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Bobby Watson: Quiet As It's Kept
The record seems to pick up about halfway through. "Watch the Children Play" offers a textural shift by featuring Watson’s sax, Lundy’s bass, and Lenny Argese’s guitar while drums and piano lay out. The title track, "Quiet As It’s Kept," is a good, swinging tune that features Terell Stafford on muted trumpet. Stafford also guests on the Tyner-esque "Nubian Breakdown" and the album’s best cut, "Nanatsu-No-Ko," a ballad based on a traditional Japanese folk song. Watson shines on soprano, and pianist Orrin Evans plays his best solo of the date. Pamela Watson, the leader’s wife, wrote "Concentric Circles," an intriguing piece that explores the fluid boundary between 6/8 and 3/4 time.
Quiet As It’s Kept does have its moments, but I don’t hear much of lasting value. Watson can do better, and has done better.
Track Listing
Looking Into Your Eyes; Always a Friend; Afternoon in Ottobrun; Just Bobby Watson: Alto and Soprano Saxophones, Terell Stafford: Trumpet; Orrin Evans: Piano; Lenny Argese: Guitar; Curtis Lundy: Bass; Ralph Peterson: Drums; Marlon Simon: Percussion; Pamela Watson: Vocals.
Personnel
Bobby Watson
saxophone, altoBobby Watson: alto and soprano saxophones, Terell Stafford: trumpet; Orrin Evans: piano; Lenny Argese: guitar; Curtis Lundy: bass; Ralph Peterson: drums; Marlon Simon: percussion; Pamela Watson: vocals.
Album information
Title: Quiet As It's Kept | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Red Records
About Bobby Watson
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