Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Brian Charette: Good Tipper

9

Brian Charette: Good Tipper

By

Sign in to view read count
Brian Charette: Good Tipper
Nine of the eleven tracks on organist Brian Charette's Square One (Posi-Tone, 2014) were originals, but that doesn't mean he's uninterested in tackling the music of others. In fact, judging by this album, it would seem that he really digs digging into covers. Everybody from film score icon John Barry to tunesmith Jimmy Webb to saxophonist Joe Henderson gets a nod during the fun-filled Good Tipper

Charette has built a reputation as one of the most adventuresome yet respectful organists operating today, something that's evident on this album when you hear him cook on a twenty-bar blues ("Good Tipper"), toy with his sound on a grooving original from guitarist Avi Rothbard ("Another Quarter"), recast a Richard Rodgers classic in five ("Spring Is Here") or deliver surprisingly straightforward takes on a James Bond theme ("You Only Live Twice") and a classic from The Zombies ("Time Of The Season"). He's not looking to simply walk in the footsteps of other organists, but he's also not out to alter the organ's position in the jazz firmament. He enjoys pushing, pulling and expanding the instrument's reach a bit while staying true to the music.

In addition to the aforementioned covers, Charette and company deliver an enthusiastic "Cuando Cuando Cuando," an album-ending take on Henderson's "The Kicker," and two different Jimmy Webb classics—"Wichita Lineman," which is covered so often it could almost be considered a standard at this point, and "Up, Up And Away," a number that wreaks of musical kitsch in its decades-old form(s), but sounds just fine when Charette gets done with it. The rest of the program is filled out by pleasing original numbers like "One And Nine," a lively Rothbard tune that brings saxophonist Joe Sucato aboard, and "To Live In Your Life," a relatively mellow Charette number.

Two different trios take flight here, as Charette works with Rothbard and drummer Jordan Young on eight tracks and turns to guitarist Yotam Silberstein and drummer Mark Ferber on the remaining four, but they travel on similar flight paths. The latter rhythm section works its magic on most of the pop-leaning pieces while the former duo helps Charette cover all angles. The music is all solid and appealing, regardless of which trio is at play. Good Tipper=good music.

Track Listing

Good Tipper; Time Of The Season; Spring Is Here; Cuando Cuando Cuando; Another Quarter; Standing Still; You Only Live Twice; Wichita Lineman; Up, Up And Away; One And Nine; To Live Your Life; The Kicker.

Personnel

Brian Charette
organ, Hammond B3

Brian Charette: organ; Avi Rothbard: guitar (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10-12); Jordan Young: drums (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10-12); Joe Sucato: tenor saxophone (10); Yotam Silberstein: guitar (2, 4, 7, 9); Mark Ferber: drums (2, 4, 7, 9).

Album information

Title: Good Tipper | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter 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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.