Search - Brian Groder :: Torque

Get It From the Artist!

J. R. Hayes | 12/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an independently-produced, small label, brilliant CD. Don't buy a recycled review copy ("line through barcode"); order it directly from Brian Groder at his website (briangroder-dot-com). Help support real jazz and real musicians!



Dig these reviews:

"Brian & group play their music with a beautiful 'touch' with their virtuosic technique." -- ejazznews

"The magic here is that even when these men are playing in the free mode, they seem to sail together and anticipate each other's moves, always flowing together in one stream." -- Downtown Music Gallery

"There is a solid chemistry that anchors each track." -- Jazzweek

"Torque is a graceful recording that while at times free and cacophonous, is never hard on the ears and is marked by the flawless tone of Groder." -- All About Jazz-LA

"Avant-garde pop in scope, hip in hard bop, imaginative, kinetic, responsive on various contrapuntal levels ... Brian Groder is imaginative and highly achievable with the daring tenacity of an avant jazz artist." -- "The Voice", 88.7FM

"The young trumpet player and the vet sax man come together to create a new vision for modern jazz that has a lot on the ball." -- Midwest Records

"Groder converses very beautifully with the trio. Without exaggeration, this is one of the better recent samples of avant-garde jazz." -- Radiophone Greece"

A brilliant pairing

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brian Groder, the fast-rising, post-Dave Douglas trumpet player, here encounters sax legend Same Rivers with his current group (Doug Matthews, double bass and Anthony Cole, drums), and brings home the holy grail.



One hesitates to say that he trumps Rivers, who plays his with authority, but an objective listen confirms that the relatively young Groder comes off as the big dog on this session. Not that Rivers is off his game; he just has the savvy to recognize that he's in the presence of a veritable force of nature on trumpet, perhaps the next player of real significance, and accedes top-dog status to Mr. Groder.



But it really isn't about who cuts who. It's more about getting four outstanding musicians in the studio and turning them loose. That Groder wrote or cowrote all the tunes and constantly exhibits chops and musical smarts of considerable accomplishment only underscores his status as leader and lodestar of this remarkable session.



A defining moment comes around the middle of "Behind the Shadows Part 2," where Rivers and Groder engage in an elaborate trumpet/sax dance. Both players (Rivers on flute and Groder on muted trumpet) roll out statements of estimable weight, but the clear conclusion is that Groder dominates the proceedings and leads the way into the glorious interaction that results in music of great interest and even pathos.



The next number, "Iota," a trumpet/bass duo, further establishes Groden as the prime mover on this session. He plays with with such warmth and authority as to almost redefine early third-millenium trumpet approaches.



Rivers, himself, seems energized by Groder's vision and presence, producing some of his finest playing in the past decade or so. I'm especially taken by his work on "Cross-Eyed," where he meets and matches Groder's enigmatic statements, coming up with a solo of immense power and authority.



In any case, Brian Groder, after slogging away in the trenches of lo, these many years, breaks out with a disc of great significance.



Absolutely not to be missed.

"