Brothers Together

Brothers Together Artist: Hamid Drake , and Sabir Mateen
Label: Eremite Records
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 723724625426
EAN: 0723724625426
ASIN: B0000DZTUL


Release Date: 2003-11-04

Related Categories:

General General
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

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Tracks:

  1. Brother's Together
  2. Of Mind & Spirit
  3. Knowing Oneself
  4. New Life Dance

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fire Music!!!!!.......2004-03-23

Drum and horn duos usually don't get me going. I miss the bottom given by the bass over the course of 70 minutes. But when the two musicians are of the caliber of Sabir Mateen and Hamid Drake all my qualms go away. Sabir particularly has made a sub-genre of the drum and horn duo, always to spectacular effect. And with this 2000 disc from Eremite he may have found his perfect partner.

Sabir Mateen is one of the most underrated multi-instrumentalists working in New York today. Originally from the West Coast, Mateen played in Horace Tapscott's legendary Pan-African Orchestra and did a stint with Sun Ra. Relocating to New York in the 80s, Mateen quickly became a staple of the struggling downtown free jazz scene. Along with Tom Bruno, Matt Heyner and Daniel Carter he formed the legendary underground (literally) quartet Test, which played regularly in the Astor Place subway station. Mateen has also formed fruitful partnerships with William Parker, Sunny Murray and a host of younger downtowners, whose careers he's helped to build. Drake, originally a Chicagoan, is one of the most groove-oriented of free jazz drummers. He can play meterless with the best of them, but his forte is the groove, of which he is a master.

This album finds Mateen at the top of his powers, soloing on tenor, alto, clarinet, bass clarinet and flute with equal ease and facility. Mateen is often considered a representative of the "ecstatic" school of improv, but unlike others like David S. Ware, Mateen is always based on a wonderful sense of melodic shape and phrase. And he builds a solo carefully, saving his wild screams till the exact right moment. He is a true master of his instruments. Underneath, Drake sets up infectious grooves on his luscious-sounding drums. His bass drum and toms are so resonant that you don't miss the absence of the bass player. Drake is also a skilled ethnic drummer, particularly on frame drums. Some of his best work is reserved for the North African tar.

Hamid Drake seems almost everywhere these days and is well represented on CD. In fact, Drake is one half of probably the hottest rhythm section in jazz today (the other half is William Parker). But Mateen is woefully underrepresented on disc. Eremite has done a marvelous job of documenting some of Mateen's small group efforts. Let's hope that they keep these discs in print. They are destined to be highly sought after by fans of New York Free Jazz. And both of these musicians are forces to be reckoned with.

5 out of 5 stars creative "free-style" session.......2004-01-03

On this album two of the more creative of the current jazz players that choose to "play out" are in collaboration. Hamid Drake has a good deal of experience playing with saxophonists, which can be seen in this current duo. Sabir Mateen chooses an array of instruments to perform on this album, giving the listener music that doesn't grow old when listening to the full cd. Drake's creavtive grooves and solos are felt throughout the album, especially on the first two tracks of the album. For those that enjoy the more free, creative improvisation of jazz, this is a great album to add to a collection. It may be a little stripped down in instrumentation for many new to the music, but is a solid purchase nonetheless.

Music CD:

  1. Ambrose ~ Ambrose
  2. Fuerte ~ Poncho Sanchez
  3. Never Pat a Burning Dog ~ Ronnie Scott's Quintet
  4. Bien Sabroso ~ Poncho Sanchez
  5. Mask ~ Jeff Gauthier Goatette
  6. Flute Flight ~ Herbie Mann
  7. Dr. Jekyll ~ Jose Luis Gamez
  8. Ginastera's Sonata
  9. A Fine Line: Arias and Lieder ~ Don Byron
  10. The Art Tatum Solo Masterpieces, Vol. 6 ~ Art Tatum

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Street Gamins ~ Jaz B. Lat'n

This Side of Paradise ~ Ric Ocasek

Lethal Weapon 4: Music Inspired By ~ Various Artists

It's About Time ~ Billy and Liza

John Peel Sessions ~ Cinerama

Gold Plated ~ Climax Blues Band

Theleme ~ Various Artists

Not in My Name ~ Saul Williams

Sock It 2 Me ~ Missy Misdemeanor Elliott

Old Side Stories ~ Slow Pain