Scratching the Surface (Rob Brown album)

Scratching the Surface
Studio album by Rob Brown, Lou Grassi
Released 1998
Recorded October 6 & 7, 1997
The Spirit Room, Rossie, New York
Genre Jazz
Length 64:38
Label CIMP
Producer Robert D. Rusch
Rob Brown chronology
Orbit
(1997)		 Scratching the Surface
(1998)		 Visage
(2000)

Scratching the Surface is an album by a quartet co-led by jazz saxophonist Rob Brown and drummer Lou Grassi, which was recorded in 1997 and released on CIMP. They are joined by Israeli tenor saxophonist Assif Tsahar and bassist Chris Lightcap.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[2]

In his review for AllMusic, Steve Loewy states "High points include the wonderful tunes and arrangements by Brown, as well as his highly inventive soloing. If the horns sometimes seem to fly in different directions, the lengthy improvisations should be a sax lover's delight."[1]

The All About Jazz review by Derek Talor notes that "All four men are at the height of their game on this session and the compositions, authored mainly by Brown, are designed with maximum improvisational opportunities in mind."[3]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz observes that "Bob Rusch's sleeve-note seems to hint at a disappointment that this band is playing in a fundamentally conservative style as far as free music is concerned... The result is surely the best record Brown's put his name on".[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Rob Brown except as indicated
  1. "The Arc" – 5:14
  2. "Stray Arrow" – 3:29
  3. "A Hatful" – 8:42
  4. "Clean Sweep" – 7:59
  5. "3 Rings" – 15:35
  6. "Triangle" (Assif Tsahar) – 8:03
  7. "Procession" – 8:28
  8. "Unitarians" (Chris Lightcap) – 8:08

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Loewy, Steve. Rob Brown – Scratching the Surface: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-141-02327-4.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Derek. Scratching the Surface review at All About Jazz
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