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Roy Campbell Quartet: It's Krunch Time
BySome of the pieces on It's Krunch Time explore time and space with curiosity and liberation. "The Opening," for example, wanders quite a bit as Campbell soars high and Jamal breaks down the barriers of harmony. Morris pulses rather regularly on this one, and Brown offers delicate accents throughout. But then it's a big leap to the hard-swinging funk of Monk's "Bemsha Swing"where Brown and Morris stick like glue in the pocket. On this tune, Jamal comps the changes while Campbell solos in straight-ahead fashion on top. (In the same vein: "Ode for Mr. DC.") The opener, "Tenderness of Spring," starts out with a delicate, lyrical bass solo and very gradually evolves into a sensitive ballad. The closer takes on "The Star Spangled Banner" with a conspicuously Hendrix-like deconstruction. (Unfortunately, Hendrix's version is much better, in my opinion.)
It's Krunch Time presents a tasteful mix of straight-ahead jazz, lyricism and adventurism, though it mostly stays in an accessible range. This disc deserves praise for its postmodern electicism, and it certainly defies any type-cast roles for its musicians. For the most part, it's a winnerthough I'd like to hear these players stretch out a bit more together.
Track Listing
Tenderness of Spring; Krunch Time; Bemsha Swing; New Groes for the New Millenium; Ode to Mr. DC; Khanducting; The Opening; Star Spangled Banner.
Personnel
Roy Campbell
trumpetRoy Campbell: trumpet; Kahn Jamal: vibes; Wilber Morris: bass; Guillermo E. Brown: drums.
Album information
Title: It's Krunch Time | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Thirsty Ear Recordings
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