Search - Charles Fambrough :: Proper Angle

A brilliant debut

WillieB | 04/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Proper Angle", is a brilliant debut and one of the finest contemporary jazz discs I've ever heard. This is lively and exciting music played by outstanding musicians. Some major grooves happen on "Uncle Pete", or "Our Father Who Art Blakey", while "Broski", "Earthlings", and "One For Honor" incorporate a high-energy swing feel to the record, and softer tunes like "The Dreamer", "Sand Jewels" and "Dolores Carla Maria" help balance out the disc and give it a modern feel. The players on this are: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove (trumpet), Branford Marsalis and Joe Ford (saxophone), Jeff Watts (drums), and Jerry Gonzalez, Steve Berrios, Mino Cinelu (percussion). Of the eleven songs on the record, Fambrough penned seven, three are band members compositions, and one is a traditional number, I believe.



This was originally released in 1991 on CTI records, and has been either out of print or re-released by other record companies. Since it's now available again, there is no excuse not to own this amazing disc.

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Beautiful, haunting and where jazz should have been going

Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 05/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1991 bassist Charles Fambrough released this record in hte midst of the smooth jazz explosion and it didn't get much play, but it should have. It's where jazz should have been headed: cool, mindful of the past, eye always on the new tales to tell.Fambrough writes an incredible song and leads a band arrangement like a master, picking the right songs and the right players for every track. He uses heavy hitters and it's a shame that this record passed under the radar of so many people. You can tell he was sweating over this record as he ran te tracks through their paces.A great record for traditionalists, and a smooth-enough ride for the smooth jazzers who want to expand their tastes a little bit into the history of the form."

Nice disc

Swing King | Cincinnati, OH USA | 02/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Track Listing:



1. Don Quixote (Nascimento - Camargo)

2. The Dreamer (Fambrough)

3. Uncle Pete (Wynton Marsalis)

4. Sand Jewels (Fambrough)

5. Broski (Fambrough)

6. Dolores Carla Maria (Fambrough)

7. Earthlings (Joe Ford)

8. The Proper Angle (Fambrough)

9. Our Father Who Art Blakey (Fambrough)

10. One for Honor (Fambrough)

11. The Tonality of Atonement (Kenny Kirkland)



I believe that this Past Perfect "Silver Line" label is no longer in business, though this CD does offer some nice samplings from Philadelphia born jazz bassist and composer Charles Fambrough. Fambrough received his first true big break playing with the Grover Washington, Jr. Band from 1970 until 1974, where he gained some respect and broadened his musical associations.



Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s Fambrough did some recordings with the legendary Art Blakey, whom Fambrough views as a musical guru. The sound and material on this compilation is excellent, though the cover art and insert admittedly look somewhat cheap. "Don Quixote" is a wonderful tune with such atmosphere, with Roy Hargrove doing some beautiful trumpeting. Joe Ford's "Earthlings" is an up-tempo endeavor that is an absolute joy to listen to.



PERSONNEL:



DON QUIXOTE: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Roy Hargrove (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano sax), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Steve Berrios (cabasa) and Mino Conelu (percussion).



THE DREAMER: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano and alto sax), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Steve Berrios (congas), Mino Cinelu (percussion).



UNCLE PETE: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Branford Marsalis (tenor sax), Joe Ford (alto sax) and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).



SAND JEWELS: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Roy Hargrove (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano sax), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Jerry Gonzales (congas), Steve Berrios (shakere), Mino Cinelu (percussion).



BROSKI: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Branford Marsalis (tenor sax), Joe Ford (soprano sax) and Jeff "Tain" Watts.



DOLORES CARLA MARIA: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano sax), Jerry Gonzales (congas), Steve Berrios (guiro) and Mino Cinelu (percussion).



EARTHLINGS: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Joe Ford (soprano sax) and Jeff "Tain Watts (drums).



THE PROPER ANGLE: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano sax), Jerry Gonzales (congas) and Steve Berrios (drums).



OUR FATHER WHO ART BLAKEY: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Joe Ford (soprano sax) and Jeff "Tain" Watts.



ONE FOR HONOR: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Branford Marsalis (tenor sax), Joe Ford (soprano and alto sax), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums), Jerry Gonzales (congas) and Steve Berrios (percussion).



THE TONALITY OF ATONEMENT: Charles Fambrough (bass), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Joe Ford (soprano sax) and Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)."