Customer Reviews

Wood II

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

 

 

Why is this an unknown album, and why is Bromberg a relatively unknown (or at least, underrated) bassist? This CD has some of the most staggering, ridiculous acrobatic spasms I've ever heard on a bass. The recording itself sounds superb, and the warmth of the antique bass is incredible. Vinnie Colaiuta is holding down the drums in his normal, staggering polyrhythmic form and Waldman is a perfect foil to Bromberg on Piano. The trio is kind of a reverse piano trio in that the melodies are carried as often as not by the bass, and the "rhythm" instrument is the piano. It's an interesting inversion, and the musicians pull it off perfectly.

If you are a bassist, a fan of the bass, a drummer, a fan of drums, or a fan of good jazz in general, you will enjoy this album immensely. Bromberg's solos are just plain ridiculous. I've never quite heard an acoustic bass played in such a manner.

Highly recommended.

I'm always leery of recordings fronted by bass players or drummers--will it just provide an excuse for masturbatory soloing and showing off? Acoustic bassman Brian Bromberg is a virtuoso on his instrument, able to take the melody on just about any song. Four of the twelve tracks on this disc are bass solos. But my overall impression is that this is a great piano trio record, with pianist Randy Waldman and drummer Vinnie Colaiuto amply holding their own with the boss. The trio pieces reveal a warm interplay among the musicians that is apparent even when the bass is jacked up in the mix. The big surprise, though, is that the bass solo tracks are the most memorable--incredible rides through Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star," Paul McCartney's "Let `Em In" and the Kansas prog-rock warhorse, "Carry On My Wayward Son." Here's to Brian Bromberg for single-handedly expanding the jazz repertoire!

Originally published in Port Folio Weekly, 5/23/06
Copyright 2006 Port Folio Weekly. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

I do not see a need to echo the words of the other reviewers, but as a fan of great acoustic bass playing (guys like Christian McBride, John Pattitucci and the late, great Ray Brown come to mind), this set rocks!

Mr. Bromberg is a brilliant musician whose talent has graced many an album (both under his own name and for other artists) over the years, and here, he kicks it up to notches unknown, going boldly where no other bass players have traveled. Giving rock-era classics like "Shining Star" (Earth, Wind and Fire) and "Let Him In" (Beatles) a jazzy, solo bass makeover is one big undertaking indeed! Same goes for his swinging take on the jazz classics like "Caravan" and "Four Brothers" (the latter with his own whistling to boot).

Five stars just ain't enough...this is a winner!!! I'll find his predecessor CD "Wood" in no time.

I wrote glowingly of Bromberg and his 300 year old bass in a review of his seminal acoustic bass project--"Wood I. Where that was a warm and more intimate collection, this sequel is more outrageous and casts a wider net. Again you will find a couple of bass solos that are spellbinding--he does indeed take the instrument where it has never been before. The rest of the album features standards where the paino and drums shine in conjunction with Bromberg's tight, uptempo bass lines. Special mention is made of the next to last track, Four Brothers, that features Bromberg whistling in an uptempo manner reminiscent of some of Toots Thielman's work. You cannot help but marvel and enjoy the work of this underpublicized musical genius.

This album starts off with a bang with the sprited, lyrical "Caravan" by Ellington, the bass carrying the melody and the piano comping. There are other lyrical cuts, the Bossa Nova "Pensativa", "Butterfly", "Witch Hunt" and the romantic "A Love Affair" are compelling. All presumable are played on the same bass he used in his classic bass essential album "Wood". Virtuoso playing, - melody, and rhythm at the same time.

But many of the other tracks, the other 2/3rds, left me scratching my head wondering why, of all the available Pop songs, he chose these? "Carry on my Wayward Son"?, "Shining Star"? "Four Brothers" with someone whistling the Stan Getz melody through their teeth?? Others left me cold, not like his triumphal "Wood" album where every cut, new or old, including the "Star Spangled Banner", is astounding.

The recording quality, while probably fine, is clearly not up to the audiophile standards of "Wood" either.

"Wood" (1) I highly recommend. I was expecting more of the same ...

Brian Bromberg produces an amazing sound from his early 18th century acoustic bass. The piano trio work is tight, exciting. The solo bass intimate and eclectic.

This item was received in a timely fashion & it was a gift to my son. He says it is great.

Janette Todd

This is a nice relaxing CD to listen to after a long day at work. I enjoy it. :-)

This jazz trio hits the road running with "Caravan" which explodes into a hypnotic groove beyond my imagination. Duke's ghost must be dancing like a madman. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, this trio tops itself with Shorter's "Witch Hunt". This band is soooo tight! But...the solos are also killers. Mr. Bromberg is in a very small class of the greatest bass innovators. Among them are such diverse musicians as Jimmy Blanton, Charles Mingus, Eberhard Weber, Dave Holland and Christian McBride. Buy this CD. You will never be disappointed. This is the greatest jazz of the decade.

Named on Bromberg , this is the standard Waldman , Colaiuta , Bromberg trio , playing well but not so greatly as usual 'cause , in my opinion , of the bass record impo. of the record , meaning of the mixdown , solo space and so on .
Anyway wort enough to buy it , pheraps not at import price ....