Search - Donald Bailey :: Blueprints Of Jazz Vol. 3

Donald Bailey - very modern and swinging

D. Berryman | Minneapolis, MN United States | 11/23/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For this project, Bailey chose to work with fellow Philadelphians Odean Pope on tenor saxophone, Tyrone Brown on bass, and George Burton on piano. Trumpeter Charles Tolliver also appears on two tracks. The music resembles the Coltrane classic quartet with Elvin Jones and McCoy Tyner more than Bailey's Jimmy Smith hard-bop and soul-jazz days. In the liner notes, Bailey says that he's always been drawn to dissonance and wanted to portray that in this album. To accomplish this vision Odean Pope provides aggressive but soulful free-bop melodies while the young George Burton aptly provides harmony alternating between dense chord clusters and sparse flourishes. Bailey is ever swinging and never shy as he provides the rhythmic spice around the heartbeat of Tyron Brown's bass, always pushing a strong forward momentum. The result is modern and progressive but swinging and accessible jazz that should inspire and surprise jazz fans of all generations."

This is one of the best jazz albums ever. Grand giant Jazz!

thedre | San Francisco | 11/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have great computer speakers. Tascam VLS21's..If you play this fabulous Donald Bailey album on these speakers, as I am doing right now, you cannot help but think this is a smashing up front, exciting, club-like recording. The band just blasts off on every tune, and however mixed has figured out a way to get it all up front, and in your face. Bailey kicks in some hot times....mixing it up like Coltrane did on sax...Scambling those eggs. In fact, it sounds a bit like McCoy and Tyner...His horn and piano player are first class blowers...(sorry for using blower on a piano) and it just jumps out of your speakers. If you heard a night club performance like this, you'd kill to own a copy of it. Instead, just buy this. You don't like it, I'll send you five bucks in paypal...that's how sure I am about this killer CD. Thank you Donald Bailey, Odeon Pope, Charles Tolliver, and GEorge Burton. You guys knocked me out!!

You can get the tascams at sam ash for [...] bucks...[...] (And I have sonus fabers speakers, paradigms, luxman amp, oracle turntable, and I'm still always listening to these tascams...!"

Post Bop Document By Hard Bop Elder Statesman

C. Katz | Peoples Republic Of Massachussettes | 10/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Donald Bailey (not to be confused with other hard bop drummer Dave Bailey) played with everyone doing stints with among others,Hampton Hawes, Blue Mitchell, Jimmie Rowles, Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan.He might best known for his work with B-3 king Jimmy Smith on some classic LP.Coming out of the Blakey,Roach school of drummers he worked with Coltrane,Rollins,Jimmy Heath and Lee Morgan.But I think this maybe only his second session as leader.Done two years ago at age of 73 it reflects not only the modal sensibilities that were abundant when he was playing with everyone it seams it also holds to a "new thing" advanced hard bop aesthetic that won't surprise you when you see the names Odeon Pope and Charles Tolliver.Never "hard outside" or "free-atonal" work it has a sound of it's own that just needs to be samples to be appreciated.Worth trying to find if you like music that is challenging yet accessible.George Burton on bass and George Burton are up to the challenge of the more well know players and Burtons modal influences are especially fine.Check it out.Kudos to "Blue Prints" for giving Bailey the opportunity to record this fine CD.One only regrets Bailey didn't do more work as leader.

Cheers

Chazz"