Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Alex Brown: Pianist

238

Alex Brown: Pianist

By

Sign in to view read count
Alex Brown: Pianist
Even for a pianist with as prodigious a talent as Alex Brown, having a heavyweight in the music pantheon such as Paquito D'Rivera produce the debut album, must have largely been a dream. However, to pull off a debut as fine as this is a feat in itself. As a pianist, Brown has remarkable technique. Although he may still be searching for his true voice and that may take time, he appears to be closer than most. He is truly expressive and has an expansive sense of time. Brown's sense of the acute and obtuse accents of a melody is rivaled only by his sense of how to lay down a surprising harmony. With his strong left hand, playing seemingly every kind of rhythmic figure almost at will, Brown can create memorable phrases, sometimes creating surprise with a classic Afro-Cuban tumbao, as much by conjuring up a contradanza, or even a valse. And then he can swing and bop too.

On the album, simply entitled Pianist, Brown serves notice that he is well on the way to being a leader around which musicians will rally. He is never overawed especially by the presence of such mighty musicians as D'Rivera—whose classically sharp alto and woody clarinet graces several tracks—and he even gives breathtaking percussionist Pedro Martinez good reason to believe that he can shuffle that rumba tempo with swaggering confidence. Latin American musical idioms seem to be Brown's strong suit here, and the gentle Bossa Nova swing that he introduces in "Lamentos," with seeming casual grace, is, indeed, a perfect example of how proficiently he captures the idiom, before breaking up the song midway, only to return it to a much brisker samba rhythm; it appears that Brown is a special kind of maestro, when it comes to rhythms.

Then there is the devastatingly beautiful drama of his "Buleria," a crackling chart written in the style of that memorable dance form from Cadiz, Spain, and the manner in which he lets his hands chase one another, as he hammers out melody and chords, recreating the spirit of the locale. He similarly recreates the spirit of Chick Corea's rapid modal moves in "Elektric," extraordinarily precise and controlled, while "Waltz" pirouettes with classic grace, as the all-too-alive characters glide eloquently across the floor.

There is a back story here, and it is one of great promise. Not only does Brown rally his musicians—especially the young ones: trumpeter Vivek Patel; bassist Ben Williams; drummer Eric Doob; and marimbaist Warren Wolf—but he also draws experienced men like D'Rivera and Martinez into original compositions that are compact, yet roomy enough for galactic leaps, as the men improvise. It appears that not only is Brown the pianist about to arrive, but Brown the composer is not far behind at all.

Track Listing

Prologue; Warm Blooded; The Wrong Jacket; Lamentos; Elektric; Waltz; Buleria; Leaving; Just One of Those Things.

Personnel

Vivek Patel
trumpet
Warren Wolf
vibraphone
Ben Williams
bass, electric
Eric Doob
drums
Pedrito Martinez
percussion

Album information

Title: Pianist | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records

Comments

Tags


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.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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