Rick Braun - Sessions Volume 1 (2006)

Sessions Vol. 1 is truly a fabulous CD!! One of the best contemporary jazz selections I own. I highly recommend to all and have, in fact, purchased multiple copies to spread around amongst my soft jazz fan friends. The collection of outstanding artists sitting in with Braun and his sweet horn is top notch and includes not only his regular band members but also Richard Elliot, Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, and Jeff Golub. All are also favorites of mine, especially Jeff Golub and his guitar - he is great in his own right. The entire CD is recorded live-in-studio and according to the liner notes "a lot" of the songs were done on the first take. I can just image the creative energy that must have been boiling over in that studio during the recording sessions, which it sound like, happened over just a few days. You can definitely hear it in the music, and even see it in some of the CD photo art. The first cut, Cadillac Slim, is up tempo and full of fun and energy - a real jam session of the great talent. The second song, Notorious, is a slower slightly methodical number featuring Richard Eliot on Sax. The third, Philadelphia, begins with a soulful horn whisper and then the tempo sets in and features Jeff Golub on guitar. Number ten, Nightwalk, is my favorite with Braun on the flugelhorn and is one that reminds me of a happy carefree skip through the park! There is not a bad cut in the twelve but those are my favorites. There is only one song with vocals and it's Braun - not bad for a horn player! I look forward to more in the Sessions series as Braun mentions. If and when it/they are released I will be one of the first to buy. Add this CD to your library and you will certainly not be disapointed!!!! -- Nancy L. Albrecht