Unbroken

Jazz | Jun 2018

Reviews

Tom McCarter
Reviewed 2018-06-25
Reviewed: 2018-05-05
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: At the center of "Unbroken" is the indelible connection between the blues and jazz. In that spirit, Austin carefully illustrates through a dozen originals and standards the indivisible spirit of blues-jazz and Black America, themselves, together, indivisible. Rather than a repertoire of twelve songs, Austin weaves an extended tone poem that reaches in all directions, touching all things.
If You Like: Betty Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, Etta James
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Blues Creole (For Amede) – rocking uptempo song> wailing sax solo> piano solo> sax solo> fast song> slow fade
2/ Greenwood – big horns start> midtempo jam & song> trumpet solo> sax solo> midtempo song> crescendo end
*3/ Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down) – drums start> drums & clapping duet> midtempo gospel-like song swings uptempo on vocal> horns jam> trumpet solo> uptempo song> crescendo end
4/ You Must Believe in Spring - piano starts, slow & quiet> slow song with every syllable enunciated> piano solo> slow fade
*5/ The Blessing – horns/vocal start> uptempo song> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> midtempo song> quick fade
6/ Con Alma - horns start> uptempo song> sax solo> piano solo & uptempo jam> drum solo> uptempo song> quick fade
7/ King of Pleasure – piano starts> midtempo song> midtempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> midtempo song> sax solo> quick stop
**8/ Better Git It in Your Soul – trumpet starts> uptempo jam & song> piano solo> trumpet solo> uptempo song> quick fade
9/ Someday We'll All Be Free – lilting piano starts> slow song swings up to midtempo> piano solo> muted trumpet solo> midtempo song> fade
*10/ Music's Gonna Meet Me There – bass starts> slow tempo song swings mightily into strutting uptempo> trumpet solo> sax solo> bass solo> midtempo song> crescendo end
**11/ Resolution – bass starts> rocking uptempo song> uptempo jam> sax solo gets wild & wooly> wailing scat solo> long fade
12/ Keep Your Eyes on the Prize – bass starts> slow blues song morphs into gospel> slow fade

Recent airplay

Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)
Keep Your Eyes On The Prize
Traditions Feb 28, 2020
Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)
Music CasseroleSep 08, 2018
Resolution
Music CasseroleSep 01, 2018
Resolution
Ad Hoc Variety ShowAug 30, 2018

Charting

2018-06-26 — 2018-08-28 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Aug 26 2
Aug 19 1
Aug 12 2
Jul 29 2
Jul 22 1
Jul 15 2
Jul 8 2
Jul 1 1

Track listing

1. Blues Creole (For Amede)
2. Greenwood
3. Ain't No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)
4. You Must Believe In Spring
5. The Blessing
6. Con Alma
7. King Of Pleasure
8. Better Git It In Your Soul
9. Someday We'll All Be Free
10. Music's Gonna Meet Me There
11. Resolution
12. Keep Your Eyes On The Prize