Search - Hubert Laws :: In the Beginning

Best Straight-Ahead Flute CD, should be a Classic

Christian Artmann | New York | 04/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jazz flute is frustrating - it has huge potential but most people who played it over the years simply weren't good. Their tone was often thin (usually because they just use it as double from the sax) and the solos consisted more of special effects (flurries of notes etc.) rather than coherent lines and structure.



This CD is the total opposite. It should be a classic both for the flute playing and for the music. Hubert Laws has an absolutely incredible sound on his instrument - full, gorgeous and absolutely individual. And he improvises like only the absolute best in jazz. Check out his solo on "Moment's Notice": impossibly melodic over these changes, with unbelievable bop phrasing, virtuoso technique and an overall swing and drive that is breathtaking. Also the solo over "Reconciliation" is absolutely brilliant. And the solo over Satie is not only tasteful, it is in my opinion better than the composition!



I do like the use of the octaver on the flute - this orients the instrument down rather than up which is good.



The band is very, very good. Good soloing from everyone involved, nice interplay.



The music covers a lot of ground, from postbop to gospel to blues to classical to Latin. The first half of the CD makes this a bit too obvious (first tune a blues-like composition, second tune a jazz waltz, third tune classical, fourth gospel...) - in the second half of the CD it all comes together more seamlessly for me.



Overall this must be the best (relatively) straight-ahead flute CD in Jazz. It also is one of the most beautiful and interesting recordings to come out of that time period. Should be a classic."