DON BRADEN is a celebrated US jazz sax player and he’s just released his latest album, ‘Earth, Wind And Wonder volume 2’. The 9 tracker is a second instalment of his ongoing tribute to two of his musical influences – Earth, Wind And Fire and Stevie Wonder. Like volume 1 (which by passed our radar) this new LP features Don’s jazz interpretation of well-known EWF/Stevie tunes alongside a couple of his own compositions.
Those “orignals” are ‘Arise’ and ‘Profusion’ and both match the sonic template of Braden’s takes on EWF’s ‘In The Stone’, ‘Reasons’ , ‘That’s The Way Of The World’ and Stevie’s ‘Master Blaster’, ‘Send One Your Love’, ‘Bird Of Beauty’ and ‘Creepin’’.
Now these new treatments aren’t smooth jazz or soul-jazz; rather they are charismatic attempts to offer totally new, jazz perspectives on the familiar. Braden says: “My Main goal was to capture our real band sound on material developed over several years. We are definitely pushing for the next level of true jazz energy.”
The “band “ by the way numbers Miki Hayama and Art Hirahara (keys), bassist Kenny Davis, drummer Jeremy Warren and percussionist Kahil Kwame Bell.
DON BRADEN; ‘Earth, Wind And Wonder volume 2’ is out now via Creative Perspective Music.
