NEW: Groder & Greene, Brian's latest disc with Burton Greene (piano), Rob Brown (alto saxophone), Adam Lane (double-bass) and Ray Sage (drums). Right here on CDBaby.
Downbeat Magazine named 4-star rated 'Torque' one of the Best CDs of 2007. Publico, the national daily newspaper of Portugal, named 'Torque' #10 in the "Top Jazz CDs of 2007". Geoffrey Himes, critic for the Washington Post and JazzTimes, nominated 'Torque' as #8 in the "Top 10 CDs of the Year"
'Torque' is, for many, a first wide exposure to the music of Brian Groder, and the response to this "new vision for modern jazz" (according to Midwest Records) is overwhelming.
Several editions of All About Jazz proclaimed this disc to be "music of ceaselessly fascinating possibilities", as "four brilliant musicians listening closely to one another and playing extremely well together" create "a graceful recording marked by the flawless tone of Groder."
The interplay of this champion of modern progressive jazz and the legendary Sam Rivers (abetted by his long-time colleagues Doug Mathews and Anthony Cole, on Cole's final recording date with the Trio) has elicited raves from around the world, calling the music "Razor-sharp" (UK), "The absolute definition of free" (Sweden), "Interesting and beautifully constructed" (Netherlands) and "A true definition of today's jazz: swinging, vibrant and full of vitality" (Portugal).
Torque has been compared to the mid-60s music of Miles Davis, the harmolodic output of Ornette Coleman, avant-garde master Albert Ayler, contemporary jazz doyen Dave Douglas, even a "mutant Herb Alpert". Truth is, the playing of these four creative masters combined with Groder's "strikingly uncompromising" material is hard to classify -- reviewers calling it bop, free, avant-garde, contemporary, neo-expressionist, experimental and exploratory, effervescent, graceful, fresh, smooth and invigorating. Where they do agree is the artistry of the band, the strength of Groder's compositions, and the fiery chemistry between Sam and Brian (more than one reviewer calling them "smoldering volcanoes"). And some reviews speak for themselves:
"Brian Groder brings impressive focus and impeccable chops to this encounter with Sam Rivers. The trumpeter holds his own as a player opposite a true giant of jazz, bringing poised, muted trumpet figures that fit perfectly with Rivers. 4 Stars; Best of 2007." - Downbeat
"A fine recording that deserves to be heard by as many fans of improvised music as possible." - Jazz Improv NY
"This is easily one of the best and most exciting releases of 2006 and may prove to be an enduring classic." — All About Jazz
"This quartet dares to be in a class by itself." — Jazzmozaiek Magazine, Belgium
"Essential? Yes." — MazzMusikaS, Netherlands
"You'll play the disc so many times, trying to find your favorite part, that the batteries in your remote will die." — Jazz på Svenska, Sweden
Brian Groder, trumpet & flugelhorn
("Innovative compositions and a fat trumpet tone")
Sam Rivers, flute & saxophones
("Rivers, at the age of 83, can still blow away just about anybody")
Doug Mathews, double-bass
("Mathews' adroit shifts between unison and counterpoint are impressive")
Anthony Cole, drums
("Masterful management of tension")
Also check out Brian's other disc on CDBaby, Ancestral Tongues (cdbaby.com/cd/groder)
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