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

Amadee Castenell: Amadee

By Jim Santella
August 1, 1998
View read count

Tenor saxophonist Amadee Castenell plays smooth jazz with support from electric bass & guitar, keyboards & synths, and a drummer's back beat rhythms. Melodic, with acoustic piano fills and guitar doubling, Castenell's tenor takes center stage throughout the session. The leader has recorded with Lee Dorsey, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, and Johnny Adams; her reverence of the melody is no surprise. Castenell's tone is full and bright; the emphasis on a melody is quite appropriate.

Bill Summers supplies a driving conga beat on "Always There For You" and "Afro" Williams does the same for Castenell's "Buda." The latter includes Chris Severin's driving electric bass riff as well. "The End of the Day" houses a spiced-up rhythmic concept familiar through contemporary blues while the band lays down a charged background for Castenell's tenor. Picking up the flute for pianist Chuck Chaplin's "Angels," the leader floats aloft over an exciting Brazilian samba atmosphere.

With Allen Toussaint, Castenell composed "Alley Cat Strut" to highlight his soulful expression and charming lightweight movements. The saxophonist's debut recording session as leader swings rhythmically, maintains popular harmonies, and gives full attention to his likable tenor sound.

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 / NEXT

Cause and Effect
< Previous

Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute
Next >

Support All About 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 make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.