Mad Hornplayer
Viajante | Nowhere, Michigan, USA | 03/10/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ethnomusicology is my first exposure to Gunn. To say the least, I am not dissappointed. I only give four stars, because I have never given five, except for MMW's "Notes from the Underground" as far as newer jazz is concerned. There is a great deal of variety on this album. Don't just spin track 1 and think "Well, so that's Gunn. Now what?" Highlights: Track 2 (very intense, don't listen in your car, unless you can afford the speeding ticket) Track 3 (bass intro can blind a small child at fifty paces), well, now that I think about it, everything else is spectacular as well. Track 1 can seem a bit trite, but it is an introduction. Besides, it doesn't serve to set the pace. There is no pace. Each track is a different planet in a ten planet solar system. If you like this one, might I recommend Nils Petter Molvaer's "Khmer" or anything by Medeski, Martin, & Wood (MMW)."
Amazing surprise!
nicole rochat | NYC | 06/07/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I recently went to see Charlie Hunter at the Knitting Factory in NYC, and Russell Gunn was the first act. Not knowing what to expect, I was completely blown away by Gunn and his 9 piece ensemble. A beautiful and wonderful mix of jazz, hip hop, funk and soul; but none of the cheesey Parliment sounding rip-offs. This is pure soul, creativity, talent and originality!"
Where others have failed....
Alf Kremer | 03/01/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Gunn and company have managed to fuse modern R&B/hip-hop and traditional jazz in a way that groups like Buckshot LeFonque and Us3 did not. The music has a great feel to it, like these guys were actually having fun while they recorded it. Russell is one of the brightest young horn players today. I'm looking forward to Vol. 2."