The reviews are in! We received some wonderful reviews from Gunn’s Ablazin, and I wanted to share them with you below.
“Both very artistic and also providing social commentary, the incredible talent present makes it quite easy to see why Gunn was voted Best D.C, Trombonist in two separate years. Similarly, it wouldn’t surprise me if Gunn’s Ablazin’ finds itself being one of the best jazz albums this year.”
- From Take Effect Reviews Blog
- https://takeeffectreviews.com/reviews-19#/shannongunngunnsablazin/
“The result is attractive earworms rather than distracting devices and gestures, as well as dancing melodies, insistent rhythms and wonderfully satisfying harmonies all of add the element of unusual textures…”
“But what is creditable is that Miss Gunn has managed to create music that is melodically, harmonically and rhythmically accessible even as it incorporates harmonic devices that are dissonant and on distortions and rhythmic ones that are based on principles of arrhythmia… In Miss Gunn’s case she achieves this with her quintet principally by employing the use of the metallic, wafting, glassy and oscillating, drifting and ethereal voice of the vibraphone, and the mindful tintinnabulation of the Fender Rhodes in the other group configuration; both of which instrumental relationship(s) is set against the rumbling, gruff smears and bellows of her trombone, glued together with rolling bass lines and the rattle and hum of drums.”
- By Raul Da Gama of Jazz Da Gama blog
- https://jazzdagama.com/music/shannon-gunn-gunns-ablazin/
“This popular Washington D.C. jazzer isn’t afraid to take on a less likable D.C. denizen, the President, as her protest songs, “Babes In Cages Are Not OK” and “Orange Noise” attest. She’s so cool.”
- Mike Greenblat’s Rant N’ Roll
“More than her instrumental prowess, this captivating recording also highlights Gunn’s superb musicianship and the relevance of her work both creatively and in the civic sense.”
“Gunn’s energetic improvisation balances buttery smoothness with an understated growl while bassist Mikel Combs lays down a muscular groove with swagger. “
“Gleason and Barrick’s contemplative conversation is delightfully dissonant and dovetails into Gunn’s extemporization with its fiery growl and pensive notes. The simultaneously irate and elegiac group performance is haunting as it shimmers and glows within a dramatic atmosphere. “
By HRAYR ATTARIAN at All About Jazz
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/gunns-ablazin-shannon-gunn-self-produced-review-by-hrayr-attarian.php
“A snazzy set that opens the ears nicely, this is a listening date sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as your try to keep up with what’s going on. Smart throughout, it’s never to smart for the room with displays for the sake of display. Actually, dis plays! Well done. “
Midwest Record
http://midwestrecord.com/MWR1577.html
“Here, where there is depth of sound, the expected overwhelming of the soundscape does not happen. Instead, warm, flexible notes are used to play up each song’s theme, leaving audiences surprised in a good way.”
“… the almost buzzy blend of trombone and keyboard is as relaxing as it is interesting…”
- By Dodie Miller-Gould at Lemonwire
- https://lemonwire.com/2019/11/13/shannon-gunn-re-defines-trombone-playing-on-gunns-ablazin/
The Jazz Page
Jazz Weekly Blog
Jazz Square Russia
https://jazzquad.ru/index.pl?act=PRODUCT&id=5347
In a Blue Mood Blog
http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2019/12/shannon-gunn-gunns-ablazin.html
Many thanks to Kari Gaffney of KariOn Productions for her support in promoting the album!