Flow, the

Blanchard, Terence
Blue Note
Jazz | Jul 2005

Reviews

Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2005-07-24
Excellent mainstream session with a cool, restrained edge. Lots of synthesizers for matte-like backgrounds (1,2). ACOUSTIC guitar plus liquidy ELECTRIC bass on many tracks, creating some really different touches to the album. This band wouldn't be kicked out of a staid jazz club, but Blanchard manages to produce something different, a low-key adventuresome sound.

It's arguably overproduced (see the scathing review in the magazine "Signal To Noise") but I like it.

Herbie Hancock guests on 4 and 7.

For similar sonic/acoustic jumbling in a less mainstream context, check out Henry Threadgill's "Up Popped the Two Lips."

1- Cool and sneaky, mid/fast with an outside air
2- Floaty atmosphere, distinct African tones. Liquidy electric bass.
3- African chant, midtempo. Ends up in a contempo acoustic-guitar solo.
4- Mid/slow mellowness
5- Mid/fast, bubbling, mildly Latin
6- Interlude with cool backwards acoustic guitar!
7- What I like to call "cold fire:" deceptively mellow feel that leads into intense, stormy soloing.
8- Slow, warm, welcoming
9- Cool mid/fast number
10- Brisk and upbeat interlude
11- Dynamic mid/fast piece with sprawling, psych-y electric guitar. Big ending.

Recent airplay

Harvesting Dance
No Cover, No MinimumJan 30, 2009
Benny's Tune, Wadagbe, Wadagbe (Intro), Flow, Part 1
No Cover, No MinimumMar 09, 2007
Harvesting Dance
Memory SelectSep 09, 2005
Harvesting Dance
Flow, Part 1
Storytime! -- IAug 23, 2005
Flow, Part 1

Charting

2005-07-10 — 2005-09-11 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Sep 11 2
Aug 28 1
Aug 21 1
Jul 24 1
Jul 17 1

Track listing

1. Flow, Part 1
2. Wadagbe (Intro)
3. Wadagbe
4. Benny's Tune
5. Wandering Wonder
6. Flow, Part 2
7. The Source
8. Over there
9. Child's Play
10. Flow, Part 3
11. Harvesting Dance