In My Element

Artist: Robert Glasper
Label: Blue Note Records
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 094637811122
EAN: 0094637811122
ASIN: B000N8UY6Y

Release Date: 2007-03-20

Related Categories:

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

Lush Life Soundtrack.

Tracks:

G & B
Of Dreams To Come
F.T.B.
Y'outta Praise Him
Y'outta Praise Him
Beatrice
Maiden Voyage/Everything In Its Right Place
J Dillalude
Silly Rabbit
One For 'Grew
Tribute

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Customer Reviews:

Another solid outing from an important emerging talent.......2007-03-20

With the release of his second Blue Note date "In My Element," there are no signs whatsoever that pianist Robert Glasper is succumbing to the dreaded sophomore slump.
Following on the heels of his '05 release "Canvas," which featured guest spots by saxophonist Mark Turner and vocalist Bilal, the new disc spotlights the pianist exclusively in the company of his trio- bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Damon Reid.
Glasper is an assured and articulate instrumentalist who continues to emphasize "tunes" over "technique." The title of the new disc could easily be construed to be his mantra as the pianist sounds entirely in his element as he once again richly mines the crossroad where jazz glances back while still charging ahead.
Obviously schooled in the tradition, the 27 year-old is very much a modernist, boldly shading his own fertile compositions with elements of gospel and even hip-hop. One unabashedly modern spin comes courtesy of numerous fade-ins and subsequent fade-outs which bookend interludes that are found at the end of tunes throughout the disc. This production technique is popular in hip-hop music, however here Glasper uses it as an extension of the improvisation process. "Most of them are little snippets we made up in the studio," he explains. "One or two of them are actually parts of songs that I borrowed from and used. I didn't really map out the album in advance- I recorded a bunch of interludes and then listened to see what would flow best. I figured the more organic the better."
Even more telling examples of this new post-modern-traditionalism are to be found in his interpretations of tunes by jazz legends. His bold reworking of Sam Rivers' "Beatrice" glides along propelled by Reid's brushes then his assured cymbal work. Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" is partnered with Radiohead's "Everything In Its Right Place." Here the latter tune takes on a tone of prophecy as it exemplifies that in this new millennium contemporary alternative rock and jazz not only can- but do- go together in the right hands and when everything is in its right place.
Elsewhere Glasper pays homage to fellow pianist and mentor Mulgrew Miller with the gorgeous ballad "One For `Grew." The interlude preceding this tune finds the pianist working with an answering machine message of his goddaughter singing that he has set to music.
"Tribute" and "J Dillalude" are both remembrances of people close to the pianist that are no longer here. The former features the powerful speaking voice of Reverend Joe Ratliff eulogizing Glasper's mother while the latter is assembled from various performance tapes of the trio and is a tip-of-the-cap to hip-hop pioneer/producer J Dilla.
In a field crowded with the "next big thing," Glasper makes a compelling case that he is clearly one of the next-generation of jazz musicians worthy of the hype.

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Name of the Rose ~ Ten

Best of Randy Vanwarmer

La La Means I Love You ~ Delphonics

Doorway To The Angels ~ Juggling Suns

Mystery Train

Spirito ~ Four Piece Suit

Kamen Rider Hibiki ~ Rin' , and M.C.A.T.

Tried & Tested: Mixed By Judge Jules ~ Various Artists