E J STRICKLAND QUINTET - Warriors for Peace
Jammin’ Colors JC18-006-2
E.J. Strickland (d); Godwin Louis (as); Jure Pukl (ts, ss); Taber Gable (p); Josh Ginsburg (b); Ulrich Edorh (v, on ‘Let It Go’, vocal version)
Recorded at Da Town Studio, Marseille, April 2018
E.J. Strickland not only plays drums on this album, but he also produced it, composed all eleven tunes and was even responsible for the album artwork (and very tasteful it is too). Mind you, he’s not the only person associated with this album who has proved to be pretty versatile – recording and mixing engineer Ulrich Edorh also provides vocals on one track.
Strickland has played with an impressive line-up of musicians that includes Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Cassandra Wilson and Terrance Blanchard. Influenced by drummers such as Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, Strickland is in big demand as a tour drummer.
The concept behind Warriors for Peace is the battle for peace, equality and justice around the world. As a result, some of the tunes are reflective, including the title track, and ‘Let It Go,’ which has a gorgeous melody, played by Pukl on tenor sax. Despite the concept, this is by no means a downbeat album. The opening ‘Uvumilvu’ (Swahili for patience/perseverance/tolerance) is a mid-tempo number that starts with a long drum intro by Strickland, and features Gable on piano and Pukl on tenor, with Strickland’s splashing cymbals and fiery fills dominating the coda.
Tunes such as ‘Abandoned Discovery’, with its scurrying soprano sax; ‘When Times Passes By’ with its catchy riff and solos by Ginsburg on bass and Gable on piano; ‘Coexistence’, featuring energetic sax playing by Pukl and Louis, and ‘Midnights Clearing,’ with more stirring piano and sax soloing, also get the head nodding. For most of the time, Strickland puts the spotlight on his talented, tight band, and apart from the intro to the album opener, and two short drum solo interludes, he plays a mainly supporting role. The album finishes with a seven-minute vocal version of ‘Let It Go,’ and Edorh’s vocals really do enhance this beautiful ballad.
Reviewed by George Cole
Jammin’ Colors JC18-006-2
E.J. Strickland (d); Godwin Louis (as); Jure Pukl (ts, ss); Taber Gable (p); Josh Ginsburg (b); Ulrich Edorh (v, on ‘Let It Go’, vocal version)
Recorded at Da Town Studio, Marseille, April 2018
E.J. Strickland not only plays drums on this album, but he also produced it, composed all eleven tunes and was even responsible for the album artwork (and very tasteful it is too). Mind you, he’s not the only person associated with this album who has proved to be pretty versatile – recording and mixing engineer Ulrich Edorh also provides vocals on one track.
Strickland has played with an impressive line-up of musicians that includes Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Cassandra Wilson and Terrance Blanchard. Influenced by drummers such as Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Tony Williams, Strickland is in big demand as a tour drummer.
The concept behind Warriors for Peace is the battle for peace, equality and justice around the world. As a result, some of the tunes are reflective, including the title track, and ‘Let It Go,’ which has a gorgeous melody, played by Pukl on tenor sax. Despite the concept, this is by no means a downbeat album. The opening ‘Uvumilvu’ (Swahili for patience/perseverance/tolerance) is a mid-tempo number that starts with a long drum intro by Strickland, and features Gable on piano and Pukl on tenor, with Strickland’s splashing cymbals and fiery fills dominating the coda.
Tunes such as ‘Abandoned Discovery’, with its scurrying soprano sax; ‘When Times Passes By’ with its catchy riff and solos by Ginsburg on bass and Gable on piano; ‘Coexistence’, featuring energetic sax playing by Pukl and Louis, and ‘Midnights Clearing,’ with more stirring piano and sax soloing, also get the head nodding. For most of the time, Strickland puts the spotlight on his talented, tight band, and apart from the intro to the album opener, and two short drum solo interludes, he plays a mainly supporting role. The album finishes with a seven-minute vocal version of ‘Let It Go,’ and Edorh’s vocals really do enhance this beautiful ballad.
Reviewed by George Cole
