The Fire Within (Don Braden album)
| The Fire Within | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1999 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | RCA Victor[1] | |||
| Producer | Don Braden | |||
| Don Braden chronology | ||||
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The Fire Within is an album by the American saxophonist Don Braden, released in 1999.[2][3] Braden supported the album with shows in the United States and Britain.[4]
Production
[edit]Braden recorded the album with three different bands.[5] Kenny Kirkland intended to play with one of the bands but died before the recording sessions; instead of replacing Kirkland's piano, Braden chose to record the planned songs with just himself, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts.[6] Dwayne Burno played bass on some of the other tracks.[7] Braden composed the title track.[8] "Solar" is an interpretation of the Miles Davis song.[9] "Fried Bananas" is a version of the Dexter Gordon tune; "Thermo" was written by Freddie Hubbard.[10][11]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD |  [10] |
JazzTimes deemed the album Braden's "first masterpiece," writing that "the title tune's mercurial sax-piano-bass-drums slo-burn is also the album's vibe signifier."[14] The Irish Times determined that "the real meat, and Braden's most unbuttoned soloing, is from the final session, a trio with Christian McBride and Jeff 'Tain' Watts, with the tenor energised."[15] The Boston Herald stated: "More Rollins than Coltrane, Braden plays the spaces as well as any young saxman, knows the value of a melody and gives his sidemen ... space to shine."[16]
AllMusic called The Fire Within "a fine record" and "a varied but balanced disc of traditional jazz."[12]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Incendiary" | |
| 2. | "All or Nothing at All" | |
| 3. | "Solar" | |
| 4. | "The Boiling Point" | |
| 5. | "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" | |
| 6. | "Thermo" | |
| 7. | "Where There's Smoke" | |
| 8. | "The Fire Within" | |
| 9. | "Fried Bananas" | |
| 10. | "Doctune" |
References
[edit]- ^ Johnson, Martin (6 May 1999). "A Tip of the Hat to a Cool, Funky Trio". Newsday. p. C5.
- ^ Bauer, William R. (March 12, 2003). Open the Door: The Life and Music of Betty Carter. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0472067915.
- ^ Janowiak, John (Jun 1999). "Requiem/The Fire Within". DownBeat. Vol. 66, no. 6. p. 62.
- ^ Massarik, Jack (10 Feb 2000). "Local heroes save the Braden bacon". Evening Standard. p. 53.
- ^ Macnie, Jim (Jul 1999). "Traditions: As she lives and breathes". Jazziz. Vol. 16, no. 7. p. 19.
- ^ Hunter, Jr., Al (30 Apr 1999). "'Cosby' Composer Aims for Acclaim Outside Show". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 71.
- ^ Poses, Jon W. (March 14, 1999). "Other new releases worth noting". Columbia Daily Tribune.
- ^ Blumenthal, Bob (17 July 1999). "Braden quartet teams up in collective spirit". The Boston Globe. p. C6.
- ^ Fischer, Doug (15 July 2000). "A passionate student of jazz". Ottawa Citizen. p. K2.
- ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books Ltd. 2000. p. 174.
- ^ Jones, Ryan (April 30, 1999). "Braden Has the Fire of Jazz Within". Lifestyle/Previews. The Record. Hackensack. p. 3.
- ^ a b "Don Braden Fire Within". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 796.
- ^ Terrell, Tom. "Don Braden: The Fire Within". JazzTimes.
- ^ Comiskey, Ray (25 June 1999). "Don Braden: The Fire Within". Sound. The Irish Times. p. 12.
- ^ Convey, Kevin R. (July 9, 1999). "Don Braden The Fire Within". Scene. Boston Herald. p. 24.