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Friday
Rick Braun
Sessions is a good introduction to this outstanding jazz musician. This is recorded in mostly one take with little or no editing or overdubs as evidenced by the "notes of character" here and there. The repertoire is drawn from Rick’s greatest hits including "Grazing in the Grass" from the hit cd Shake it Up, and fan favorites "Notorious," "Nightwalk" and "Coolsville." Certainly an unexpected highlight is Rick’s emotional vocal on "Love Will Find a Way."
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. Braun’s first success was "Here With Me," a tune co-written with Kevin Cronin for REO Speedwagon, that went on to become a Top 20 hit.
Two of Rick’s earlier albums were smooth jazz chart toppers; “”Beat Street", which topped the charts for thirteen weeks, and, “Body and Soul”, which sold over 100,000 copies, landing Braun his second "Artist of the Year" title.
Sessions is a good introduction to this outstanding jazz musician. This is recorded in mostly one take with little or no editing or overdubs as evidenced by the "notes of character" here and there. The repertoire is drawn from Rick’s greatest hits including "Grazing in the Grass" from the hit cd Shake it Up, and fan favorites "Notorious," "Nightwalk" and "Coolsville." Certainly an unexpected highlight is Rick’s emotional vocal on "Love Will Find a Way."
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. Braun’s first success was "Here With Me," a tune co-written with Kevin Cronin for REO Speedwagon, that went on to become a Top 20 hit.
Two of Rick’s earlier albums were smooth jazz chart toppers; “”Beat Street", which topped the charts for thirteen weeks, and, “Body and Soul”, which sold over 100,000 copies, landing Braun his second "Artist of the Year" title.
More recent albums feature some of his best work. My favorite album is probably “Yours Truly”, released in 2005. Most of the cuts are Rick’s take on such chart toppers as: “Shining Star”, “Holding Back The Years”, “Kiss Of Life”, and “What Are You Doing The Rest OF Your Life”?
Braun is also part of the supergroup BWB, which gets its name from the initials of Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown. The Cd they put out was a disappointment to me but who knows, maybe next time.
This is one of my favorite songs from the smooth jazz genre. I have it on my ipod, and depending on the mood I’m in, I can “wear it out”.
Notorious – Rick Braun featuring Boney James
I bought this album recently while picking up a hard copy of Keith Jarrett’s, “Music of the Night. This was a spur of the moment purchase and it has turned into a pleasant surprise. The music doesn’t grab you but when you listen to it a couple times you appreciate it more and more. Anat is a very sensitive player and her compositions are top rate. She wrote “The 7th of March”, in memory of a friend who was killed serving in the Israeli army.
I included the second amazon review below to illustrate the fact that you will either love or hate this music. I for one think that Anat Cohen is a major talent and I heartily recommend her music. I am ordering a cd she did with her two brothers who are also musicians – I think it is called Braid. Take a look at the clip and make up your own mind.
Amazon Reviews
I have been reading a lot about Ms. Cohen. She seems to have been making some history recently: she is the only female horn player (and the only Israeli) ever to headline at the Village Vanguard. She is the only person ever to get citations in 5 categories in the annual Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll (2007).
She is the only woman ever chosen as "Up and coming jazz musician" of the year by the global Jazz Journalists Association...and the only person ever to get the aformentioned nod and win a best instrumentalist category (clarinet in her case). Then...there are feature articles about her in places like the Washington Post. She's playing at the Newport Jazz festival this year. All the foregoing struck me as a lot of smoke...for there not to be any fire. So I bought her three albums as a leader and the Waverly Seven (of which she is a member) album "YO! BOBBY". Now.. I understand the kudos. She is an extraordinary musician. She has a warm, solid tone on all 5 of her instruments. Her improvising is extraordinarily creative yet artfully restrained....as opposed to what I hear from the legions of Brecker, Potter, Coltrane would be clones out there. Her original compositions have something to say. I love her taste in cover tunes. I get it.
By Earscape
This music is what would pass for "jazz" today, better known as "light jazz." I say, it has no "balls." The jazz I know, with roots in bebop, is much more vital, and hardly played today live. I don't see what the fuss is about, if there is any, unless it is the attempt of the record companies to promote a woman. No problem with women jazz players. They are around, but please, record companies, don't just try to promote the person. Wait until the music is ready. And don't call it jazz. Jazz, as such, is kinda dead. The best stuff is reissues.
By John P Perhonis
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