The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
| The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul | ||||
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| Studio album by Branford Marsalis | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Okeh Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
7th |
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running time |
1:02:17 |
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Studio (s) |
Alexander Theater, Monash University, Clayton, Australia |
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The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul is a jazz album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet. The recordings were made in 2018 at the Alexander Theater at Monash University in Melbourne (Australia) and were released on March 1, 2019 by Okeh Records .
background
Since the mid-1980s, Branford Marsalis has directed various editions of his quartet and has released a number of albums such as Random Abstract, Crazy People Music and Braggtown , all of which Matt Collar believes express his love for swinging acoustic jazz and playing together in dynamic groups bring. After the Four MFs Playin 'Tunes (2012) and Upward Spiral (2016, with Kurt Elling ), the saxophonist played again with his quartet, which now includes pianist Joey Calderazzo , bassist Eric Revis and drummer Justin Faulkner (who played Jeff Tain Watts in 2009 replaced) belong. The album contains two pieces each by bassist Eric Revis and pianist Joey Calderazzo as well as another by Andrew Hill ("Shake Hip Waltz") and by Keith Jarrett ("The Windup").
Track list
- Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul (Marsalis Music 19075914032)
- Dance of the Evil Toys (Eric Revis) 8:23
- Conversation Among the Ruins (Joey Calderazzo) 8:46
- Snake Hip Waltz ( Andrew Hill ) 5:51
- Cianna (Joey Calderazzo) 7:32
- Nilaste (Eric Revis) 10:15
- Life Filtering From the Water Flowers (Branford Marsalis) 9:00
- The Windup ( Keith Jarrett ) 12:30
reception
The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album in 2019 . Marsalis also received another Grammy nomination for his solo in "The Windup" for Best Improvised Jazz Solo .
The album received consistently positive reviews; Dave Gelly gave the album four stars in the Guardian ; In his view, Marsalis finds the classic jazz format of saxophone, piano, bass and drums "an endless source of inspiration, and over the years the quartet has developed a kind of group spirit." Only one of the seven pieces on the album is a composition of his ; it is a piece that changes from silent contemplation to wild animation and back again. There seems to be “a kind of family resemblance” to all of the pieces; although the form is fairly free, each instrumental part should be clearly defined and targeted. Marsalis and Calderazzo play with extraordinary delicacy and the technique is stunning.
Matt Collar gave the album 4½ (out of five) stars in Allmusic, writing, “The saxophonist balances expressive maturity with a persistent sense of fun.” Ed Enright wrote on Down Beat that Branford Marsalis has never played tenor and soprano saxophone sounded better; The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul is characterized by musical sophistication, cohesion and inclusiveness. “Obviously these long-time bandmates have reached a new plateau together. Always a strong storyteller, Marsalis plays with tremendous conviction and skillfully manipulates his tonal palette to conjure a range of emotions into the seven pieces. According to the author, the quartet is a role model for a thirst for adventure and commitment. Directed by Marsalis, her approach to writing and improvising emphasizes melody and rhythm first, with harmony playing a less defining role in each piece. The resulting music is hard and holds little back, as it permeates the many moods that this quartet has to offer, even in the more contemplative moments. "
Mike Jurkovic reviewed the album in All About Jazz and gave it 4½ (out of five) stars; Calderazzo's eloquent fluid ballad “Conversation Among the Ruins” takes all of the external energy of “Dance of the Evil Toys” and turns it inward with almost classic textures until Marsalis' dark, thoughtful solo brings the melody to its lavish conclusion. Andrew Hill's rolling “Snake Hip Waltz” is being reworked here to transform the three beats of the melody into a delicious, unusual bayou swing. While all four players firmly believe that power creates emotion, darkness collapses to illuminate the dynamic peristalsis of “Nilaste”, a composition by Eric Revis. "Marsalis leads here, breaks, staggers, falls from the baffle so that Calderazzo can roam the room and explore the landscape while Revis and Faulkner slowly turn up the rhythmic heat behind them." Marsalis' only composition on the album, the reflective "Life Filtering from the Water Flowers ”, forms the perfect backdrop for the quartet's attack on Keith Jarrett's“ The Windup ”(from his 1974 album Belonging ). The quartet, especially Calderazzo and Marsalis, joyfully juggle with the same energy and urgency with which the album opened, “and come full circle to create what can easily be proven to be one of the best and most enduring jazz outings in the world Year 2019. "
Matt Collar gave the album 4½ (out of five) stars in Allmusic and wrote, "The saxophonist balances expressive maturity with an ongoing sense of fun." According to Mike Collins (London Jazz News) Marsalis is the band leader, but there is no doubt that all four members of the quartet are integral parts. In this version it was possible to capture part of the alchemy that takes place when it is generated in interaction. It's an exciting and stimulating ride in a varied way. According to the author, this long-standing line-up of the quartet is firmly anchored in the rich history and language of jazz.
Chris Pearson ( The Times ) quoted Marsalis as saying that working with singer Kurt Elling on Upward Spirals made him more melodic. It certainly is, according to the author, but the abundance of melodies also contributes to its intensity. Elliot Marlow-Stevens praised in the Jazz Journal : "The Marsalis quartet, which ranges from melodic compositions to wild improvisations to traditional and modern compositions, demonstrates extraordinary ability and creativity and is a joy to listen to." In the author's opinion it is all in all a great album that combines classic and modern with skill and ability.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Review of the album at Allmusic (English). Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ GRAMMY Award Results for Branford Marsalis Quartet. 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards (2019), Best Jazz Instrumental Album . Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ↑ Dave Gelly: Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul review - intuitive classic jazz. The Guradian, March 9, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .
- ↑ Ed Enriht: Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul. Dowen Beat, April 1, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .
- ^ Mike Jurkovic: The Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul. All About Jazz, March 22, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .
- ↑ Mike Collins: Branford Marsalis Quartet - The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul. London Jazz News, August 13, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .
- ↑ Chris Pearson: Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul review. The Times, March 1, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .
- ^ Elliot Marlow-Stevens: Branford Marsalis Quartet: The Secret Between The Shadow And The Soul. Jazz Journal, April 18, 2019, accessed December 7, 2019 .