Search - Dave Douglas, Brass Ecstasy :: Spirit Moves

An Acquired Taste

David Conklin | Albuquerque, NM USA | 06/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was initially disappointed with this CD. I had been attracted to the line-up of trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba, and drums--but this wasn't at all what I expected! Most of the songs didn't really seem to go anywhere and seemed little more than collections of brassy sounds--often rather unappealing ones at that--with little meaning. I asked myself "What was Dave Douglas thinking when he released this mess?" Then, somewhere mid-way through the third play, something clicked, like my spirit moved or something. Suddenly, I began to truly enjoy the flow and quiet beauty of this music. SPIRIT MOVES is not one of Douglas's more accessible recordings!



Douglas's liner note tells us that this music was inspired by Lester Bowie. It might well be considered derivative of that late trumpeter's work in the 1990s, much as MEANING AND MYSTERY (2006) derives from Miles Davis's work in the mid to late 1960s.



Has any other jazz artist made such a wide variety of high-quality albums, in such a short time (15-16 years), as Dave Douglas? Of course there's Miles and 'Trane--who clearly trump Douglas in terms of innovation. Nonethess, I think Douglas's achievements are noteworthy.

"

Brass Bliss

Scott Williams | Oakland, CA United States | 08/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Overview:



Dave Douglas has reinvented himself again. This time Dave has put together a killer brass brand, "Brass Ecstasy". The band is made up of Douglas on trumpet, Vincent Chancey on french horn, Luis Bonilla on trombone, Marcus Rojas on tuba, and Nasheet Waits on drums. In an article in Downbeat Douglas cited the inclusion of the French Horn as the piece that really lead to the sound gelling. Personally I think the inclusion of a tuba instead of the traditional bass is the most fantastic part of this music. Also, Dave could have been a stickler for "brass only" and not included a drummer, but this music wouldn't have been the same. I'm glad he made one exception to the brass band to include Nasheet Waits on drums, who just kills throughout this one.



Dave cites famous trumpeter, Lester Bowie as a key influence on this album. You can tell from the liner notes that Dave has a real passion for this project and it means a great deal to him to pay homage to the brass instruments, and to some legendary trumpeters. This passion shows in his playing, song writing, and even in the title. After hearing this album I think you will agree that this is a very spiritual thing for Dave. In addition to the brass band motif, this album more so than any other Douglas album has a real "New Orleans Jazz" feel to it.



This is great music across the board: it's got soul, it's catchy, it's danceable, it's got great harmony, and there are wonderfully crafted songs. When I first heard about this project, I thought Oh no. I was so into Dave's recent bands I was sad to hear that Dave was moving in a different direction on this one. However, after listening to it, I'm glad Dave, took on this project.



Song Highlights:



This Love Affair - This sounds like a New Orleans funeral Dirge. This song is just drenched in mood and feeling.



Orujo - It's Insanely catchy. There are all sorts of interwoven parts. It makes me want to get up and dance around room.



Mr. Pitiful - A cross between Archie Shepp boogaloo and "when the saints go marching in". Once again, totally catchy.



This is probably the album of the year. This is arguably Dave's best album ever, which is saying a great deal. I regret that I waited 3 months to buy this album.

"

Finally, Dave Douglas slaps me to my senses.

greg taylor | Portland, Oregon United States | 08/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have long ignored Dave Douglas. Not that I didn't acknowledge that he was a great trumpet player. It is just that there are several others as good who never get one tenth the love that DD gets. I am talking Paul Smoker, Herb Robertson, Pino Minafra just off the top of my head. Guys who are just as good as players, composers and band leaders.

Of course, none of this is DD's fault. It is nothing more than my junk which I have known for a long time. So when I saw this line-up playing tunes with titles like, "Bowie" and "Fats", I decided to grow up a bit. Good thing 'cause this is killer music.

You can see from the other reviews that this is not typical downtown DD. This is more like AACM DD.

Let's look at that lineup:

Dave Douglas, trumpet and compositions

Luis Bonila, trombone

Vincent Chaney, french horn

Marcus Rojas, tuba

Nasheet Waits, drums.

Think about that a second- no piano, no saxophone, no bass player. Just brass and drums. Ancient instruments meet future music.

Now lets talk about that future music part. There is a lot of group improv on this disc. Group improv as in the music of New Orleans as well as group improv a la the AACM. It is all part of the continuum which this music exemplifies. DD in his liner notes talks about hearing Bowie's The Great Pretender in high school and realizing that it showed him how all musics fit together.

On this CD (and bonus DVD which includes performances of seven of the tunes), DD is doing his own version of that same project.

The cool thing about this disc is that some of those disparate musics remain so recognizable even in the mix. I thought that "Fats" was going to be about Fats Waller. It took me about 20 seconds of listening to DD's trumpet to go, "O, yea, Fats Navarro, and with a vengeance". Listen to the variety present within the one tune, "Bowie". There is about 100 years of musical history in that one tune. Just like there was in every Lester Bowie CD.

I will stop my rant of penance. Just listen to the samples. Better yet, just buy the darn thing and let it creep into your consciousness. Then go to a Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy CD or to The Great Pretender to hear the variety of ways one man can make a trumpet tell a story. And then, just for me, please check out Smoker, Robertson and Minafra. They will take you to some strange musical places. You may find you like those places."