Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Anthony Branker & Imagine: Beauty Within
Anthony Branker & Imagine: Beauty Within
By"Composer/Musical Director" is Branker's title on his recordings. He doesn't play, but rather molds the sounds of several different small group jazz collectives. On Beauty Within, it's Anthony Branker & Imagine, a quintet with a piano/guitar-centered rhythm section and a saxophone. His vision is a that of a distinctive and often edgy modern jazz, sometimes propulsive, sometimes circuitous.
Opening with "Joy," an initially jagged tune imbued with a David Binney-like intensity and forward momentum tune, featuring the impassioned tenor saxophone of Ralph Bowen and a luminous backdrop made of the melding of Fabian Almazan's piano and Pete McCann's soaring guitar. The title tuneintroduced by Linda May Han Oh's inspire bass solohas a gliding, empyreal mood, initially a showcase for the collective, that gives away to a sublime, full-of-surprises piano solo from Almanzan.
"Loving Day (June 12)" opens a door to a mystery world, with a beautiful murkiness; and at this point a connection to the 1960s Blue Note sound creeps in; and not the more straight ahead of those efforts, but more to the style of Herbie Hancock's more adventurous side, or Andrew Hill's marvelous and under-appreciated output.
Drummer Rudy Royston has to mentioned for his oblique and emphatic contribution throughout, giving a consistence elevation of to this unpredictable and thoroughly modern sound of Antony Branker.
Track Listing
Joy; Beauty Within; Loving Day (June 12); Prelude To Wisdom: (We Are) What We Are Not Yet; Many Roads Beneath the Sky; Grace; People Everywhere; (God's) Wisdom.
Personnel
Anthony Branker
composer / conductorRalph Bowen: tenor and soprano saxophones; Pete McCann: guitar; Fabian Almazar: piano; Linda Oh: bass; Rudy Royston: drums; Anthony Branker: composer and musical director.
Album information
Title: Beauty Within | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Origin Records
Comments
About Anthony Branker
Instrument: Composer / conductor
Related Articles | Concerts | Albums | Photos | Similar To