In the Media...
Rhodes Less Travelled is phenomenal, sensational and will get a lot of air play.
(Palm Springs)
Very rarely does a musician come along who turns the jazz world on it's ear. Such though is Halifax native Grahame Rhodes. If John Coltrane had played trombone then this is how he would have sounded. When listening to Rhodes perform one is struck by how advanced he is beyond other trombone soloists who by comparison sound insipid and dull. Rhodes has solved the problem of turning an awkward and cumbersome instrument to a horn of plenty. His solos are clean fluid and intelligent, sometimes at incredible tempos. Also having a playing range of over four and a half octaves helps. But more than this it is the sound, and here he is perhaps closer to Coltrane than any other regard for his sound is one of darkness. Grahame Rhodes has arrived and the jazz world is taking notice.
The Grahame Rhodes Less Travelled should make the big time for those looking for technical and creative trombone achievements. I personally liked the Rhodes CD tremendously.
The Grahame Rhodes disk Jazz Experience - particularly nice work. Not enough good trombone around these days. Will play again and again.
Roger Against the Night
W-U-M-R fm 91.7
Memphis, Tennessee (August 16, 2004)
The Jazz Experience Vol.1: Collaboration - Grahame Rhodes, trombone, leader. Here's some very "in the pocket" jazz from north of the border. Grahame Rhodes has assembled ten of his Canadian colleagues to form an ensemble which produces lots of heat. The album achieves a nice balance of jazz standards: Blues and the Abstract Truth, Footprints, Dolphin Dance, Stolen Moments, and Mysterioso; standards: In a Sentimental Mood, Georgia on My Mind, and Tangerine; and some intriguing originals as well. Rhodes, who also plays euphonium displays very strong solo chops as do all the other cats on the bandstand. Being that this is, in essence, a "small big band", there's plenty of solo opportunities to pass around. I am curious about the use of Vol.1 in the album title. It would suggest that Rhodes has other goodies up his sleeve. Assuming to be the case, I look forward with enthusiasm to Vol.2!