Branford Marsalis - Romare Bearden Revealed

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Free Music Notes for Romare Bearden Revealed

Free Music Review: Sweet Slow Swing and some Blues
Hit: 5 Stars

The tunes on this outing are extremely well-chosen and contrary to what other reviewers would have you believe, not a single one of them is part of the mainstream jazz repertoire. They are fresh takes on several original songs, a few old forgotten songs, and several contemporary metrically intricate songs contributed by Jeff "Tain" Watts and Wynton Marsalis. Some are of the belief that emulating bands of the 60s and 70s is "modern" but that revisiting music of the prebop era is old, hackneyed and makes one a "neoclassicist" or one of several other phrases used by critics who have decided to accept foolishness over reality and join the anti-Marsalis family bandwagon.

The playing on this record is some of the finest to date from these brilliant musicians, not only on the first two tracks but also on "J Mood" and Laughin and "Talkin (With Billy Higgins)," which the two negative reviewers must not have listened to. Branford should be applauded for having the integrity to deal with some exceptionally difficult music (both artistically and technically. As an aspiring jazz musician, I can say with some degree of authority that learning to play early swing music well is an inconcievably difficult task. The nuance, phrasing and melodic vocabulary that these men possess is nothing short of astounding and to dismiss such attempts to embrace the tradition of the great American art form that is jazz and blues music is merely the product of ignorance.

For those who have been sold blindly on the idea that the Marsalis family is comprised entirely of nostolgiac men who lack an abiltiy to create contemporary music, I have some suggestions. Buy Wynton Marsalis' "Black Codes"(You will hear that Wynton was doing 20 years ago much of what musicians like Dave Douglas are being celebrated for today). Buy Branford's aptly titled record, "Contemporary Jazz" (wink). It features free music, metrically complex music, and a couple of gorgeous ballads. If you like what you hear, Branford's "Requiem" and Wynton's groundbreaking "Blood on the Fields" are exceptional records.

All said, buy this record, the music speaks for itself.

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