Saxman - Welcome Home
Jazz, Instrumental
Texas, U.S.
Overall Impression: Kevin Brown, the Texas-based musician and composer known as "Saxman," invites listeners into his latest release, "Welcome Home," a captivating blend of rhythmic Latin jazz and smoothly compelling melodies. Brown's softly soaring tenor saxophone takes center stage, effortlessly guiding listeners through a soulful samba groove. He's expertly supported by a top-tier rhythm section and a sophisticated horn arrangement that adds rich layers. Throughout the piece, assorted percussion instruments weave in exotic textures and fiery rhythms, while bold, brassy synth hits punctuate and propel the beautifully flowing saxophone lines. Clocking in at over nine minutes, Saxman's "Welcome Home" offers an expansive and unmissable listening experience for any jazz enthusiast.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, great sounding mix. Wonderful arrangement and instrumentation. Compelling harmonic relationship between the A and B sections. Fantastic job with the drums and percussion. Great samba feel and groove. Vibrant and breezy melodic content that's light and easy to digest. Nice breathy and expressive tenor tone that perfectly suits this Brazilian-inspired style. Aptly named "Welcome Home", this track does offer a comforting and sentimental vibe, thanks to some creative tension and resolution harmonic cadences. All in all, this is a comprehensive jazz samba that echoes the Bossa nova style of the sixties, but in a contemporary context that modern audiences will appreciate. Brilliant work, all around!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Jazz, Instrumental, Bossa Nova, Progressive Jazz, Latin Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Soul Jazz.
Artist target suggestions: Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderly, Sonny Rollins, Joe Lovano, Kamasi Washington, Branford Marsalis, Lester Young, Roland Kirk, Eric Dolphy
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent within the next generation of musical explorers.