MP3 Brian Ward - Wonderbread

Jazz, funk, R&B, soul and afro-cuban flavors all slathered in a gospel gravy

12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Fusion, LATIN: Latin Jazz



Details:
âEvery tune on "Wonderbread" comes from a different direction. The recipe calls for jazz, funk, R&B, soul and Afro-Cuban flavors all slathered in a gospel gravy.â

Sifting through stacks of recordings to discover fresh, creative, and stimulating music can be an exhausting experience to say the least. With that said, Iâm pleased to introduce you to Portland, Oregon native and keyboardist Brian Ward. His unique recipe for blending various textures of music together is well worth sampling and digesting each infectious note on his debut as a leader titled âWonderbread.â

The opener âBrothers I,â speaks transparently through the lens of percussive beats filled with a colorful array of African rhythms! Brianâs instinctive prowess as a keyboardist and arranger draws you without delay into the fabric of this intoxicating groove.

âWhat Can I Do?â ⦠Borrows a little sumthinâ, sumthinâ from the school of Richard Tee, and please keep in mind Ward does this without mimicking Mr. Teeâs sound. Yes, brother Brian represents by delivering a delectable Gospel inspired down home tune with a touch of jazz.
Brian admits to striving to discover various cultures musically, the next piece âShe Ainâtâ as he sees it is the only track thatâs true in tradition jazz on his debut. This track also features Reinhardt Melaz with a marveling drum solo.

Once you hear the next selection âBaby Girl,â youâll immediately discover the influence of another great composer and master keyboardist George Duke. Oh yeah, the Duke vibe is definitely written into the script of this jewel features a very talented bassist named Willy Barber.

âMove On,â drops in a the five spot with the cool sensation of an classic R&B groove covered by itâs foundation Gospel. Wardâs fearless approach to the composition on the Hammond B3 and Rhodes are on point.

Brian takes on the first of two covers with his treatment of Patti LaBelleâs âIf Only You Knew,â features vocalist Priscilla DeVold. Iâll give Ms. DeVold lots of love for daring to tackle this classic by LaBelle. Ironically, Brian decides to cover a unique piece by Stevie Wonder titled âNgiculela.â Yeah, I dig this one! It's laced with a luscious Bossa Nova flavor.

At the eighth spot Ward and company switches gears with a phat and sassy fusion groove suitably titled âPound Cake.â The ensemble delivers the goods by digging deep into the legacy of its preprocessors in jazz-fusion to nail this jewel.

Fender Rhodes lovers will simply adore this project by Ward, the next cut âStellar Opticsâ taps into the core of fusion. Nothing superficial here, this further exemplifies why music of this caliber is in high demand these days.

On the next selection Wardâs focus turns to the Latin inspired title track âWonderbread,â its layered with a near perfect dose of Mambo therefore making it one of the most vibrant tracks on the recording.

âMorning Walk,â was originally written as an interlude for Church. And yes, it does feel like a warm and easygoing Sunday morning spiritual vibe. In fact, this composition showcases Brianâs melodic voice on piano.

On a personal note, this is undisputedly pure contemporaryjazz. This solid playing and livid skill set by Brian Ward and his ensemble is without a doubt memorable. Iâm thankful for the opportunity to meet the music of Brian Ward. From the first spin on âWonderbread,â itâs evident without reading liner notes you get the idea this guy is all about music, which is rare these days. Brian Wardâs music is real, straight from the heart and soul of a man who loves playing music.

Rob Young- contemporaryjazz.com