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

Amadee Castenell: Amadee

By Robert Spencer
August 1, 1998
View read count

More groove-laden contemporary jazz from Allen Toussaint's NYNO. Amadee Castenell plays a gritty R&B tenor (and flute on "Angels"), backed by a funky ensemble consisting of Toussaint's piano on four tracks, pianist Chuck (not Charlie) Chaplin on three others (he also plays Fender Rhodes on one), the smooth synthesizers of Larry Sieberth, Scott Goudeau on guitar, David Barard on bass (seven tracks), Chris Severin on bass (the other five tracks), Russell Batiste on drums (five tracks), Bernard "Bunchy" Johnson on drums (seven tracks), percussionist Bill Summers (three tracks), and percussionist "Afro" Williams (six tracks).

This disc is well-produced; not one note is out of place. Castenell plays fervently (and delicately when necessary, e.g. "Crystal"). The grooves are ably laid down. Castenell's fundamental problem at this point may be making himself heard in a crowded field where his voice is not yet developed enough to stand out from the crowd. This is no criticism of his ability – he is obviously a first-rate talent. But there are an awful lot of contemporary jazz discs out there now, especially in the wake of the inimitable soprano stylings of Mr. G; Amadee, if he is going to make a splash, will need to distinguish himself more in the future. From the sound of this one, he certainly has the ability to do so.

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

About Amadee Castenell

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Cause and Effect
< Previous

Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.