Heritage Archive

Owen Broder – Heritage: The American Roots Project – ArtistShare 

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 8, 2018 | Jazz CD Reviews

Deeply comforting Americana roots blend… Owen Broder – Heritage: The American Roots Project – ArtistShare  #A50158 – 62:23 – ****1/2 (Owen Broder – leader, woodwinds; Sara Caswell – violin; Scott Wendholt – trumpet, flugelhorn; Nick Finzer – trombone; James Shipp – vibraphone, percussion; Frank Kimbrough – piano; Jay Anderson – bass; Matt Wilson – drums; Wendy Gilles, Kate McGarry, Vuyo Sotashe – vocals) Owen Broder has hit the musical jackpot with his exploration of American roots genres blending bluegrass, blues, folk, and spiritual idioms with a jazz swing feel that both warms the heart and provides a feeling of comfort and elation. It is much easier to experience than to describe. For lovers of Aaron Copland, Mark O’Connor, and Maria Schneider (and there are many of us), this is music to crave in these turbulent times. A brass fanfare, a soaring violin jig, and an ensemble blend are some of the features that weave in and out of both the original compositions, as well as the staple roots tracks (“Jambalaya,” “Cripple Creek,” “Wayfaring Stranger”), among the nine numbers on this CD. This is obviously a labor of love from Broder, and he is blessed by the contributions from some of […]