Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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61 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest ballad albums ever recorded, September 23, 2004
With Eternal, Branford Marsalis has done something I wondered if he would ever do--release a record that fully puts on display his huge, prodigal talent.
The key here, I believe, is his willingness to ditch the awkward and ungainly mannerisms that have too often sabotaged his efforts, most recently embarrassingly displayed on Romere Bearden Revealed. What we've got on Eternal is pure jazz musicality filtered through a very sultry ballad modality.
And it works splendidly.
Amazingly, Branford manages to sound equally convincing on two different horns: soprano and tenor. Look, it's hard enough to play ballads convincingly on one horn, let alone two. But Branford manages to pull it off. As is so often the case with transcendent jazz, the key is the leader's ability to evoke the elegiac (melancholic) mood without a trace of sentimentality. All the greats from Prez to Getz to Coltrane to Bobby Watson have been able to do it. To put Branford Marsalis in such company may seem a stretch, but this disc proves he's the real deal.
His work on soprano nearly jumps out. This notoriously difficult horn--difficult to keep in pitch, difficult to achieve a distinct voice, difficult to convey genuine emotion--he masters with such ease and aplomb as to practically deconstruct its reputation for contrariety. Check out his transcendent work on "The Lonely Swan," a stunningly beautiful Joey Calderazzo (piano) original. Striking the exact apposite tonal and conceptual mode, he nails this ravishing tune with such insouciance as to almost rewrite the book on soprano ballad playing.
His tone and approach on tenor bespeak a nearly unprecedented appropriation of ballad literature. Refinement without loss of virility--that's what characterizes his move on the larger horn, most abundantly parlayed on "Dinner for One Please, James," which also features off-the-charts dusky jazz pianisms from Mr. Calderazzo.
One of the things that distinguishes this set from run-of-the-mill ballad offerings is its combination of obscure standards, miraculously transformed, with surprisingly appropriate--and sometimes just drop-dead gorgeous ("Eternal," "Reika's Loss")--originals. You'd better nail it on a ballad album if you go this route. And these dudes do.
A note about the band (Branford Marsalis, soprano & tenor sax; Joey Calderazzo, piano; Eric Revis, bass; Jeff "Tain" Watts, drums): They're in some weird ur-jazz ballad zone here. Not only do they provide the exact right context for the remarkable music on display; they also communicate with a serendipity that borders on the uncanny. This musical ravishment, most fully realized on the title cut, obtains throughout the proceedings.
Listen, Branford: All is forgiven. You da man. And you proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt with this fabulous disc.
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - Nice Warm Glow!!!, October 12, 2004
A band has to be really comfortable with each other to tackle a recording filled with ballads. Branford and company are fully engaged on this magnificent and beautiful collection of songs. This band has aged well, and it shows in the way they constantly engage each other. There is some magic happening here - and the listener gets all the rewards. This recording should allow Branford to pick up some new fans. I played this CD during a reception and twelve guest wanted to take it home. I ended up writing down the vitals & passing along other recordings that they might be interested in. This would be the first Jazz purchase for most of them. Jazz needs more recordings like this. The music has a nice warm glow around it and can be both engaging and stimulating. Branford's tone on both soprano and tenor is unique & personal - yet you can still hear him exploring and searching. His personal growth as an artist continues. I am looking forward to hearing him perform this music live - where he can stretch out & really explore these rich melodies. Branford, this is Exceptional Music. I'm loving it!!!
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Ballads Album from Preposterously Excellent Quartet , November 18, 2004
Having seen Branford Marsalis as part of his quartet a few nights ago at the London Royal Festival Hall I was blown away by the sheer excellence of this group of outstanding musicians. We were treated to a memorable concert made up partly of material from Eternal (three tracks) and other material - mostly much harder driving - that the band used to break up the mood.
The quality and inspiration of the musicians was phenomenal, they are all virtuosi at their respective instruments. I have seen many major Jazz musicians in concert over the years but never has my jaw hit the ground so hard as when I watched these guys. Phenomonal levels of skill and musical integrity were on display.
Make no mistake, this quartet is operating at the highest level in Jazz today. Each of the four are outstanding musicians in their own right and yet they play together brilliantly. Really, it does not get any better than this.
As far as the album in question goes - this is a clear 5* release. Clearly it's on the softer side of what Branford usually does but the resulting production is music at the highest levels of inspiration. Many beautiful tracks, no clunkers all played warmly and nothing cliched.
Highly recommended.
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