Harris, Stefon / Grand Unification Theory, the
Album: Grand Unification Theory, the   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Harris, Stefon   Added:Apr 2003
Label:Blue Note  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2003-04-07 Pull Date: 2003-06-09 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: May 18 May 11 Apr 20 Apr 13
Airplays: 1 1 3 1

Recent Airplay
1. Aug 04, 2006: Sunshine ... in the Afternoon
Escape to Quiet Desperation
4. May 07, 2003: Fine Tuning Utopia
Escape to Quiet Desperation
2. Jan 17, 2004: Morning Glory
The Velvet Couch
5. Apr 18, 2003: Memory Select
The Grand Unification Theory
3. May 13, 2003: No Cover, No Minimum
The Velvet Couch
6. Apr 15, 2003: No Cover, No Minimum
Corridor of Elusive Dreams

Album Review
Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2003-04-24
Kind of a '70s retro feel with lots of slow, sweeping horns. Led by Harris on vibes with Xavier Davis on piano -- they're sort of the defining voices that give even the stern pieces kind of a mellow sound. Harris is an adept player who's put together some ambitious compositions here. A bit overblown sometimes (feel the drama on track 2) but good overall.

1*- Breezy midtempo
2*- Uptempo, multiphased, w/some nice riffs. Playful in an artsy way, gets a decent groove after a while.
3- A touch of snazzy blues.
4- Segue
5- Coolly mysterious, fast
6- Cool and rolling, gets a Latin feel
7- Slow drama, w/vocals
8*- Stern; big slow horns
9*- Midtempo swirling; ends w/fast riff
10- Slow, w/some flashy soloing by Harris
11*- Multiphased, opening with a fast burble followed by a slow chiming theme. Fun, fast soloing space.
12+13- Quiet and soft; tribute to Milt Jackson

Track Listing
1. Prologue   7. Song of the Whispering ...
2. The Birth of Time   8. March of the Angels
3. The Velvet Couch   9. The Mystic Messenger
4. Morph   10. Rebirth
5. Corridor of Elusive Dreams   11. The Grand Unification ...
6. Escape to Quiet Desperation   12. Intro to Epilogue
  13. Epilogue