Author: Bruford, Bill

Format: Import

Release Date: 27-03-2001

Details: Taking its title from critic Whitney Balliett's famous attempt, a few decades ago now, to capture the essence of jazz in a handful of words, The Sound of Surprise offers much less surreal fare than its striking cover by British graphic artist Dave McKean might lead one to expect. In fact, this music--delivered with much spirit by a well-integrated, tight quartet of Patrick Clahar (tenor and soprano sax), Steve Hamilton (piano), Mark Hodgson (double bass) and Bruford himself (drums)--is very much in the contemporary mainstream vein signalled by such names and groups as Keith Jarrett's and Jan Garbarek's Belonging quartet of the 1970s, Michael Brecker's Steps Ahead of a little later on and the Branford Marsalis quartet of today. The original and well-shaped compositions, by either Bruford or a combination of Bruford and Hamilton, feature catchy, singable melodies over rhythms as strong as they are intelligent in their flowing variety: several of the tracks feature an especially engaging blend of rubato, jazz-rock and swinging, triplet-based passages. If there's more than a touch of Middle Eastern folk flavouring in the three-part "The Wooden Man Sings, and the Stone Woman Dances" suite which concludes the album, elsewhere, the many mature pleasures on offer have long been central to the tradition suggested by the aforementioned names and groups. Excellent recording quality does full justice to all participants here, in a record which should give much pleasure to many. --Michael Tucker

UPC: 633367010124

EAN: 0633367010124

Model: 101

Languages: English

Binding: Audio CD

Item Condition: UsedVeryGood