Upward Spiral

While Wynton Marsalis ventures into diverse composing projects, such as ballets, string quartet, a mass, an oratorio, suites and symphonies as well as more traditional jazz tunes for small ensembles and big band, brother Branford stretches into different contemporary jazz approaches, tackling Coltrane, trio and quartet formats, playing classical with a classical orchestra, surveying the blues, and exploring the edges while grounded in spirituality. Here, he collaborates with a vocalist, Kurt Elling, and emphasizes mood, mellowness, and improvisations sensitive to the selected songs. The songs are quite different, beginning with Gershwin, and include pieces by Sting, Sonny Rollins, Frank Sinatra, Fred Hersch, Jobim and Oliveira, Morris and Wayne, and Marsalis and Elling themselves in Casssandra Song. Elling's gentle interpretation of Sting's Practical Arrangement is superb, and his scat and upbeat Doxy that follows is truly a fun change of pace, an exception in this largely even toned album. Joining the duo on most tracks are Joey Calderazzo, piano [who wrote the title work The Return (Upward Spiral)], Eric Revis on bass, and drummer Justin Faulkner. Ellings and Marsalis are, however, alone with I'm A Fool To Want You. The bossa nova is an odd duck in the collection, but who doesn't like Jobim? Elling did not convince me, but Marsalis swung. Elling is well-known for his narration and prose, and his speaks Calvin Forbe's poetry against Marsalis's complementary improvisations in Momma Said. Blue Velvet is taken unusually slow and soft, and the musicians meet the challenge of uniform tone. This is a beautiful, well-crafted album, carefully arranged and performed. This is among the best of Elling's works, and Branford Marsalis continues to establish his versatility and exquisite saxophone art.

Two modern jazz masters at the top of their game! Kurt's adept interpretation of Doxy is right up their with some of Ella's best performances. Like Dizzy used to say "If you wants to carry a tune, ya gots to have a pocket!" And this rhythm section has a HUGE velvet-lined one! This album is like having a front row seat to a late night set with Joe Williams or Ella at Birdland in the 50's. Worth getting on vinyl if you're so inclined. Def'ly a must have for the collection.

This is the best that Kurt Elling has sounded since Nightmoves. There's a wide variety of material, so it must be the arrangements and Marsalis's band that bring out the best in him.

I enjoy the CD a lot. Branford and Kurt collaborate very well. I love the first track, "There's a Boat Dat's Leaving for New York" which is a fun tune from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess. I hoped that it would set the tone for the rest of the CD, but the rest is more moody and contemplative. It's very well done; but not as fun as I thought it would be after the first tune. Had I known that, though, my reaction might have been different. Maybe yours will be, too, if you have read this first and you'll bump it up to 5 stars. The talent and artistry in the group, as well as the vocals, are top notch. Give it a try and see what you think.

Very good CD with interesting versions of several standards as well as originals. I enjoyed the playing and singing of Kurt Elling and Branford's Quartet together.

Absolutely love it. Particularly love track 4, Practical Arrangement, and track 12, Upward Spiral. Got to see them perform the album at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Wonderful. The studio album, equally wonderful.

Branford and his band sound great as always. Kurt sounds great and he and the group work well together. I subsequently saw them in concert and was even more blown away. Great choice of material, unique standards and originals.

Always loved his playing, and his approach to the music. Coming from a musical and talented family, I'm sure it was difficult to find his voice. I had the pleasure to see and hear him at Northern University in the 90's.