Project Info:






  Review   by Ken Dryden  

This date features a quintet co-led by alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, but most of the CD is devoted to the hard-hitting vibraphonist's compositions. "New Beginning" serves as a thunderous introduction to the quintet, which features pianist Donald Brown, bassist Curtis Lundy and drummer Victor Lewis as well. Watson contributed the tasty low-key ballad "Quiet as It Is Kept," and a long, very intense workout of "Afro Blue" serves as the focal point, with everyone in top form.


REVIEWS by Ken Dryden - All Music

Vibraphonist Steve Nelson began his career during the seventies, in his hometown of Pittsburgh, following the straight ahead path blazed by his first major influence, Milt Jackson. After a year with guitarist Grant Green he was playing and recording with his Rutgers professors James Spaulding and Kenny Barron, before landing a spot in David â€œFatheadâ€ Newmanâ€™s quintet. Throughout the eighties Nelson was the vibists of choice among some of his generationâ€™s most talented up-and-comers, including Bobby Watson, Curtis Lundy, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, Donald Brown, Geoffrey Keezer and Lewis Nash, developing a harmonically open sound, influenced by the innovations of Bobby Hutcherson, that led him to a spot in Dave Hollandâ€™s award winning band. In between heâ€™s recorded a half dozen dates as a leader that showcase his own personal voice on the vibes.


Steve Nelson: Well, actually, there are probably more vibists than you think there are, first of all. I mean everywhere I go, at least since Iâ€™ve been traveling so much with Dave Holland, I actually meet— in every town that I go to—a few vibists. I guess compared to the other instruments thereâ€™s not so many vibists, but there seems to be more and more coming around these days.

But anyway, I actually got into the vibes because a young guy that I used to hang around with in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I was born and grew up—his father actually played the vibes. He was one of those kind of guys that existed then [laughs], at that time, I guess it was the seventies or something, who lived in a town like Pittsburgh and played and was a great player, but was raising a family, worked in the steel mills, etc., etc., so he never came to New York, but was a tremendous vibraphone player. So, I actually heard him play and thatâ€™s how I fell in love with the instrument. His name is George Monroe. I actually dedicated a song to him on one of my records called George A—â€œBlues For George A,â€ and thatâ€™s how I got started—through hearing him play.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit. Perferendis, dolores, facere, corrupti delectus ex quidem adipisci tempore.

Illum molestias cupiditate eveniet dolore obcaecati voluptatibus est quos eos id recusandae officia. Cupiditate, voluptates quibusdam ipsum vel corporis laboriosam id est doloremque?