Jaimeo Brown: Transcendence

 

Inspired by the haunting spiritual singing of the Gee’s Bend Quilters, who have sung while making quilts since slave-era Alabama, 34-year-old drummer Brown’s debut concept album is anything but comforting. In an often turbulent sonic collage that includes elements of East Indian Carnatic music as well as gospel and raw blues samples, Brown explores themes of alienation and deliverance.

Our rating

4

Published: October 29, 2013 at 11:42 am

COMPOSERS: Jaimeo Brown
LABELS: Motema
ALBUM TITLE: Jaimeo Brown: Transcendence
WORKS: Transcendence
PERFORMER: Jaimeo Brown (drums), JD Allen (saxophone), Geri Allen (piano), Marcia Miget (flute), Kelvin Sholar (keybords) plus the Gee's Bend Singers
CATALOGUE NO: 23371

Inspired by the haunting spiritual singing of the Gee’s Bend Quilters, who have sung while making quilts since slave-era Alabama, 34-year-old drummer Brown’s debut concept album is anything but comforting. In an often turbulent sonic collage that includes elements of East Indian Carnatic music as well as gospel and raw blues samples, Brown explores themes of alienation and deliverance.

Led by his torrential drumming, Allen’s tenor lines and Sholar’s sheets of guitar sound, the line-up changes across tracks. Across 12 original compositions the core trio is joined by a rotating cast, including pianist Geri Allen, singer Falu and even Brown’s parents, bassist Dartanyan Brown and flautist Marcia Miget. Brown has paid his dues as drummer with the Charles Mingus Big Band and sideman to some of the greats of contemporary jazz. Now, through Transcendence, he keeps the faith with soul searching jazz legends John Coltrane (A Love Supreme) and Max Roach (Freedom Now!).

Garry Booth

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