Search - Steve Briody :: Steve Briody

With a little help from his friends...

DerickWJazz | USA by way of Australia | 03/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Out of New York City comes a smooth/contemporary jazz guitarist with a debut album that is sure to make people sit up and take notice. Steve Briody has released his self-titled debut album with the help of a few guys that you may recognize. With no less than Bill Heller from the Rippingtons on keyboards, Eric Marienthal on sax and Joel Rosenblatt from SpyroGyra on drums, Steve has put together a musical calling card that should get his foot in more than a few doors. From the sultriness of "6 a.m." to the more groovy, big band influenced "Eleventh Hour", and the whimsical, appropriately titled "Thinking Time" Steve manages to create a lush, musical environment. If I had any complaints about this album it would only be that Steve's guitar seems to take a back seat to the bigger names on a couple of the tracks. That's not to say that Steve's playing is any less competent on these tracks but there's no reason why he shouldn't be front and center on his own debut album. But it's also a comment on his appreciation and acknowledgement of his partners in this endeavor. So take the above complaint with a grain of salt and don't let it sway you from adding this album to your collection."