Search - Wessell Anderson :: Live at the Village Vanguard

Playful Warmdaddy

Joe Corcoran | USa | 03/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Warmdaddy takes a different slant. Although he is well versed in traditonal jazz, he molds the formal structures into playful toons. Often you have to smile. African cowboy, for instance takes a cowboy jingle and makes it jazz. In the serpent, you can feel the snake climb your leg. In the Black Cat, on the Ways of Warmdaddy, the sax creats the image of a cat. So vivid, my dog gets angry."

Warmdaddy is the man

11/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wess has a GREAT band in this album. The rhythm section is hot, but very responsive, and sensitive at the same time. This album has some INCREDIBLE playing by Wess. My favorite tunes are Snake Charmer, and Star-Crossed Lovers. This is a GREAT ALBUM."

Talent sometimes falters.

Stephen A. Smith | Boston, MA | 10/28/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This album makes Wes Anderson sound like a lightweight. He isn't. He's one of the few Marsalis acolytes, along with Eric Reed, who absorbed the classics and carved an original voice. This live session followed two solid studio releases, and he hasn't recorded as a leader since. That's unfortunate, because this is a sour note to leave hanging in the air.



When most players record live albums, they tape a dozen shows and cherry-pick the tracks for release. I suspect Anderson decided beforehand that he was going to record a Vanguard album, but he couldn't book a week-long engagement -- so he just taped one gig and pressed the CDs. The result is thoroughly underwhelming.



At its weakest moments, this album sounds like a saxophonist playing along to Music Minus One. It peaks occasionally, and probably wasn't a bad gig to attend; but there's a higher standard if you're going to release a CD, and this music never comes close. Don't waste your money -- and don't let this form your opinion of Wes Anderson. Check him out elsewhere."