Brazz Brothers with Lester Bowie, Amina Claudine Myers & David Peaston - Brazzy Voices (2016) [Hi-Res]

An extraordinary combination of a brass quintet, a mixed 52-piece choir, African percussion, a singer of spirituals, a bebop drummer and a Hammond organist, plus the individualistic and oblique trumpet interjections of Lester Bowie, produces some truly memorable, magical and immensely moving music. The Brazz Brothers is a stellar ensemble, highly esteemed in ist native Norway and rapidly gaining international recognition and respect. In a very real sense, this collaboration is a joyous recapitulation of the historic process of synthesis which began more than a century ago with the merger of African, Caribbean and European elements to provide a rich, musical heritage whose strains include spirituals, gospel songs, minstrel songs, ragtime, work songs, blues and jazz.

„Talk about variety -- imagine combining eccentric trumpeter Lester Bowie, organist Amina Claudine Myers, spiritual singer David Peaston, and percussionist Don Moye with a Scandinavian brass quintet (comprised of two sets of brothers), drums, and the 52-voice Skrlik Choir for a set of American/black/African and Norwegian folk music. Somehow it all works on these intriguing and difficult-to-classify concert performances. Bowie has plenty of spots to express himself, Peaston is powerful during his occasional vocals, and, even if the 17-and-a-half-minute "African Roots" (which is largely a percussion/drums feature) is way too long, the results are quite rewarding. Not strictly a jazz record since there are strong traces of both European classical music and religious music in the program, this is the type of CD that should delight listeners who enjoy several diverse areas of music.“ (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Lester Bowie, trumpet
Amina Claudine Myers, organ
Runar Tafjord, french horn
Helge Førde, trombone
Jan Magne Førde, trumpet, flugelhorn
Jarle Førde, trumpet, Flugelhorn
Stein Erik Tafjord, tuba
Egil "Bop" Johansen, drums
Famoudou Don Moye, percussion
The Skruk Choir
David Peaston, vocals

Engineered an mixed by Jan Erik Kongshaug
Recorded live February 25th, 1994 in Oslo Dom Church
Produced by The Brazz Brothers

Digitally remastered