Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Amadee Castenell: Amadee

Amadee Castenell: Amadee

By Robert Spencer
August 1, 1998
Sign in to view read count

More groove-laden contemporary jazz from Allen Toussaint's NYNO. Amadee Castenell plays a gritty R&B tenor (and flute on "Angels"), backed by a funky ensemble consisting of Toussaint's piano on four tracks, pianist Chuck (not Charlie) Chaplin on three others (he also plays Fender Rhodes on one), the smooth synthesizers of Larry Sieberth, Scott Goudeau on guitar, David Barard on bass (seven tracks), Chris Severin on bass (the other five tracks), Russell Batiste on drums (five tracks), Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson on drums (seven tracks), percussionist Bill Summers (three tracks), and percussionist "Afro" Williams (six tracks).

This disc is well-produced; not one note is out of place. Castenell plays fervently (and delicately when necessary, e.g. "Crystal"). The grooves are ably laid down. Castenell's fundamental problem at this point may be making himself heard in a crowded field where his voice is not yet developed enough to stand out from the crowd. This is no criticism of his ability – he is obviously a first-rate talent. But there are an awful lot of contemporary jazz discs out there now, especially in the wake of the inimitable soprano stylings of Mr. G; Amadee, if he is going to make a splash, will need to distinguish himself more in the future. From the sound of this one, he certainly has the ability to do so.

Track Listing

Just Like You; In the Hood; Crystal; Always There for You; Angels; Amacasino; You Dirty F Minor, You; Buda; The End of the Day; Shine; Alley Cat Strut; Maui Moon.

Personnel

Amadee Castenell

saxophone

Album information

Title: Amadee | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: NYNO

< Previous
Cause and Effect

Next >
Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute

Comments

About Amadee Castenell

Instrument: Saxophone

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.