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Here's what critics are saying about Jamie Baum Septet & Solace Voted one of the "Best CD's of 2008" by: JazzTimes "...on a cold night in January this reviewer decided to experience the Jamie Baum Septet at Joe's Pub in the east village. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary. Each tune was gripping, and played to perfection by the ensemble. The best compliment that can be given to such compositional creativity is that all concept of the passage of time was lost... I had been transported...for what seemed like precious few moments, but it was enough to leave me breathless and wanting more." "**** (four stars) Exemplaire...a remarkable disc..." "The flutist Jamie Baum explores her own meticulous yet pliable compositions with (her septet), which she featured on an estimable recent album." "Baum's rich and fresh voicings for her longtime septet, whether playing melodies or in counterpoint, are most responsible for the laudible success of all the pieces on this CD ...a major statement by flutist, composer and arranger Jamie Baum...endlessly imaginative...notably inspired throughout " "When Jamie Baum releases a new album, many modern jazz aficionados take notice. Baum's musical journey offers the drama and intensity of a cinematic thriller or cliffhanger, which is sure to keep her audience at the edge of their seats." "While the septet can obviously swing - it does so in grand fashion, especially while backing soloists throughout this CD...Baum's four-part "Ives Suite" (is a) 31-minute tour de force. Aggressive soloing from Baum, trumpeter Ralph Alessi, French horn player Vincent Chancey, saxophonist Douglas Yates and pianist George Colligan provides impressive highlights throughout these 10 lush tracks. But at the heart of the matter is Baum's impassioned, personally orchestrated ensemble sound." "Solace is a joy to listen to and demonstrates (Baum's) depth and diversity as a composer, arranger and instrumental soloist. Baum makes extraordinary use of space...(is) technically proficient with a mature understanding of harmony and melody, and a deep sensitivity about how to put it all together on paper and on-the-spot." "Adventurous flutist Jamie Baum works the angles and corners of the jazz mainstream... on Solace, (she) offers a generous program of her compositions, arrangements and spoken-word text; she also spreads the wealth around...a welcome take on that ongoing wrestling match between composition and improvisation." "Baum writes serious and intricate pieces that have moments of breath-taking beauty and intense rhythmic fire. "Solace" is definitely one of the finest releases of this (or any) year. Baum played flute and alto flute and played them extremely well. She can fly with the best of them but it's her ensemble work and downright brilliant writing that makes her music special." "Baum is one of the most accomplished jazz flutists of her generation. What sets her apart is the beauty of her tone combined with what I can only call a weightiness-like a baseball pitcher who throws a "heavy" fastball that makes it almost unhittable. Think gravitas, not overbearing." "The flutist's new Solace reminds just how texturally rich her music has always been-it's one of the reasons that she's known for her writing as much as she is her soloing. As her bands glides (and prances at several moments,) through the charts, pithy escapades are given green light after green light." "For some years now Jamie Baum and her septet have been offering some of the most compelling evidence to be found that the structural sophistication of chamber music is by no means incompatible with spontaneity, spirit and swing. Her latest effort, Solace, is an excellent place to start: Her long-running ensemble negotiates intricate charts with exuberance and ease." "I was excited to see that local flutist and composer, Jamie Baum, had a new disc since her last one on OmniTone was so incredible. For this disc, Jamie has put together another stellar band with many of downtown's finest. Jamie's writing is also superb...there is a wealth of well-written material here that I find most fascinating as it works its way through different sections, making some surprising twists and turns. Although Jamie's inspired flute playing is consistently strong throughout, it is her engaging writing that truly stands out for the entire 74-minute journey." "In advance of her two upcoming Ottawa appearances, I've been spinning her new CD, Solace, and enjoying it a lot. Baum orchestrates her music smartly to extract beautiful blends from the ensemble. Moreover, she shows off her chamber music sympathy with the disc's centrepiece, a four-part suite dedicated to Charles Ives. But make no mistake. Baum's creating jazz -- forward-thinking stuff -- with bracing solos in particular from pianist George Colligan, trumpeter Alessi and herself." "Flutist Jamie Baum is a master of chamber jazz textures, deftly exploring complex harmonic designs on her regular and alto flutes and employing subtle voicings in the works that she's composed for her New York septet. She's also an improviser of note, matching wits on her four CDs with such distinguished colleagues as Dave Douglas, Randy Brecker, Kenny Werner." "Baum's composition rides the breeze with the grace of a falling leaf...suspended for a time in a dance of immeasurable serenity and beauty. The twists taken by this complex melody line are both beautiful and poignant...Baum has clearly assembled cooperative, likeminded musicians to help showcase her formidable compositional skills." HERE'S WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE SAID ABOUT JAMIE BAUM: "Baum is an exciting musician whose playing and composing are at the heart of one of the year's most innovative projects. The simpatico between Baum and Douglas is a thing of stark beauty. So, too, the conversations with her other colleagues. Eerily beautiful, this is new and challenging music which also speaks to the heart." "****Jamie Baum exhibits remarkable artistic facility as composer/ arranger/bandleader/flutist. Invigorating, at times exciting and never predictable, SightUnheard is highly recommended. The marquee matching on the disc is Baum and Douglas, whose interplay oftentimes scintillates." "SightUnheard demonstrates again and again (that) the jazz flute can be powerfully expressive in the right hands. There isn't a moment here where the flute seems superfluous to the setting, as if it were tacked on for merely ornamental purposes. Rather it maintains a crucial role in the mix, providing not just melodic pleasure and contrasting colors but a compelling emotional tension, as well.... Yet even more important is the close and striking rapport Baum has developed with her collaborators. As a result, the ensemble's level of interplay is consistently inspired and inventive." "One of the few modern jazz flautists around, Baum proves on her second CD that she's quite a composer as well. Baum's music is smooth and intelligent, with an abstract surface but a strong, underlying sense of swing." "Jamie Baum has made the flute her primary instrument, and with her compositions and her own band, she has shown how versatile an instrument it is. The release of SightUnheard should finally win Baum significant attention after a decade in New York." "SightUnheard happens to be one of the Crown Jewels on the GM list and is simply too special to be overlooked. Baum can dig in with muscle behind her instrument, building structurally inventive and coherent solos, she reminds us that now and then someone may offer us a fresh new way of hearing the flute." "Baum has a nice, warm tone and clean articulation. She's a commanding soloist with an understated soulfulness, notably on her own (composition) Letter to a Poet." "In the hands of this fearless improviser...the flute is a wicked, double-edged wand capable of filigreed lyricism and slicing contrapuntal lines... check out her recording with Randy Brecker..." "...a triumph of sophisticated composing and ensemble playing, drawing on complex and modern harmonies and her own lustrous tone." "Baum, a first-rate flutist...displayed impressive technique and warm sensitivity..." "Jamie Baum has developed a strong, personal sound with almost flawless intonation...The leader is really rather unique; she is a fine composer, a technically accomplished flautist and she has ideas and imagination in abundance. Many players have some of these qualities but few possess them all." "If you associate jazz flute with fru-fru supermarket music, then you haven't heard Jamie Baum. Check the tough-minded, down-right earthy progressions she winds her way through on her new Undercurrents (Konnex)." "Jamie Baum has a real gift for composition...Her intonation is spot-on perfect and her compositions never fail to be original and inventive...she obviously has a flair for melody." "Jamie Baum must be one of the most interesting new voices on improvised flute to be heard in recent years." "A terrific New York-based jazz flutist, Baum's music is edgy and challenging, but it doesn't sacrifice emotions on the altar of modernism. It's absolutely engaging." "Baum is an innovative virtuoso on an instrument that is not among the most common in jazz circles." "The Jazz Ambassadors provided excellent music fare...and Baum impressed when she played her own composition Spring Rounds." "The Jamie Baum Quartet is (a) group to reckon with. Jamie Baum herself is an amazing flautist." "FLUTIST JAMIE BAUM BLAZES TRAIL... the point is, Baum is worthy of attention." "She has the strong tone that seems so hard for many flautists, and writes well in a variety of styles...she's a major new jazz flute voice." "Jamie Baum must be one of the most interesting new voices on improvised flute to be heard in recent year." "Baum dug in and presented fluid and imaginative solos, balanced nicely between bebop and post-Coltrane phrasing, adding variety to the sound by alternating between C and alto flutes." |
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