HustleKnockin'

Music Review: Merge by the Chris Greene Quartet

Coming Together:
A Review of Merge by the Chris Greene Quartet

Chris Greene Quartet
Merge
Single Malt Recordings (2009)
Release: 11/17/2009

[CQG is: Chris Greene tenor & soprano sax, Damian Espinosa—piano + keyboards, Marc Piane—double bass, Tyrone Blair—drums & percussion.]

One of my favorite young jazz crews is back. With “Merge,” their third album in almost as many years, The Chris Greene Quartet  lead by tenor + soprano saxophonist Chris Greene, continues to bring tight, high-end musicianship combined with a floetic mastery of good song structure.

And where CGQ’s Soul & Science series was more divergent and aggressive in its inspirations, drawing from all manner of funk, soul, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Mingus and more, Merge is about a smoother quieter progression of play.

Nine songs deep including 4 Chris Greene compositions, Merge showcases not only some of Chris Greene’s cleanest most refined playing yet but also pianist Damiam Espinosa's strongest work. While the highlight of the album might be the Greene-composed "Coffee n Scotch" for its energy and flavor, my fave cut might be  "L. F. E. I. (Let's Get it Started),” an unusual take on the very recent Black Eyed Peas, joint. I just love the way it builds from a groove to a dance between CG’s horn-work and Tyrone Blair's great drum rhythms. It’s like a boxing match of jabs and quick footwork. I also loved the melodic piano work on Out Of Nowhere; the Billly Strayhorn composition Lotus Blossom feels fresh as well.

As much as you may be temped to make Merge yet another “background”  album, I kept finding myself rewinding to various tracks to catch the intricate playing and fluidness that’s going on on nearly every song on Merge. I’m guessing you will, too. These guys are serious players.

Overall, Merge is a fun vibrant jazz album that’s got a ton of smart playing without going over your head. Instead it draws you in, gives you some great rhythms and flow combined with strong playing from every member in the band. Merge is just one more reminder to jazz fans everywhere why the Chris Greene Quartet is still on the rise.

You can find CGQ’s work on iTunes, Amazon.com/ChrisGreene and at chrisgreenejazz.com or twitter.com/chrisgreenejazz or www.reverbnation.com/chrisgreenejazz

Boogie Boys...

A double shot of one of the most underrated influential acts in hiphop: The Boogie Boys.

Lyrical. Crossover-ical. And a few other "-icals" that would take too long to explain. These guys were just... in a word:

fresh.

Boogie Boys – You Ain’t Fresh Boogie Boys — Dealin’ With Life...

The White Mouse Will Not Explode!

Okay I still luv this one... it's crass, crude, wild... but my guys Derek and Que dropped this one not too long ago. Still waiting on the full-length.

This Day Sucks Demo Video from ThisDay Sucks on Vimeo.

Jesus Santa

jesus is american

Jesus is not a liberal.

Did Barack lie about NAFTA?

Hmmm… It’s funny that one of Clinton’s keys to victory on “Super Tuesday, Jr.” was calling Barack a pro-NAFTA liar, claiming that his camp met with Canadian officials and told them that he was down with NAFTA no matter what he said on the campaign trail. Why? Because Hilary Clinton has been one of the NAFTA’s biggest supporters from Day One.

Signed into law under her husband’s administration, Hilary Clinton has been on record calling the North American Free Trade Agreement “a good thing” and “good for America.” But soon as NAFTA became a hot-button issue Hilary Clinton promptly denied backing NAFTA—a lie in and of itself. It’s only within the last couple months that Clinton, has changed course. During the pre-Super Tuesday debate, when she asked by moderators Brian Williams and Tim Russert if she’d repeal NAFTA instead said, “I’d consider revisiting it.”

I’d consider. That’s politics for “depends on how pissed off voters will be once they find out that I’m lying.”

Funny how everyone forgot that.

Kool Herc on MLK, Jr.

Help Find This Missing Teen!

Have You Seen This Boy?

Get Tha Job Done!!!!

IT’S JUST A JOB

A job is a tool, a tool for income and paying bills, a tool for providing for your family. But a job is not you. It shouldn’t validate or define you. The moment you let your job define you, the moment you look for personal validation from your boss or your job is the moment The Hustle controls you. It doesn’t matter whether you work for yourself or someone else, what you do for income shouldn’t determine your self-worth. Handle your business; don’t let your business handle you.