Dragon
Dragon
by the Brad Upton Quartet
A
good artist/composer writes and records a good album. A great artist/composer
writes and records great albums. By that definition, The Brad Upton Quartet is
beyond great, more like heroic. So, from the band that brought us Black Orchid
and then Sweetness last year, here is the latest and greatest, Dragon.
Dragon
is smooth and cool jazz that excels in harmonics, with arrangements that are out
of sight. As always, all the compositions are written by Brad Upton, and all of
them achieve greatness by dint of the range of emotion heard in each song, as
well as rhythms that lift the listener to new heights.
The
quartet, Brad
Upton on trumpet and flugelhorn; Eric Gunnison on piano and keyboards; Mike
Marler on drums; and Bijoux Barbossa on bass play together as if they were
joined at the hip. Each is a consummate musician, and more, a dedicated jazz
artist. And be sure to listen for Mitchell Long playing the acoustic guitar on
track 4.
Each song is written and arranged with gusto, vision and grace. This reviewer tried mightily to select a favorite---and could not, they are all so good. So, if you are looking for smooth, instrumental jazz, played from a place of love for this musical genre, stop. Dragon by The Brad Upton Quartet is now in my permanent collection, and should be in yours, too!
Richard Fuller
Senior Editor
Pertinent Info:
CD
approximately 61 minutes.
Release date: Fall 2002 Cost: $14.95
Available
at your favorite music store or from:
Black Orchid Music
P.O. Box 17276, Boulder, CO 80308-1276.
PH 877-434-2611
Also
available online:
www.blackorchidmusic.com
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