Escape Velocity
Jazz
| Mar 2017
Reviews
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2017-03-20
Reviewed 2017-03-20
CONTEMPORARY SOUL/FUNK JAZZ
Trumpeter Theo Croker’s fourth album is outstanding with good melodies and lush, dense textures throughout. Accompanying instruments include electric piano, organ and synth; winds (usually alto sax, sometimes flute, bass clarinet); guitar; bass & drums. All good. Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater guests on #13.
No FCC issues.
1 * Slow. Blast off with cymbal crashes (!), a trumpet fanfare, spacey synths, and spoken word. Spiritual lyric. Drums roll continuously into track #2. (2:04)
2 ** Mid-tempo. Trumpet leads with a soaring, sometimes punctuated melody. (3:53)
3 Mid-fast. Lively with a bit of R&B. Nice alto sax solo. (4:46)
4 ** Very fast; very energetic. Powerful trumpet; some effects; syncopated rhythms. (3:30)
5 Slow. Uncredited spoken words. Easy-going, legato melody. Bass clarinet ends it. (3:53)
6 ** Very fast. Big ensemble sound. Maybe a bit Latin. Impressive trumpet solo. (2:51)
7 Mid-tempo. African spoken intro. Trumpet, noises, African percussion. Interesting. (2:01)
8 * Vary fast. More straight-forward. Leads by trumpet, alto sax, piano, elec guitar. (5:07)
9 Very fast; high energy. Breathing sounds. Big solos by organ & tenor sax. (5:01)
10 ** Fast. Catchy, happy melody. Fun, uplifting vocal chant. (3:24)
11 Slow breathy ballad for half; midway shifts gears into big anthem; finishes soft. (4:54)
12 Mid-tempo. Cool percussion. Sonically muddy. (2:32)
13 * Dee Dee reprises soulful tune she did with Norman Connors in ’73. Faster now. (4:28)
14 * Mid-tempo. Little theme on trumpet; then full-scale funk with organ, horns, etc. (4:30)
15 Slow. Peaceful, quiet benediction to wrap up. Just trumpet & acoustic piano. (2:08)
Trumpeter Theo Croker’s fourth album is outstanding with good melodies and lush, dense textures throughout. Accompanying instruments include electric piano, organ and synth; winds (usually alto sax, sometimes flute, bass clarinet); guitar; bass & drums. All good. Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater guests on #13.
No FCC issues.
1 * Slow. Blast off with cymbal crashes (!), a trumpet fanfare, spacey synths, and spoken word. Spiritual lyric. Drums roll continuously into track #2. (2:04)
2 ** Mid-tempo. Trumpet leads with a soaring, sometimes punctuated melody. (3:53)
3 Mid-fast. Lively with a bit of R&B. Nice alto sax solo. (4:46)
4 ** Very fast; very energetic. Powerful trumpet; some effects; syncopated rhythms. (3:30)
5 Slow. Uncredited spoken words. Easy-going, legato melody. Bass clarinet ends it. (3:53)
6 ** Very fast. Big ensemble sound. Maybe a bit Latin. Impressive trumpet solo. (2:51)
7 Mid-tempo. African spoken intro. Trumpet, noises, African percussion. Interesting. (2:01)
8 * Vary fast. More straight-forward. Leads by trumpet, alto sax, piano, elec guitar. (5:07)
9 Very fast; high energy. Breathing sounds. Big solos by organ & tenor sax. (5:01)
10 ** Fast. Catchy, happy melody. Fun, uplifting vocal chant. (3:24)
11 Slow breathy ballad for half; midway shifts gears into big anthem; finishes soft. (4:54)
12 Mid-tempo. Cool percussion. Sonically muddy. (2:32)
13 * Dee Dee reprises soulful tune she did with Norman Connors in ’73. Faster now. (4:28)
14 * Mid-tempo. Little theme on trumpet; then full-scale funk with organ, horns, etc. (4:30)
15 Slow. Peaceful, quiet benediction to wrap up. Just trumpet & acoustic piano. (2:08)
Recent airplay
Meditations, A Call To The Ancestors, The Right Time
Rebop — Jun 16, 2017
Transcend, Raise Your Vibrations
Rebop — Jun 09, 2017
It's Gonna Be Alright
Rebop — Jun 02, 2017
Transcend, Raise Your Vibrations
Rebop — May 26, 2017
It's Gonna Be Alright
Rebop — May 19, 2017
Transcend, Raise Your Vibrations
Rebop — May 12, 2017
Charting
2017-04-19 — 2017-06-21
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Jun 18 | 1 |
| Jun 11 | 1 |
| Jun 4 | 1 |
| May 28 | 1 |
| May 21 | 1 |
| May 14 | 1 |
| Apr 23 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Raise Your Vibrations | ||
| 2. | Transcend | ||
| 3. | This Could Be | ||
| 4. | In Orbit | ||
| 5. | No Escape From Bliss | ||
| 6. | The Right Time | ||
| 7. | A Call To The Ancestors | ||
| 8. | Meditations | ||
| 9. | We Can't Breathe | ||
| 10. | It's Gonna Be Alright | ||
| 11. | Because Of You | ||
| 12. | Real Episode | ||
| 13. | Love From The Sun | ||
| 14. | Changes | ||
| 15. | Rahspect (Amen) |