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VW Brothers: Muziek
ByAppropriately or not, the album acts as herald for the musical journey that the Brothers have made, which has a beginning, but may not have a proverbial end. "Euro (Prelude)" is that beginninga solemn, sweeping gesture, a suggestion of nostalgia full-blown on the English horn that rises and flows, then ebbs as the mystical craft departs from shore. The fade is only momentary, for soon the ensemble returns to titillate with a chart ostensibly worshiping at the altar of a Muse, "Simone," which proffers a glorious spiraling figure of a melody carved out by percussion and features a wonderful, short, staccato melody split into two lines, the second a countermelody that turns the musical phrase inside out. Then the song blooms with the gentle bellowing of Harvey Wainapel bass clarinet, coaxed ever forward by Marc van Wageningen's rolling, pianistic bass.
The sojourn continues with a complex rhythmic reinvention of Miles Davis "Milestones," and then there is no stopping the Brothers. That Marc van Wageningen's grandeur as a true melodicist should have been known a long time ago is one of those things about the widening ripple of today's music that cannot really be controlled. However, "Here we are now," he appears to be saying and everyone's listening suddenly. The bassist writes to organically capture the self-deprecating style of his drum playing brother Paul, who is more of a percussion colorist in the guise of a trap drummer than ever imagined. While not so obvious on "Simone," this is much more evident in the subtle manner by which Paul van Wageningen is written into the musical script on charts such as the mystical "Moon Over Gate 24," the Brazilian inflected "Benito," the Afro-Cuban "El Abogado," and, of course, on the orchestral version of "Euro" at the album's end.
Along the way there is much spectacular music, played by stars who sing and play like soul "brothers and sisters" on one of the year's most tasteful displays of musical composition, virtuoso playing and unbridled improvisation.
Track Listing
Euro (Prelude); Simone; Milestones; Moon Over Gate 24; Zapatos de Madera; Benito; El Abogado; You Guys Done Yet?; What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?; Cecilia's Song; Euro.
Personnel
Paul van Wageningen: drums; Marc van Wageningen: bass; David K Matthews: keyboards (2, 4-7, 9), piano (3, 9, 11), organ (8); Michael Spiro: percussion (2, 3, 5-7, 10), vocal intro (7); Peter Michael Escovedo: percussion, background vocals (8); Bart Fermie: percussion (6); Joe Cohen: tenor saxophone (2-5, 7, 8, 10, 11); Melecio Magdaluyo: tenor saxophone (7), baritone saxophone (8); Harvey Wainapel: bass clarinet (2); Wayne Wallace: trombone (7, 8); Chris Bleth: English horn, flute (6, 11); Luis Fasman: trumpet (7, 8); Ray Obiedo: guitar (2, 8, 10); Marco Pereira: acoustic guitar (6); Toninho Ferragutti: accordion (10); Claudia Villela: vocals (6); Edgardo Cambon: vocals (7); Orlando Torriente: vocals (7); Sheila E: vocals (7); Lynn Mabry: vocals (7); Larry Braggs: lead vocals (8); Jenny Meltzer: vocals (11); Melissa Reiner: violin (11); Julian Hallmark: violin (11); Gabe Witcher: violin (11); Matt Cooker: cello (11)
Album information
Title: Muziek | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Patois Records
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