 Well,
this time fans of piano/keyboardist Brian Simpson didn’t have to wait ten years for a new release. Following
the huge success of Brian’s 2005 release It’s
All Good, Brian is now giving us more sensational
music with, Above The Clouds, his
sophomore release on Rendezvous Music. The CD is jam-packed
with upbeat fun tunes and some serious piano solos. Great
guest appearances by Dave Koz, Kirk Whalum, Chuck Loeb, Wayman
Tisdale, Lenny Castro, and the incomparable late Michael
Brecker, add zest to every note.
The CD opens with “What ‘Cha Gonna Do?” This
tune seems to pick up where Brian’s last CD left off. It’s
funky, fun, and shows the pool of Brian’s talent that
we have all come to love. The beat, with percussionist
extraordinaire, Lenny Castro, has feet and fingers tapping. “Juicy” features
Kirk Whalum on sax adding depth and flavor to one of the
jazziest tracks on the CD. It’s totally infectious,
totally cool. You can just imagine Brian and Kirk having
a ton of fun playing this one. Next up is “From
The Hip.” There’s a full horn section that
plays alongside Brian, adding bursts of energy that complement
his piano.
The middle of this CD I would call the Romantic Section! “Let’s
Get Close” and “One More Time” are pure
piano. Both are slower paced, introspective in nature,
and seductive. “The Last Kiss” picks up
the pace a bit, but is still showcasing the mellower side
of Brian’s abilities. He obviously knows how
to take his listeners from one feeling to another and keep
the interest high and the music fresh. Then,
enter Dave Koz and Wayman Tisdale. On “Fiona’s
Song,” written for one of Brian’s daughters,
Dave on the alto sax, accompanies Brian and prepares a song
that will delight everyone. It has a wonderful, youthful
melody. The sax is gentle enough to not be intrusive,
but adds character.
“Bali” takes you on a journey and paints pictures
of a far away place. Again, Brian shows us the multitude
of feelings he can create on the keys. The title track, “Above
The Clouds,” takes us back to the more jazzy side of
the CD. Brian kicks it up a notch with a fun melody,
driving beats, and keyboard playing that makes you feel like
you are floating. “Memories Of You” is
a brief interlude showing the classical side of Brian’s
talents. He is all alone on this piece. His playing
is perfect, but it was a little confusing as to why this
was placed on here.
Closing out the CD, is “That’s Right,” featuring
Michael Brecker. It dives right in to a jazz sax solo
that takes you by surprise and takes your breath away. With
Lenny Castro’s percussion rounding out the background,
it’s a great introduction to Brian’s piano. When
the piano takes over, you get the sound of a smoky jazz club. Michael
Brecker’s sax continues to flow throughout the song. The
track incorporates all the music you have heard throughout
the CD, in a fitting closure.
Brian Simpson has shown us once again that he is not just
a sideman. His talents go far beyond piano/keyboardist
or even musical director for others. This CD showcases
his abilities, his writing and his love for this music. Definitely
a CD I would recommend.
- Bonnie Schendell
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