Brecker Plays Rovatti/ Sacred Bond

Reviewed: 2019-10-25
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This is the third time the husband and wife team of Grammy-winning trumpeter and fusion pioneer Randy Brecker and his composing/ sax playing wife Ada Rovatti have appeared together on an album. This time, Rovatti composed the music. Rovatti shows plenty of conviction, grace, and grit on tenor and soprano on her compositions, which demonstrate strong chemistry and synergy between she and Brecker. They range from straight-ahead jazz to contemporary sounds with a nod toward Brazilian music as well.
If You Like: Woody Shaw, Courtney Pine, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Sacred Bond (7:19) – horns/Rhodes start> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> uptempo jam> fade
**2/ Helping Hands (8:57) – piano solo starts slow> pause> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> bass solo> midtempo jam swings uptempo on sax solo> fade
*3/ Reverence (to Aretha) 8:34) – drums/guitar start> midtempo funky jam> trumpet solo> electric guitar solo> trumpet solo> sax solo> midtempo jam> piano solo to fade
4/ The Baggage (10:30) – piano/sax start>midtempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> midtempo jam builds to crescendo end
**5/ The Queen of Bibelot (5:19) – trumpet starts> uptempo jam stops & starts> swinging uptempo jam> piano solo> sax solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
6/ Britches Blue (8:30) – drums start> midtempo jam with electric guitar up front> Rhodes solo> midtempo jam> sizzling trumpet solo> guitar solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
*7/ Brainwashed (5:24) – piano starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> fade
8/ Mirror (5:41) – organ starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> drum solo> midtempo jam> slow fade
**9/ The Other Side Of The Coin (7:02) – percussion starts with jungle vibe> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> bass solo> midtempo jam> fade
*10/ Quietly Me (6:48) – piano starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo swings uptempo> trumpet solo> bass solo> uptempo jam> slow fade