Album Review: Albare & Co. — Freedom
One of the great things about jazz is its expansiveness. While there are certainly artists working within the idiom who take an insular approach to their creativity, at its best the form allows itself to be influenced by music (and art, for that matter) well beyond the frontiers of what we would consider jazz. Albare is an artist who exemplifies this attitude. His work displays the influences of ‘60s bossa nova, and Wes Montgomery, but he’s also inspired by Jimi Hendrix.
That said, you’re not likely to hear any explicit echoes of Hendrix’s style on Freedom. But what you will discover is bright, playful music played by highly skilled, deeply emotional, classy and just-plain-fun musicians. The ten songs on Freedom are all Albare originals (including three co-composed with his pianist, Phil Turcio. The music is supremely melodic and somehow warmly familiar without being derivative. Husband-and-wife team Randy Brecker and Ada Rovatti are on hand with flugelhorn, trumpet and saxes. A delight start to finish.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.