Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Andy Narell: The Passage

Andy Narell: The Passage

By Franz A. Matzner
March 20, 2004
View read count

Spotlighting the internationality of jazz by offering a wide range of music from all over the world—including such diverse releases as the recent Africa Straight Ahead ; Word of Mouth, a Jaco Pastorius tribute album; and The Caribbean Jazz Project —the only common denominator at Telarc’s Heads Up imprint is outstanding recording quality and the unexpected. Their latest release, The Passage, proves no exception.

Capturing the compositional and instrumental skill of steel pan artist Andy Narell, The Passage boasts a 30-member steel pan orchestra; guest soloists Michael Brecker, Paquito D’Rivera, and Hugh Masekela; and seven original Narell compositions. Audiophiles will also be interested in the advanced recording and mixing techniques employed on the album. Using a combination of live recording, overdubbing, and careful mixing, Narell has succeeded in capturing the notoriously difficult to present subtleties and force of steel pan music. The album will additionally be released in stereo and enhanced SACD formats, so those with the requisite equipment—whether dedicated steel pan fans or not—will reap the benefits.

Musically, The Passage is a smooth-toned affair presenting a balanced, often quite delicate compositional style. Steel pan enthusiasts will certainly find Narell’s playing exceptional and those interested in exploring something new will definitely encounter an unusual experience in the range and tonal complexity of steel pan orchestral music as presented here.

Visit Heads Up on the web.

Track Listing

1. The Passage 2. Song for Mia 3. The Long Way Back 4. Sea of Stories 5. Mabouya 6. Dee Mwa Wee 7.Coffee Street

Personnel

Andy Narell

drums, steel

Andy Narell: Tenor, double second, and quaduet steel pans; with Calypsociation Steel Orchestra; Michael Brecker: Tenor Sax; Paquito D'Rivera: Alto Sax; Hugh Masekela: Flugelhorn.

Album information

Title: The Passage | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Heads Up International

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Lifespan
< Previous

In The Beginning
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.