{"id":155,"date":"2010-08-12T08:25:38","date_gmt":"2010-08-12T15:25:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/josephachambers.com\/?page_id=155"},"modified":"2010-08-12T08:28:06","modified_gmt":"2010-08-12T15:28:06","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.josephachambers.com\/?page_id=155","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joe Chambers, \u201cHorace to Max\u201d (Savant). <\/strong>Author and title says it all about this CD: a veteran drummer \u2014 and sometime vibraphonist \u2014 heard on many important recordings the past 40-plus years issuing a recording of his own, one of only a few that he has issued as a leader, paying homage to a legendary figure, pianist Horace Silver, and the bandleader\u2019s mentor, the late Max Roach, iconic master drummer-percussionist. For the occasion, as Chambers drives his band through a bebop- and hard-bop-tinged and dense but soulful repertoire, he enlisted some of the best of the present-day younger but veteran modal monsters: tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianists Xavier Davis and Helen Sung, bassists Dwayne Burno and Richie Goods, vocalist Nicole Guiland and slightly older percussionist Steve Berrios.<\/p>\n

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Joe Chambers<\/strong>\u2018 discography and all one can do is just welcome a new release with respect and honor to the drummer\/percussionist who has played incredibly well throughout the years. Horace To Max<\/em> (Savant) is an album of a man who you can immediate detect just by the way he plays. His band here features Eric Alexander<\/strong> (tenor sax), Helen Sung<\/strong> (piano), Xavier Davis<\/strong> (piano), <>B (percussion, drums), Richie Goode<\/strong> (bass), Dwayne Burno<\/strong> (bass), and vocalist Nicole Guiland<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

True to the title, Chambers and friends honor the music and lives of Horace Silver<\/strong> and Max Roach<\/strong> by covering such classics as \u201cLonesoem Lover\u201d, \u201cMandacity\u201d, \u201cMan From South Africa\u201d, and \u201cEcaroh\u201d, where you feel as if you\u2019ve almost traveled back in time to a place in time when these songs were first recorded. There is a sense of elegance that makes jazz\u2026 well, \u201cjazz\u201d, it\u2019s the kind of jazz I\u2019m attracted to because of how it sounds and the kind emotions it helps create, in me or in others. Alexander\u2019s solo in \u201cEcaroh\u201d is brilliant as Davis\u2019 piano accompaniment makes it sound as if they are on the same page, knowing the target and emphasis, and knowing how to get their in their own stylized ways.<\/p>\n

Joe Chambers \u2013 Horace to Max \u2013 Savant SCD 2107, 49:54 ****:
\n<\/strong>
\n(Joe Chambers \u2013 drums, vibes, marimba, producer; Eric Alexander \u2013 tenor saxophone; Xavier Davis \u2013 piano; Dwayne Burno \u2013 bass; Steve Berrios \u2013 percussion, drums; Nicole Guiland \u2013 voice (tracks 4 & 7); Helen Sung \u2013 piano (track 7); Richie Goode \u2013 bass (track 7))<\/p>\n

Joe Chambers started to gig professionally in the early 1960s after he arrived in the Big Apple, but despite his influence on one or more generations of drummers, he has never had the recognition of artists with a higher stature such as Art Blakey, Tony Williams or Buddy Rich. But among fellow musicians, critics and stalwart fans the drummer, pianist, vibraphonist and composer is notable for his constancy, reliability and creativity.<\/p>\n

On Chambers\u2019 second album for the Savant label, Horace to Max<\/em>, Chambers offers tribute to fallen heroes, lost friends and peers. With his quintet that includes tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Dwayne Burno and percussionist Steve Berrios \u2013 plus three guests \u2013 Chambers runs through nine tracks totaling 50 minutes that ranges from bop to Afro-Cuban to two vocal cuts (courtesy of Nicole Guiland).<\/p>\n

Throughout, Chambers swings and exhibits his substantial chops on drums, marimba and vibes, often overdubbing over his own contributions. He\u2019s aptly abetted by Berrios and together the two keep the percussion elements upfront and vibrant.<\/p>\n

Chambers began an association with Max Roach in 1970 as a charter member of the innovative ensemble M\u2019Boom, which gave Chambers insights into composition, the business side of music and the dynamics of using multiple percussive instruments. Chambers devotes remembrance of his comrade and mentor, who passed away in 2007, with three specific pieces, although Roach\u2019s spirit and drive is hinted at on nearly all the material. Up first is Roach\u2019s \u201cMan from South Africa,\u201d an energetic 7\/8 number that includes a rousing Alexander tenor sax solo and Berrios\u2019 simmering hand percussion. Taking a cue from what he learned from Roach, Chambers makes the tumbling rendition feel like it was cut in 2\/4 time, affording a sense of accessibility. Vocalist Nicole Guiland appears on two other Roach tunes. On the still-relevant and sharply political \u201cMendacity\u201d Guiland effectively echoes Abbey Lincoln\u2019s original voicing, while Alexander presents a soulful solo that is less pleading but no less pleasing than Eric Dolphy\u2019s effort on the same song. Chambers commences on vibes and then moves to his drum kit for a brisk break. Guiland is joined by pianist Helen Sung and bassist Richie Goode on another Roach track, \u201cLonesome Lover,\u201d which also began life as a vehicle for Abbey Lincoln. Chambers\u2019 vibes and Sung\u2019s piano superbly combine forces and Guiland appreciably escalates her emotional state as the composition progresses.<\/p>\n

Other highlights include a boisterous interpretation of Thelonius Monk\u2019s \u201cEvidence,\u201d also done by Roach, which features a new intro and invigorating offerings from Chambers and Davis. Two tunes connected with Miles Davis are equally memorable: Marcus Miller\u2019s evocative \u201cPortia,\u201d from Davis\u2019 release Tutu, has Chambers overdubbing marimba and vibes, while Wayne Shorter\u2019s \u201cWater Babies,\u201d found on the Davis compilation of the same name, is fronted by a potent tenor sax and vibes interaction.<\/p>\n

TrackList:<\/strong>
\n1. Asiatic Raes
\n2. Ecaroh
\n3. Man from South Africa
\n4. Mendacity
\n5. Portia
\n6. Water Babies
\n7. Lonesome Lover
\n8. Evidence
\n9. Afreeka<\/p>\n

Horace To Max
\nJoe Chambers<\/a> | Savant Records<\/a> (2010)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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By Edward Blanco<\/a>