Name: The Clifford Brown Project
Brand: Capri
SKU: 264986
Price: 17.82 USD
Availability: InStock

Performer Notes

Mark Masters Ensemble: Mark Masters (arranger); Jack Montrose (arranger, tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Tim Hagans, Kye Palmer, Ron King, Marc Lewis, Ron Stout (trumpet); Cecilia Coleman (piano); Putter Smith (bass); Joe La Barbera (drums).
Recorded at Citrus College Recording Arts, Glendora, California on February 7, 2002.
Personnel: Jack Montrose (tenor saxophone); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Marc Lewis, Tim Hagans, Ron Stout, Ron King (trumpet); Dave Woodley (trombone); Cecilia Coleman (piano); Joe La Barbera (drums).
Recording information: Citrus Studios, Glendora, CA (02/07/2002).
Photographers: Dido Armstrong; Ron Teeples.
Arrangers: Jack Montrose; Mark Masters.
This warm and energetic tribute to the late trumpet virtuoso Clifford Brown (who died tragically in 1956 at the age of 26, having single-handedly changed the way jazz trumpet was heard and understood in the United States) is slightly mournful but mostly joyful, a celebration of musical genius and creativity that looks backward while taking the music forward. Bandleader Mark Masters achieves the latter by taking such classic and beloved Brown compositions as "Joy Spring," "Sandu," and "Bones for Jones" and arranging them for a large ensemble that includes no fewer than five trumpets, four of which perform newly harmonized arrangements of Brown's own solos from his early-'50s recordings. The effect is both lushly beautiful and, on tracks like the upbeat "Sweet Clifford" and "Joy Spring," electrifyingly intense. The featured trumpet soloist on these recordings is Tim Hagans, and while his own solos are very fine, they rarely provide moments as inspired as those harmonized resurrections of Brown's improvisations from 50 years ago. The subtle elegance of pianist Cecilia Coleman's backup playing is especially worthy of note as well. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Professional Reviews

JazzTimes (2/04, p.148) - "The band swings furiously in its own right, but what lingers is the inimitable, songlike quality of these classic trumpet solos, breaking out of unison into opulent four-part harmony at just the right moments."

Album: The Clifford Brown Project
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Joy Spring	More Info...
2)	Sweet Clifford	More Info...
3)	Minor Mood	More Info...
4)	LaRUE	More Info...
5)	Sandu	More Info...
6)	Daahoud	More Info...
7)	I Remember Clifford	More Info...
8)	Bones for Jones	More Info...
9)	Swingin'	More Info...
10)	Joy Spring	More Info...

Album: The Clifford Brown Project
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Joy Spring	More Info...
2)	Sweet Clifford	More Info...
3)	Minor Mood	More Info...
4)	LaRUE	More Info...
5)	Sandu	More Info...
6)	Daahoud	More Info...
7)	I Remember Clifford	More Info...
8)	Bones for Jones	More Info...
9)	Swingin'	More Info...
10)	Joy Spring	More Info...