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Joanne Brackeen Reviews

"Pianist Joanne Brackeen must have had an absolute ball making her newest album. Pink Elephant Magic, the 60- year-old Brackeen's 22d release over the past 20 or so years as a leader--but first in four years and first for Arkadia-- certainly sounds as if it was a fun experience; both her writing and playing are full of exuberance and whimsy. Sometimes compared to piano greats like McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett and , Brackeen does nothing to detract from her reputation here. Instead she expands it by adding to her admirable technique and improvisatory skills a sense of f-u-n. Sometimes perceived as VERY serious, Brackeen here cavorts on the keys like a kid in a playground.

Also known as an outstanding and original composer, Brackeen has written seven of the 10 songs, her wide-ranging, terrificly engaging compositions including the playful title tune, a silly, entertaining hipster bit called "What's Your Choice, Rolls Royce?'' (enhanced by a delightful vocal), the haunting "In Vogue,'' a charming "Beethoven Meets the Milennium in SMillenniumnd "Cram 'N Exam,'' a rousing be-bop piece written with Brackeen's students at Boston's Berklee College of Music in mind.

Brackeen has assembled a superb cast of like-minded musicians,who help elevate the project to an early candidate for critics' year-end Top 10 lists: Bassist , Cuban-born drummer Horacio "El Negro'' Hernandez, Chris Potter on soprano and tenor saxophones, trumpeter , soprano saxist David Liebman, and percussionist ." -Bob Fromholtz-

"Pink Elephant Magic, Joanne Brackeen's recently released CD, makes me want to seek out her live performances too. A unique voice as a composer and pianist, Brackeen teams up with an all-star line-up on "Pink Elephant Magic". The results are a series of surprise-filled performances by a genius. I can't wait to hear her live again." -Joseph Blake, Victory Journal-

"One of the great pianists and heros in Modern Jazz returns in incendiary and dynamic fashion. Joanne Brackeen's Pink Elephant Magic is stunning, articulate and easily one of the premier recordings of 1999." -Glenn Astanta-

"Pink Elephant Magic, along with her other fine recent work validates the statement made by the late Leonard Feather that Joanne Brackeen is as important to the time period covering the last 19 years as Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock were to the 60's, McCoy Tyner and Keith Jarrett to the 70's." -Bob Margolis-

"Turnaround - Brackeen unleashes notes in bunches then flurries, swinging in the process. This mixing and matching of lines with melodic charm and those that lean toward, and embrace, dissonance-all delivered with ardor and an undeniably powerful sound-mostly works wonders...(4 1/2 Stars)" -Zan Stewart, DownBeat-

"...one of the most consistently inventive pianists today - stop the presses, Power Talk is a major event!" -Stereophile-

"Brackeen's sense of time is rare and wild. Who would dare play 'Funny Valentine' in 5/4? Turn 'Darn That Dream' into a grandiloquent waltz? Dust the desert sands off 'Caravan'? Brackeen bravely redfines every tune she touches" -Fred Bouchard, DownBeat-

"In a vibrant follow-up to her acclaimed Breath of Brazil recording, Take A Chance finds fiery pianist Joanne Brackeen once again exploring the beautiful colors of Brazil with refreshing performances of lyrical compositions by Jobim, Nascimento, Horta, Brackeen herself, and others..(4 1/2 Stars)" -Leslie Gourse, DownBeat-

"Joanne Brackeen's Where Legends Dwell is as close to perfection as you can get in the piano trio format. It is Brackeen's unerring feel for phrasing and supple ability to transform and transcend obvious changes, however, that infuses such a special glow into her dozen original compositions." -Jazz Blues-

"Joanne Brackeen flawlessly puts her aggressive piano into the heart of Brazil in Breath of Brazil with such simpatico and verve that on hearing this album one is moved to throw open the windows to share it with the world." -Jazz Times-

"Joanne Brackeen Live at Maybeck Hall, Vol. 1 - "Joanne Brackeen first requested this setting, this piano, to record; she seems to welcome a chance to soften her edges and tone down her thorny originals, like her cubist portrait in 'Dr. Chu Chow' (redrawn with strings in 1989 at New England Conservatory). Yet her set is in some ways the most exuberant and intense, played with barely controlled abandon, high dynamics, and her restless, relentless energy...(5 Stars)" -Fred Bouchard, DownBeat-

"A musician like Corea or Hancock may use certain specific rhythms as a springboard for further development. But Brackeen's rhythms seem to blossom spontaneously while she's at the keyboard - taking on a life of their own and traveling unpredictable courses that defy easy rationalization." -Terry Perkins, The Riverfront Times-

"Aside from her two-fisted technique, adventurous harmonic sense and sensitive dynamics, the secret to Brackeen's success is the controlled ferocity that gives her playing a creative edge. 'I've Got The Whole World on a String,' for example, opened with sunny passages and a bouyant feeling. But underneath all the streaming sunshine lurked great quantites of dark, explosive energy that any artist would love to unleash in his or her own work." -Owen McNally, The Hartford Courant-

"Given her credits and her stature in the jazz world, this should have automatically been considered a must-hear. Taking in the responses she received it was obvious everyone in attendance left feeling that way. This is one of the most commanding soloists to have ever played Jazz City in its 12 year history." -Peter North, The Edmonton Sun-

"Joanne Brackeen's piano style is easy to describe - it's emotive and filled with playful imagery. In the space of one solo, Brackeen can take you romping through a forest, get you ambushed by gnomes and dwarfs, and then lead you giggling away down the trail as you escape their clutches." -Michael G. Nastos, Ann Arbor-