Island (Bob Brookmeyer and Kenny Wheeler album) explained

Island
Type:album
Artist:Kenny Wheeler, Bob Brookmeyer
Cover:Island_Wheeler.jpg
Released:August 19, 2003
Recorded:September 27–29, 2002
Studio:Mix One Studios, Boston, MA
Genre:Jazz
Length:55:41
Label:Artists House AH 006
Producer:John Snyder
Chronology:Kenny Wheeler
Prev Title:A Long Time Ago
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Dream Sequence
Next Year:2003

Island is a studio album by Canadian musician Kenny Wheeler and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, recorded in 2002 and released on Artist House Records in 2003.[1]

Reception

The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4 stars stating: "the quintet creates a series of expansive yet pastoral jazz settings for the exploration at the margins without the edges. Make no mistake; aesthetically this is 'beautiful' and deeply moving music. The level of composition here is the highest, and the articulation of these tonal and harmonic architectures is flawless ... That this music is played with such grace, elegance, and aplomb makes it a gift to be cherished and studied".

All About Jazz correspondent Rex Butters commented: "Although they’ve not recorded together before, they set each other up and finish each other’s thoughts like a long married couple. The island in question seems more north Atlantic than Caribbean. While the program tends toward moody mid-tempo tunes, the high level of playing keeps monotony at bay ... The Brookmeyer/Wheeler collaboration shows two long time players apparently still in ascent".[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Kenny Wheeler unless otherwise noted

  1. "Before the First Time" - 7:56
  2. "114" - 7:29
  3. "Where Do We Go From Here?" - 7:45
  4. "Song for Kenny" (Brookmeyer) - 9:43
  5. "Upstairs with Beatrice" (Brookmeyer) - 7:22
  6. "Island" (Brookmeyer) - 9:46
  7. "Strange One" - 5:40

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://music.geocities.jp/softsjp/brookmeyer01.html Kenny Wheeler discography
  2. Butters, R. All About Jazz Review, January 7, 2004