Jazz Articles about Hubert Laws

like 272

Hubert Laws: Moondance

by John Kelman
April 6, 2004

Returning to the soul jazz of his classic CTI recordings, flautist Hubert Laws delivers Moondance , an album of contemporary grooves and smooth sounds that, while a step above most smooth jazz recordings, is for the most part a little too safe, a little too conservative for a capable artist who has always seemed to represent more about potential and less about realization. There’s certainly nothing wrong with Laws’ tone; there are few flautists on the scene ...

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Mark Towns: Passion

by John Kelman
April 6, 2004

Following up his 2000 début, Flamenco Jazz Latino , guitarist Mark Towns returns with another dose of Latin/Cuban-inflected jazz on Passion , again featuring flautist Hubert Laws. While not exactly a groundbreaking affair, there are enough pleasant melodies and good playing to make this album worth a spin for fans of the genre. The question is: does it merit repeated play?Passion also reunites Towns with pianist Rainel Pino and bassist Anibal Ambert, both players who are comfortable with ...

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Mark Towns: Passion

by Javier AQ Ortiz
February 25, 2004

Guitarist Mark Towns releases his second recording, after his Flamenco Jazz Latino, joined once again by special guest Hubert Laws. Although the former Mongo Santamaria flutist is the most acknowledged player in the recording, the rest of the ensemble has some nice surprises in stow for the listener. Simply stated, this is quite a pleasant disk with the heated percussive inevitability of an expertly overdubbed full Latin percussion section...with trap drums in a couple of the cuts...piano, bass and Towns ...

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Hubert Laws: Wild Flowers

by Craig Jolley
July 1, 2001

Wild Flower is the best flute record I know of. Hubert Laws plays flawlessly and sensitively as usual, but the record really belongs to John Murtaugh. Murtaugh came up as a Los Angeles tenorist in the 1950's but made his reputation as a writer. The program was thoughtfully considered. Each composition has its own identity and feeling. Taken together there is variety and balance. Five tunes feature Murtaugh's magnificent string writing.

The string sound is dry and tart, not lush ...

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Charles Earland: Intensity

by AAJ Staff
September 1, 1999

You hear it at once: a different sound, not always for the better. The music was changing, and Charles Earland joined his easy groove to the lush CTI sound so popular at the time. Results vary: the Burner is hot but too many horns spoil the brew. Take “Goin' Home": a rock guitar crashes through the left speaker, and Charles steps coolly behind him. Now he works the chords for warm strength: the feel of his Black Talk! album. But ...

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Charles Earland: Intensity

by Douglas Payne
August 1, 1999

For 1972's Intensity, Charles Earland's fifth of ten Prestige discs, the Mighty Burner seemed to be aiming toward something a little different than his usual collection of soulful tenor-organ jams. The presence of two songs from the rock group Chicago and a small trumpet-dominated horn section indicate that jazz-rock was the goal. The result, the LP's four original tracks plus two tracks from the same date originally released as part of Charles III, is one of his very best.

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Hubert Laws: In The Beginning

by John Sharpe
December 1, 1997

In The Beginning is just one of ten titles Sony has recently released from its famous CTI catalog. Founded in the 70's by producer Creed Taylor, CTI was known for its distinctive cover art, glossy production values and albums that usually contained hefty doses of commercially palatable pop/jazz material. Artists such as George Benson , Freddie Hubbard, Jim Hall and Stanley Turrentine all enjoyed tremendous success with this formula. Originally issued on a double LP, this CD by flautist Hubert ...