Review
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
In
some ways, it's hard to view George Braith's playing a soprano and alto
saxophone simultaneously as anything other than a gimmick, especially
since it's nearly presented that way on his debut album, Two Souls in
One. Braith plays the two horns on the folk calypso "Mary Ann" and the
nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb," limiting himself to the melody
and bridges, probably because it's hard to finger anything else but
simple lines when you're playing two instruments at once. Furthermore,
the tone of the double sax is jarring -- thin, reedy and layered with
harmonic overtones, it sounds inhuman and utterly bizarre. Rahsaan
Roland Kirk, who pioneered double reeds, explored the harmonic
possibilites inherent with the dueling instruments, but Braith saves his
explorations for solo alto excursions. He's quite good at these alto
solos, as the elegant "Poinciana" and the hot solos of "Mary Had a
Little Lamb" prove, but he sounds restrained, not freed, by the double
horn. Nevertheless, Two Souls in One remains an enjoyable, occasionally
rewarding, collection of soul-jazz and cautiously adventurous hard bop.
Guitarist Grant Green and organist Billy Gardner both shine during their
time in the spotlight, particularly in the infectious rhythms of "Mary
Ann." And Braith himself does leave a large impression, especially in
the 14-minute tour de force "Braith-Away," which reveals the full
strength of his talent instead of simply hinting at it.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/two-souls-in-one-mw0000741559
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Reseña
por Stephen Thomas Erlewine
En
cierto modo, es difícil ver a George Braith tocando un saxo soprano y
alto simultáneamente como algo más que un truco, sobre todo porque casi
se presenta de esa manera en su álbum de debut, Two Souls in One. Braith
toca las dos trompas en el calipso folk "Mary Ann" y en la canción
infantil "Mary Had a Little Lamb", limitándose a la melodía y a los
puentes, probablemente porque es difícil digitar algo más que líneas
sencillas cuando estás tocando dos instrumentos a la vez. Además, el
tono del doble saxo es discordante: fino, carrasposo y lleno de
armónicos, suena inhumano y totalmente extraño. Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
pionero de las lengüetas dobles, exploró las posibilidades armónicas
inherentes a los instrumentos en duelo, pero Braith reserva sus
exploraciones para los solos de contralto. Es bastante bueno en estos
solos de contralto, como demuestran la elegante "Poinciana" y los
calientes solos de "Mary Had a Little Lamb", pero suena contenido, no
liberado, por la doble trompa. No obstante, Two Souls in One sigue
siendo una colección agradable y a veces gratificante de soul-jazz y
hard bop cautelosamente aventurero. El guitarrista Grant Green y el
organista Billy Gardner brillan durante su tiempo en el candelero,
particularmente en los contagiosos ritmos de "Mary Ann". Y el propio
Braith deja una gran impresión, especialmente en el tour de force de 14
minutos "Braith-Away", que revela toda la fuerza de su talento en lugar
de simplemente insinuarlo.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/two-souls-in-one-mw0000741559
1 - Mary Ann
Written-By – Unknown Artist
2 - Home Street
Written-By – George Braithwaite
3 - Poinciana
Written-By – Buddy Bernier, Nat Simon
4 - Mary Had A Little Lamb
Written-By – Unknown Artist
5 - Braith-A-Way
Written-By – George Braithwaite
Credits:
Design – Reid Miles
Drums – Donald Bailey
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – Billy Gardner
Photography By – Francis Wolff
Producer – Alfred Lion
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone [Stritch] – George Braith
Recorded on September 4, 1963.
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Label: Blue Note – BLP 4148, Blue Note – 4148
Country: US
Released: 1963
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop
https://www.discogs.com/release/1061137-George-Braith-Two-Souls-In-One
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