Russell Gunn - Ethnomusicology Volume 3

[Uli]

Has anybody heard it? Good review in JT.

[Reid]

I'd be interested in hearing this, too.

[bluenoter]

Please allow me to share this little episode, which took place yesterday at my neighborhood coffeeshop:

ME: What's that album that's been playing?

COFFEESHOP KID: Oh, I think that's Ethnomusicology, Russell Gunn.

ME: Thanks. I'll look it up.

Well, I just did, and no way. Trumpet played a prominent role in the album that I heard, but so did klezmerish and other Jewish themes, and I'm guessing that it was Dave Douglas with Masada. (I don't know Masada or Gunn.)

[Reid]

Well, I recently listened to practically the whole album one time through. While the music may not be the kind of synthesis between hip-hop and jazz I've been looking for, I think it is some of the best jazz hip-hop (R&B), I've heard.

I want to say a couple of things about Gunn. First of all, a lot of other trumpet players who want to combine jazz and R&B/hip-hop/rock seem very influenced by Miles. The refreshing thing about Gunn is that he doesn't do that. He has a real brassy sound, as opposed to the "flatter" stype of sound that Miles has. Even when he plugs in, he doesn't sound like Miles at all. That's sort of superficial assessment of his playing, but I thought pointing it out was worthwhile.

Second, Gunn plays with a lot of feeling. I don't know what it is about this music, but I sense a lot of sincerity and heart-felt playing by Gunn and Co. There are some mediocre rap lyrics, and not all the tunes are great, but there is a good feeling to the playing on this disc. Actually, I've heard at least three other albums of Gunn, and I have enjoyed his playing on all of them. He may not be super original, but there is something about his playing (I think it is the strong feeling I sense in his playing) that really appeals to me. Even though this is not exactly what I'm looking for, I almost picked this one up.

(I was suprised to like the Latin-disco tune "East St. Louis".)

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally posted by bluenoter
Trumpet played a prominent role in the album that I heard, but so did klezmerish and other Jewish themes, and I'm guessing that it was Dave Douglas with Masada.

Or Steven Bernstein, on Diaspora Blues or Dispora Soul.