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Jazz Articles about Anthony Branker

About Anthony Branker

200

Album Review

Anthony Branker & Ascent: Spirit Songs

Read "Spirit Songs" reviewed by Ken Franckling

by Ken Franckling
May 25, 2006

Primarily working outside of the major league jazz spotlight, but not far from it by any means, Anthony Branker is crafting some of today's finest compositions--and has assembled the sextet Ascent to bring them to musical life. Spirit Songs consists of tunes Branker has written since 1997, performed by a rather formidable unit: saxophonists Antonio Hart and Ralph Bowen, trombonist Clifford Adams, pianist Jonny King, bassist John Benitez and drummer Ralph Peterson. Branker heads the Jazz Studies ...

310

Album Review

Anthony Branker & Ascent: Spirit Songs

Read "Spirit Songs" reviewed by Robert R. Calder

by Robert R. Calder
March 30, 2006

This star of Spirit Song is Ralph Peterson, not on the trumpet he occasionally plays, but as a drummer who's as much in the front line as any hornman on the date, needing and finding as much inspiration and as many ideas as any horn soloist. Often he plays pretty well in duet with each of the soloists, but not intrusively. He knows what to do. Where a lesser percussionist would need to lay out, he can fit in beautifully ...

254

Album Review

Anthony Branker & Ascent: Spirit Songs

Read "Spirit Songs" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
February 4, 2006

Composer and arranger Anthony Branker shows an inclination toward the spiritual on this aptly titled effort, also tilting his pen in tributes to Miles Davis and John Coltrane. As an arranger, he has the gift of letting ensemble lines and solo spots tell their separate, but nevertheless connected stories. All of this works to the good, and given the fact that he has some insinuating rhythms that change the tack and meter, the album makes for some perky listening. Bringing ...