egroj world: Jeff Golub With Brian Auger • Train Keeps A Rolling

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Jeff Golub With Brian Auger • Train Keeps A Rolling

 



Review by Thom Jurek
That guitarist Jeff Golub was able to record Train Keeps a Rolling at all is something of a miracle. In 2011, the optic nerves in the guitarist's eyes mysteriously and inexplicably collapsed, leaving him blind and in need of a guard dog. In September of 2012, while trying to catch the subway in New York, Golub fell onto the tracks as a train was approaching. He was clipped and dragged for a distance, but amazingly, other than cuts and bruises, he was unhurt. This makes the occasion of his 12th studio offering a special one. To mark it, his longtime co-producer Bud Harner suggested that he collaborate with one of his personal heroes, British keyboard giant Brian Auger. They enlisted drummer Steve Ferrone from Auger's Oblivion Express and bassist Derek Frank, who had also worked with the keyboardist. Various tracks are augmented by guests, including a four-piece horn section, percussionist Luis Conte, and vocalists Christopher Cross, Ambrosia's David Pack, and Alex Ligertwood (former Oblivion Express and Santana frontman). The program opens with a bright, funky reading of Lalo Schifrin's "The Cat" that accents the intuitive interplay between the B-3 and Golub's guitar playing. There are three Auger compositions too, including a new reading of the slinky jazz-rock nugget "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend" with Ligertwood reprising his Oblivion Express vocal role. More outstanding are the punchy, horn-drenched funk of "Shepherds Bush Market," which Auger wrote specifically for the date, and the previously unissued "Isola Natale," with its jazzy Latin groove. Pop rears its head in a sophisticated read of Paul Carrack's "How Long," beautifully sung by Cross, and ramped up soul-jazz appears in an instrumental take on Curtis Mayfield's iconic "Pusherman," with a terrific horn chart and a monster B-3 solo. Golub shines throughout, but particularly on the ironically dubbed title track, which commences as a frenetic tropical salsa before giving way to steamy, Latin-fused jazz-rock. The only weak spots here are in the workmanlike version of the Police's "Walking on the Moon" and the Mose Allison-influenced read of Willie Dixon's "I Love the Life I Live"; both could have been left off without consequence. By and large, however, Train Keeps a Rolling is proof positive that you can't keep a great musician down; it is inspired, kinetic, and chock-full of fine playing and arranging.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/train-keeps-a-rolling-mw0002555780
 
///////////////
 
Reseña de Thom Jurek
Ese guitarrista Jeff Golub fue capaz de grabar Train Keeps a Rolling en absoluto es algo así como un milagro. En 2011, los nervios ópticos de los ojos del guitarrista se derrumbaron misteriosa e inexplicablemente, dejándolo ciego y necesitando un perro guardián. En septiembre de 2012, mientras intentaba coger el metro en Nueva York, Golub cayó sobre las vías cuando se acercaba un tren. Fue sujetado y arrastrado por una distancia, pero sorprendentemente, aparte de los cortes y moretones, salió ileso. Esto hace que la ocasión de su 12º estudio sea especial. Para celebrarlo, su antiguo coproductor Bud Harner le sugirió que colaborara con uno de sus héroes personales, el gigante británico del teclado Brian Auger. Reclutaron al baterista Steve Ferrone del Oblivion Express de Auger y al bajista Derek Frank, que también había trabajado con el teclista. Varios temas son aumentados por los invitados, incluyendo una sección de cuernos de cuatro piezas, el percusionista Luis Conte, y los vocalistas Christopher Cross, David Pack de Ambrosia, y Alex Ligertwood (antiguo líder de Oblivion Express y Santana). El programa se abre con una brillante y divertida lectura de "El Gato" de Lalo Schifrin que acentúa la interacción intuitiva entre el B-3 y la guitarra de Golub. También hay tres composiciones de Auger, incluyendo una nueva lectura del nugget de jazz-rock "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend" con Ligertwood retomando su papel vocal en Oblivion Express. Más destacables son el funk con garra y trompa de "Shepherds Bush Market", que Auger escribió específicamente para la fecha, y la anteriormente inédita "Isola Natale", con su ritmo de jazz latino. El pop se destaca en una sofisticada lectura de "How Long" de Paul Carrack, bellamente cantada por Cross, y el soul-jazz en alza aparece en una toma instrumental del icónico "Pusherman" de Curtis Mayfield, con un magnífico gráfico de trompa y un monstruoso solo de B-3. Golub brilla en todas partes, pero particularmente en el irónicamente doblado tema del título, que comienza como una frenética salsa tropical antes de dar paso al vaporoso jazz-rock de fusión latina. Los únicos puntos débiles aquí están en la versión de "Walking on the Moon" de Police y la lectura de "I Love the Life I Live" de Willie Dixon, influenciada por Mose Allison; ambas podrían haberse dejado sin consecuencias. En general, sin embargo, Train Keeps a Rolling es una prueba positiva de que no se puede mantener a un gran músico abajo; está inspirado, cinético y lleno de finas interpretaciones y arreglos.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/train-keeps-a-rolling-mw0002555780

 


01. Cat
02. Isola Natale
03. Train Keeps A Rolling
04. I Love the Life I Live
05. Pusherman
06. How Long
07. J&B
08. Happiness Is Just Around the Bend
09. Shepherds Bush Market
10. Whenever You're Ready
11. Walking On the Moon

Credits:

Jeff Golub (guitar); Brian Auger (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Dave Woodford (flute, baritone saxophone); Mindi Abair (alto saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Steve Ferrone (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).

 

 

MORE Jazz Funk ...



 

This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader


 
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment