The Eddie Gale Collaborative – Live In New Orleans
The Eddie Gale Collaborative – Live In New Orleans – Album Review
Jazz comin’ atcha, straight from the place it was born more than a hundred years ago, New Orleans.
The Eddie Gale Collaborative includes the talents of Roger Lewis (Saxophone), Shannon Powell (Drums), Craig Klein (Trombone), Steve Lands (Trumpet), Mark Brooks (Bass), and Dennis Kyne (Guitar), the latter of which used to be in Eddie Gale’s band as his guitarist before the legend passed away in 2020. To say that The Eddie Gale Collaborative is filled with incredible players would simply be an understatement – everyone in this band has spent their lifetime immersed in their craft, fully dedicated to the art of Jazz.
Now…if you’re one of those folks out there that tends to be a bit shy when it comes to what you listen to, or one of those people that thinks Jazz wouldn’t ever be something you’d enjoy – I’m tellin’ ya, give this record a shot and you’re likely to find out there’s a whole lot more you’ll love than you’d ever have assumed. That’s the difference between the good and the great y’all…the experts in The Eddie Gale Collaborative know their way around every inch of their instruments, and the results end up speaking for themselves at all times. When you listen to a track like “Jazz Rap” start up this LIVE recording, you’ll know what I’m talking about…as individuals, they know when to take the spotlight, when to surrender it, and when to play together as the collective they are, all at once…and it…is…SEAMLESS dear readers, dear friends. I was genuinely blown away by how amazing these players really are in listening to their opening number, and even more astounded by the level of accessibility they can create in music that is so naturally adventurous & unique. Usually, once you end up going in directions of Jazz, or Progressive music…tunes that can truly be described as artistic, unique, or innovative…there’s almost always a trade taking place for all that & the level of accessibility you’ll find for the average everyday listener – but not here, not at all. I listened to “Jazz Rap” like I was right on the edge of my seat, not just loving the wild degree of inspired musicianship and professionalism combined, but marveling at how down to earth this track really was too at the same time. You don’t have to be an aficionado of the genre to appreciate a cut like “Jazz Rap” and how spectacularly inviting it is…you hear sound like this, you feel it, and you want MORE of it – it’s really that simple when it comes to how The Eddie Gale Collaborative connects to us. There are no dead spots! With every twist & turn you’ll find, and with every individual getting their own time to shine, a track like “Jazz Rap” is undeniably non-stop entertainment at its absolute finest, 100%.
As they push into “Love Is All” afterwards, as a critic, you almost end up feeling like it’d practically be wrong to single any one player out in a band that plays so remarkably well on a unified front. What can I say though…it’s the nature of the game, and it’s who we are – so yeah, I’ll do it anyway. Like, Steve for instance, is so incredibly good on the way in the door for “Love Is All” as it begins, and Mark sounds like he is the kind of bass player that can always find something unique to bring to the rhythm and groove of any song. As it plays on, Craig gets an awesome highlight in there, and soon afterwards, you’ll find Roger layin’ it down as well…the technique you’ll find across the board in this band is straight-up off the charts. And that’s exactly what I’m saying…it’s not like Shannon and Dennis took the day off, you feel me? They deserve just as much of a shout-out as well, but it’s almost like our ears hear such tangible consistency that we instantly start to take it all for granted – everything sounds great, it’s just a matter of which elements stand out to you personally, know what I mean? Like, Dennis for example, gets his moment more towards the end of the track after waiting patiently for his time in the spotlight – and as for Shannon…I mean…c’mon now…this dude has been putting on a clinic from the throne with every hit!
While “Four Hours Later” goes for more of a controlled calm at the start in comparison to the amped-up energy they’ve collectively displayed throughout the opening two tracks, let’s not forget – this is all being played LIVE…and these players are still human beings no matter how superhuman they may appear – so a little ebb & flow with energy in the material is needed along the way, you dig? I think folks will be surprised by how much they enjoy “Four Hours Later” when it comes right down to it. It might take a spin or two for this track to gets its proper due credit in comparison to tracks like “Jazz Rap” and “Love Is All” that can’t seem to help but grab our attention immediately, but in time, I’m every bit as confident in a track like “Four Hours Later” winning the people over too. It’s more understated for sure, but it’s by no means any less potent or any less compelling to listen to. Steve’s a really gifted musician in my opinion…again, they ALL are, but he’s really managed to have some remarkable standout solos in this material so far, and you’ll find another awesome highlight from him in the second half of “Four Hours Later.” I also like that Dennis often serves somewhat as the anchor of this team too. From what I understand, he’s basically the dude that brought everyone together to make this record and enlisted all the talent you’re listening to – so it’s actually quite admirable that he seems to have the rest of the players taking their turns in the spotlight long before it reaches him, but he’s always there to bring it home in the finale. Serious credit to Kyne…not only is he a killer musician himself, but he clearly knew the right players to bring onboard to make a record like this – everyone contributes, and everyone pulls their own weight like the masters of the craft they truly are. I cannot say enough about The Eddie Gale Collaborative and the results they’ve achieved together…”Four Hours Later” is another stellar example of how they can shift between different sounds, instruments, and energies in order to create something extraordinary that captivates the mind & mesmerizes the soul. You listen to Live In New Orleans and end up completely wishing you were there to see it all happen, but thankfully, it sounds like we were!
Clocking in at less than two-minutes in total length, “I’m So Happy” flies by pretty damn quickly in comparison to the rest of the songs on this record, which range from over four minutes, to over seven depending on which cut you’re listening to. What “I’m So Happy” ain’t short on, is personality – and by this point of the record, we’d only expect that from this talented ensemble. They didn’t become the titans they are by skimping on the passion or their attention to detail, know what I mean? They’re as good as they are because they put everything they have into every ticking second they play for – and it’s because of that, tracks like “I’m So Happy” are still able to make a resounding impact in such a short timeframe. A lot of this track incorporates a call and answer vibe between the instruments, largely between Craig and Steve if I’m not mistaken…and it completely works. Most, if not all of the crew is in there somewhere at different points too I’d say, but in the case of “I’m So Happy,” it’s most notably a track that is fueled by the brass and the insatiable energy & creativity beaming from the rhythm section.
“Children Of Peace” ends up rocking with a much more gentle demeanor and classic vibe to it…it’s the kind of cut you could slow-dance to. Another excellent song for the ol’ brass in this band…this slow jam is bound to appeal to many folks out there that were looking for a bit of a different dimension within the sound of The Eddie Gale Collaborative. For me, it works…though I’ll admit, it did also feel like there was a bit of a looser construct goin’ on in this particular tune, where the band seemed to chime in at a few random spots where you probably wouldn’t have expected them too. So, if anything, I’d say you get a bit more of an organic feel to a track like “Children Of Peace” compared to the tight energetic Jazz we encounter at the start of this record. Which gives this album a lil’ something for everyone, and that’s definitely never a bad thing. Do I think “Children Of Peace” will be as universally loved as the way this live album started out with tracks like “Jazz Rap” or “Love Is All?” Probably not, no. Admittedly, a song like “Children Of Peace” is a bit more avant garde, a bit more niche, and a lot slower in its pace – so no lie, that’s usually a great recipe for an uphill battle with the listening ears out there, but I still enjoyed it. It’s got a genuinely sweet charm and sway to it that has its own allure, and I’m sure there will be more than enough folks out there that’ll make some room on their playlists for a delicate dose of Jazz like this.
As the band dives further into looser vibes and structures, I’d certainly understand if some of the people that have been listening for that universal appeal the record started with are starting to feel like this album is shifting towards giving true fans of the genre more of what they’d be looking for. When it comes to “Workshop,” this particular track feels very much like it’s being worked out in real-time as we hear it – which could very well be the case, honestly, I don’t know. This band full of talented players would certainly be able to find a way to fit in if that was indeed the case, and perhaps it is…I somewhat suspect that’s what we’re hearing on “Workshop” – a song that didn’t exist before this very moment in time. While there’s no doubt you’ll still find a ton of extraordinary musicianship and technique in each individual element added in along the way, as a whole, the song feels like it possesses a bit less direction or conviction when it comes to how it’s played…almost like they’re listening at the same time they’re playing, you feel me? Which is something you’d have to do if you were making up a tune on the fly, so again, maybe they are…maybe that’s what’s happening here. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll find many moments along the way that feel & sound like they were meant to be, but you’ll also experience a few spots that seem a bit less sure of themselves, especially in comparison to what we’ve heard so far. Does that stop me from listening to “Workshop” personally? Heck no! And I’m not saying that would be the effect on any of you either…in fact, I think there’s something magical about being able to hear the process in action, know what I mean? I don’t know if that would work for every song, but for this cut here, it once again brings out a different dimension of The Eddie Gale Collaborative’s sound overall. For fans of real Jazz and all its organic glory, “Workshop” might even be your favorite selection of the bunch.
They finish off the record in style with a track that feels & sounds a bit more familiar than the rest do…a song called “Brass Happy.” Built of the impressive musicianship and that spark we love in this band when they’re at their most unified, “Brass Happy” restores the momentum and gives you that reason to return at the end of Live In New Orleans. Is the “Brass Happy” in this tune? You betcha, and for plenty of reason…it’s definitely got the starring role shared between Steve, Roger, and Craig once again, though notably, that rhythm section makes the low-end groove in this cut a palpable force to be reckoned with as well. The layers in this track are nothing short of fantastic to listen to, and the band really seems like they’re all right at home as they kick out this last jam with a combination of substance and style. I’d go as far as to say they’ve finished this record with as much flair and fun as you’ll find at the beginning, and I felt like “Brass Happy” really restored the energy this album was looking for in its finale. Definitely a supremely talented bunch that have been a pleasure to listen to play from start to finish, Live In New Orleans gives you a great sample of what Jazz is all about through the perspective of players that truly know it inside & out, and a lineup of songs that’ll give everyone listening something they’ll wanna hear.
You can find Live In New Orleans by The Eddie Gale Collaborative for sale and streaming at this multi-link here: https://egc.hearnow.com
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