The mood on Forever Real goes from the pleasant groove of the title track to more experimental moments in which trumpet player Herb Robertson and pianist Michael Jefry Stevens exchange jabs, as on the eight-minute "From The Source and the more up-tempo "The Stalker (eleven minutes that go in every possible direction), in which Robertson makes you think he's switched to a flute at timeswhich he hasn't, it is just his technique on the instrument.
In one of the album's most interesting moments, bassist Joe Fonda brings his instrument from the background and initially duets with Robertson on "Relentlessness. They later start improvising on their own, while the human beat box of Napoleon Maddox joins drummer Harvey Sorgen in what becomes a harrowing backdrop for the song.
This album is definitely not intended for the casual listener. It needs to be heard over and over in order to grasp what it means. It can be a bit of a scary ride at first, but you get used to it and realize that these musicians had a whole concept in mind when creating this strange but wonderful music.
Track Listing
Forever Real; From the Source; The Stalker; A Question of Love; Relentlessness; The Call;
Cotton.
Michael Jefry Stevens: piano; Joe Fonda: acoustic bass; Herb Robertson: trumpet; Harvey
Sorgen: drums. Special guest Napoleon Maddox: human beat box, poetry.
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.
You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve 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.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.
African Jazz Beyond Jazz Big Band Blues Brazilian / Bossa Nova / Samba Contemporary / Smooth Dixieland / New Orleans / Swing R&B / Soul Straight-ahead (Bop, Hard bop, Cool) Vocal