The Fire Within (Don Braden album)

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The Fire Within
Studio album by
Don Braden
Released1999
GenreJazz
LabelRCA Victor[1]
ProducerDon Braden
Don Braden chronology
The Voice of the Saxophone
(1997) 		The Fire Within
(1999) 		Contemporary Standards Ensemble
(2000)

The Fire Within is an album by the American saxophonist Don Braden, released in 1999.[2][3] Braden supported the album with shows in the United States and Britain.[4]

Production[edit]

Braden recorded the album with three different bands.[5] Kenny Kirkland intended to play with one of the bands but died before the recording sessions; instead of replacing Kirkland's piano, Braden chose to record the planned songs with just himself, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts.[6] Dwayne Burno played bass on some of the other tracks.[7]

Braden composed the title track.[8] "Solar" is a cover of the Miles Davis song.[9] "Fried Bananas" is a cover of the Dexter Gordon tune; "Thermo" was written by Freddie Hubbard.[10][11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[13]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD[10]

JazzTimes deemed the album Braden's "first masterpiece," writing that "the title tune's mercurial sax-piano-bass-drums slo-burn is also the album's vibe signifier."[14] The Irish Times determined that "the real meat, and Braden's most unbuttoned soloing, is from the final session, a trio with Christian McBride and Jeff 'Tain' Watts, with the tenor energised."[15] The Boston Herald stated: "More Rollins than Coltrane, Braden plays the spaces as well as any young saxman, knows the value of a melody and gives his sidemen ... space to shine."[16]

AllMusic called The Fire Within "a fine record" and "a varied but balanced disc of traditional jazz."[12]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Incendiary" 
2."All or Nothing at All" 
3."Solar" 
4."The Boiling Point" 
5."Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" 
6."Thermo" 
7."Where There's Smoke" 
8."The Fire Within" 
9."Fried Bananas" 
10."Doctune" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Johnson, Martin (6 May 1999). "A Tip of the Hat to a Cool, Funky Trio". Newsday. p. C5.
  2. ^ Bauer, William R. (March 12, 2003). Open the Door: The Life and Music of Betty Carter. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0472067915 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Janowiak, John (Jun 1999). "Requiem/The Fire Within". DownBeat. 66 (6): 62.
  4. ^ Massarik, Jack (10 Feb 2000). "Local heroes save the Braden bacon". Evening Standard. p. 53.
  5. ^ Macnie, Jim (Jul 1999). "Traditions: As she lives and breathes". Jazziz. 16 (7): 19.
  6. ^ Hunter, Jr., Al (30 Apr 1999). "'COSBY' COMPOSER AIMS FOR ACCLAIM OUTSIDE SHOW". FEATURES YO!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 71.
  7. ^ Poses, Jon W. (March 14, 1999). "Other new releases worth noting". Columbia Daily Tribune.
  8. ^ Blumenthal, Bob (17 July 1999). "Braden quartet teams up in collective spirit". The Boston Globe. p. C6.
  9. ^ Fischer, Doug (15 July 2000). "A passionate student of jazz". Ottawa Citizen. p. K2.
  10. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books Ltd. 2000. p. 174.
  11. ^ Jones, Ryan (April 30, 1999). "BRADEN HAS THE FIRE OF JAZZ WITHIN". LIFESTYLE/PREVIEWS. The Record. Hackensack. p. 3.
  12. ^ a b "Don Braden - Fire Within Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 796.
  14. ^ Terrell, Tom. "Don Braden: The Fire Within". JazzTimes.
  15. ^ Comiskey, Ray (25 June 1999). "Don Braden: The Fire Within". Sound. The Irish Times. p. 12.
  16. ^ Convey, Kevin R. (July 9, 1999). "DON BRADEN The Fire Within". Scene. Boston Herald. p. 24.
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