Before going to the other side of town to catch the swinging sounds
of the Matt Wilson Quartet, I decided to stop over at the Monarch’s pub to
catch an artist that never disappoints and thrills with his choice of
repertoire, musicians, and directions in music. It would be none other that the great local National Jazz Award winning and Trinidadian-born trumpeter Brownman Ali (who spent much of the last year touring with A-list rappers such as Jay-Z and Mos Def) and one of his many group configurations,
this time in a classic “akoustic” quartet setting. In this setting he pays respect and homage
to the classic sounds of the 1950’s and 1960’s, with its influences of Miles
Davis, John Coltrane, and the Blue Note hard bop era.
The band first of all, is anchored by the rhythm tandem of young
guns Julian Anderson-Bowes on bass and Morgan Childs on drums. To make it a quartet, the "plus one" added stellar award winning pianist David Restivo to give the ensemble the classic oomph
as they put their own stamp onto the classic jazz repertoire.
Starting things off on a swinging note is the quartet’s take on the
classic standard “Beautiful Love”. From
the get-go the ensemble swings hard, making every note count and feeling every
bit of the rhythm they could get from the piece. Brown’s performance ultimately carries
him into the upper registers of his instrument, building on its intensity and
strength. David’s piano solo is full
of new modernistic ideas, channeling the great modern pianists such as McCoy
Tyner, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock while at the same time bringing his own unique
voice into the performance. Julian
provides solid rhythm and timekeeping that is in sync with Morgan’s superlative
drumming styles. Overall, it was a
great and a strong way to start off an incredible evening of jazz.
Things cooled down with Brown’s take on “Dolphin Dance”, fleshing
out its complex chord changes and melody with expert aplomb by the
quartet with emphasis on Brown's dark tone and delicate touch. More widely known for his virtuosic dexterity as a jazz trumpet player, this tune showcases his expressive melodic abilities. For the Latin number of the
set, Brown and his men put on a stellar, rhythmic take on Antonio Carlos
Jobim’s classic bossa nova piece “How Insensitive”. Morgan Childs’ drum technique is in full
display in this piece, employing an effective bossa nova feel that is groovy
and full of feeling at the same time.
It really shows how he is one of the most sensitive and effective
drummers playing in Toronto today.
Closing out the first set was the spirited take on Miles Davis’
classic bop number “Seven Steps to Heaven”.
Brown effectively channeled the spirit of Miles Davis with his
rendition of the piece, showing that throughout his career and in his
performances he has studied, breathed, and lived out the true spirit of jazz
music, just as Miles did.
For those that want classic jazz that goes in various directions and
wants superb musicianship and playing by all, Brown’s “Akoustic” groups is
definitely your best bet for a good night of jazz.
OFFICIAL BROWNMAN WEB SITE:
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