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Julian & Roman Wasserfuhr: Landed in Brooklyn
ByTrumpeter Julian and pianist Roman, inspired by David Bowie's Blackstar (Columbia, 2016), wanted to bring in what they considered key factors in that pop album's success. To that end, they recruited saxophonist Donny McCaslin and bassist Tim Lefebvre from Bowie's final studio recording. Drummer Nate Wood is on hand and had studied with Charlie Haden and performed with a wide range of artists including George Harrison, Sting and McCaslin.
The opening number, "Bernie's Tune," is upbeat and with an appealing contrast between the round, smooth sound of Julian Wasserfuhr's flugelhorn and his brother's more sharply defined piano. Lefebvre's rhythmic groove and an impressive brass solo deliver a fusion feel to "Tutto" while "Tinderly" recreates a classic mainstream horn frontline with McCaslin's tenor and Julian Wasserfuhr, here on trumpet. "Durch den Monsun" is the cover of a piece from popular German rock band Tokio Hotel and it is the most wide-open selection on the album. Featuring a sizzling solo from McCaslin and swelling whirls from Wood, it has a powerful, driving quality. The brothers' affinity for Sting's music began with Gravity (ACT, 2011) and a cover of "Englishman in New York" and continues here with a confident treatment of "Seven Days." The moderately paced closer "First Rays of Dawn" creates a festive atmosphere and makes for an upbeat conclusion.
Solo performances are minimized here as they typically are on the Wasserfuhrs' recordings and the flashes of freer improvisation from both brothers can make that self-control a bit frustrating. McCaslin and Lefebvre do help make Landed in Brooklyn feel less overly-polished than the Wasserfuhr's previous outings and that is a pleasant change. Still, the brothers most often opt for sophistication and a refined stylishness and they play to that sensibility as well as anyone.
Track Listing
Bernie`s Tune; Tutto; Tinderly; Durch den Monsun; Carlo; S.N.C.F.; Ella; Seven Days; First Rays Of Dawn.
Personnel
Julian Wasserfuhr: trumpet, flugelhorn; Roman Wasserfuhr: piano, marimba, seaboard; Donny McCaslin: tenor saxophone; Tim Lefebvre: electric bass, double bass; Nate Wood: drums.
Album information
Title: Landed in Brooklyn | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: ACT Music
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