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Michael Hutchins
Via Gelato Cafe
July 31st 2010
1853 Tower Drive
Glenview, Ill 60026
Cost: $0
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Stacy McMichael
Julius Meinl
July 31st 2010
Addison / Southport
Chicago, Ill
Cost: $FREE
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Kelly Brand Nextet - The Door
Kelly Brand Piano
Geof Bradfield Tenor Sax, Flute
Art Davis Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Kelly Sill Bass
Jon Dietemyer Drums, Percussion
Mari Anne Jayme Vocals
Naomi Sill Cello
Ding Dong. The ring of a doorbell starts the latest offering from Chicago pianist Kelly Brand. This noted Chicago mainstay here provides an invitation for us to hear a set of mostly new compositions from her pen. A couple of other cuts on the CD also employ some sort of sound effects to briefly frame the mood of these tunes. So we are offered a clever (but thankfully not kitschy) concept to draw us initially across the threshold. Once you enter, you are entreated to an hour or so as a guest in the musical world of Brand and her band. Interpretive ideas lead us on this tour, providing song titles such as "The Tides," "An Old Road," "Bitter Blew The Winds of March," and that opening track, "Ding Song." You definitely should let her in "the door"!
Top-notch collaborators are featured in Brand's band, known as the "Nextet", ensuring precise and tight musicianship. In addition to the excellence of Brand there's her husband, the outstanding bassist Kelly Sill. Geof Bradfield and his tenor sax show up on a lot of albums, and he is seen on stage with some of the best players in Chicago. He's undoubtedly at the top of the list in mastership and creativity among Chicago's fine practitioners of the instrument. Here he illustrates why, in a series of amazing solos. Jon Deitemyer has earned a reputation as a must-hear drummer and doesn't disappoint, consistently providing well-rounded percussion on every cut. Daughter of Kelly and Kelly is Naomi Sill, who here appears as a special guest on cello for "The Question." Art Davis shows us a side of his horn which we haven't heard in other contexts, blowing especially superbly on "Try Silence."
Brand also reveals her thoughts as a lyricist, penning words for several tracks (including the only non-original, Wayne Shorter's "Night Dreamer"). Lyric interpretation is provided by vocalist Mari Anne Jayme. Often lyrics get by me, as my ear is so attuned to the music's primacy. But her words grasped my attention and got me thinking about what Brand has to say.
Simply put, this is an album of good, solid jazz, fantastically played.
Nothing too wild and crazy; not exactly innovative; certainly not "far out" there. It's the kind of thing one wants to listen to: interesting, thoughtful music that hasn't been done to death. In that sense, I must consider it some of the better stuff I've heard recorded from locals of late. Kelly Brand and her Nextet should be congratulated and thanked for the contribution.
Tim Gault
By: Tim Gault
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