Notwithstanding these difficulties, the resourceful drummer and composer Wade Barnes has expanded his highly regarded 1990s group, the Brooklyn Four Plus One, into a powerhouse seventeen-piece ambassador for what he accurately calls "America's classical music," and done it in an unusual way: by incorporating the band as a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Fear not, however - far from being a dry, academic exercise in preservation, the B.R.E.'s new CD (and, I would imagine, its concerts) is living, breathing jazz. Precisely energized ensemble playing, sophisticated Ellingtonian arrangements, quirky solos, un-everyday instruments (vibes; tuba and euphonium; a French horn and a mellophone), and buttery vocals from Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch add up to a redolent hour-plus of satisfying music.
The band's spare take on "Blowin' in the Wind" opens the CD straightforwardly, deep brass pulsing. Delicate solos from pianist John Nam and guitarist Yoshiki Miura, along with Cumberbatch's semi-operatic vocals, turn the folk classic into a meditative cloud. The other familiar tunes are a smooth partially sung "Stolen Moments" featuring clarinetist McDonald Payne, and "Body and Soul."
Subtle polyrhythms underpin Barnes's own "Passive Volition," which features vibraphonist William Ware, III among others. The leader's other compositions incline towards the meditative - they have titles like "The Power of Feeling" and "The Power of Thought" - and do not feature vocals, but there's always something on the surface to tickle the ear and Barnes's gossamer drumming driving everything along. "Little Big Sis," in 5/4 time, builds into a pentatonic scale rave-up and may be my favorite track in spite of its melodic (though not rhythmic) simplicity.
Hear extended clips of this unusual set at CD Baby.
Article comments
1 - nick
Speaking of the underground/indie-rock craze at hand
A must listen to, is the new album from Hot Rod Circuit, "the underground is a dying breed". I went to their myspace and listened to the new tracks up, and it sounds like pretty good stuff. Plus it turns out they been "underground" for quite some time now. I really believe all of you will enjoy this new stuff so go check them out at their myspace.