity showing through. A bass player of this caliber will surely get knocked for that. But the album is what it is.
Bromberg's tone is unbelievable. He has got to have one of the best tones I have ever heard.

I've probably listened to this twenty times in the brief period I have had it. I think I'll go listen to it again.

i first heard this album a couple of years ago in a tiny, dark, attic jazz bar in tokyo, a place with speakers the size of refrigerators, over three thousand records on the walls (not counting CDs), but barely enough floor space for a six-seater bar and four small tables. very little conversation while this was playing. unforgettable.

Acoustic music for people and other living things who appreciate music. This is the kind of recording I like very similar to Missouri Sky by Metheney and Haden. If your sound system is up to snuff, the sound is full and pleasing, otherwise, change your cables, possibly your preamp, or your entire syetem. The CD is great. It is for people who appreciate good music....

When bassist Brian Bromberg was given a 300-year-old Matteo Guersam Italian bass by his father his destiny as a world class musician was fully realized. WOOD showcases Bromberg's well-rounded repertoire. We hear everything from "Come Together" (composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon) to "Speak Low" (composed by Kurt Weil) to "Goodbye" (a beautiful tune composed by Brian Bomberg for his father, complete with a gorgeous piano introduction). The pieces are all so alive and full of vibrance. What's more, you never hear them the same way twice. There is so much texture and depth in the arrangements. I guarantee you are going to press the "repeat" button on your CD player for this album.

Hey, That's really the way he sounds, unamplified, it has to do with the way his bass is set up, and his strings, but mostly his asthetic. I find this to be a refreshing album, and am very pleased with how Bromberg's albums have gotten better and better.

He always has something interesting to say

This recording was honestly my first exposure to Brian Bromberg, myself being a past jazz pianist. This album should be commended not ONLY for its musicianship, but also for it's clear dedication to high-quality recording. Putting this CD on even a decent stereo system is an excellent way to test for imaging and proper bass. I put this on my system, and I could sense Brian Bromberg standing 2 feet from me, playing his heart out in the beginning of "Harrison Crabfeathers." The whole record continued to impress me. All of the musicians on the album have excellent ears for each other, and the interplay is constant throughout the album. On the whole, this record is a musical experience for the stereo audio enthusiast as well as the uninitiated.