14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
behold the axe of rosenwinkel!!!, 7 April 2001
By James H. Timber-Giboyeaux - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Next Step (Audio CD)
The happy-hat rumbero looks of the CD stirred my curiosity about what was in there to look for. I just bought this cd and casually began to listen the music within. The casual scenario did not last. The music of Kurt Rosenwinkel commands attention. I have not heard music of this kind since the early Abercrombie ECM recordings, specifically Characters, the Abercrombie Quartet, Dejohnette's Directions and the New Directions band. I thought this kind of jazz artistry was long gone history. Rosenwinkell's fond of experimentation and beautiful melodies are important attributes of this young musician to which we can add outstanding composition skills. I am quite interested in the musical career of this guy which I believe would have a long and fruitful future.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Continued growth for a great artist., 12 Jan 2001
By John S. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Next Step (Audio CD)
I first got into Kurt's music through finding an advanced promo copy of the Enemies of Energy. It totally knocked me out with it's compositional originality and with the very strong solo voices of the quintet. I really felt a depth and vision in this music that is all too rare among the many highly competent jazz artists that record nowadays. It's a quartet date, so Scott Kinsey's keyboard work from Enemies is no longer part of the sound, but that is not a problem. Kurt's brilliant guitar playing is more prominent that it was on Enemies, and on the title track he plays piano (also brilliantly), rather than guitar. The quartet is rounded out by Mark Turner on sax, Jeff Ballard on drums, and Ben Street on bass. All I can say to a prospective buyer of the Next Step is that it is music of a very high order, and its well worth getting into. The only other relative newcomer (as a leader)on the scene that turns me on this much is Avishai Cohen. Buy this disc!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
New Blood, 29 Nov 2002
By Tom Freeman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Next Step (Audio CD)
This follow up album to "Enemies" shows that a new guitar hero is in the making. Kurt's use of phrasing, sound, lines and tunes are a true personal thing , not to mention the whole bands subtle interaction and vibe.
I recently saw him in Boston in a different context and he just really has his own sound happening, no matter what group he's in.