Alison Brown - Stolen Moments (CD)

Astounding display of melodic invention

By Joe  Nov 4, 2005

Pros: Elements of many genres, along with some guest vocals too

Cons: Some into traditional bluegrass may have a hard time appreciating her current music

Playing Time – 50:35 -- Individualism in music is a goal for many musicians who enjoy the challenge of pushing their technical skills into realms of innovation and adventure. The impressively virtuosic Alison Brown has a broad base of experience to ...draw upon. “Stolen Moments” is an astounding display of melodic invention that continues to characterize this one-of-a-kind player. Her expressive musicality incorporates elements of many genres from Celtic (her own “Carrowkeel”) to pop (Jimi Henrix’s “Angel” or Paul Simon’s “Homeward Bound” or Jim Rooney/Bill Keith’s “One Morning in May”). These pop numbers include some superb vocals that make the album whole. Instrumental new acoustic jazz is well represented in cuts like “The Sound of Summer Running” and “The Magnificent Seven” (written with John Doyle) that has a seven-beat meter in the tune’s head. With the exception of “One Morning in May,” arranged without banjo, the 5-string finds itself laying just right into the greater ensemb Read more Less