Curtis Brothers Quartet: Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, Freedom
photo by PHOTOSJG.COM
The August release features, Zaccai Curtis, Luques Curtis, Richie Barshay, Reinaldo De Jesus, Mike Dease, Frank Kozyra, Mark Whitfield and Giovanni Almonte
Insight reviewed in Jazzwise Magazine, May 2009
photo by Kiel Scott
Joel Gonzales (tpt); Zach Lucas, Kris Allen (as); Jimmy Green (ts, ss); Zaccai Curtis (p); Luques Curtis (b); Richie Barshay (d), Reinaldo De Jesus (congas). Rec: 2006
Last month we reviewed tenorman Albert Rivera’s “Re-Introduction”, which featured the Curtis Brothers, Zaccai and Luques in straightahead mode. Insight is the brothers’ Latin jazz group with a distinctive sound and concept. Apart from two short sharp all-percussion blasts, all the compositions are by the remarkably talented and versatile Zaccai and combine elements of North American jazz mixed in with lessons learned from Africa, Puerto Rico, South and Central America and especially Cuba. On most tracks, it is first and foremost an harmonically fresh, warm-sounding jazz unit, which subtlely and seamlessly morphs into an intensely heated, hard-hitting Latin band of the highest calibre. A perfect example is the opening “The Resusitation”, which features Jimmy Greene’s tenor starting out gently, then building a terrific solo, then gliding away again and, before you know it, a relentless Latin groove, spurred on by a tight, take-no-prisoners rhythm section, has taken over the rest of the track. A few are Latin from the off, one with a funk section which appears from nowhere, then turns into something else again. There are moving solos by Gonzales, Greene on soprano as well as tenor, Lucas and Allen, but it’s the band’s sound and concept with its striking use of dynamics and Zaccai’s tunes, scores and spirited piano solos (unaccompanied on the closing tender heartfelt “Sudan and Darfar”) which make this such an attractive and addictive album. Check out “Necessity” and the possible highspot “The Truth Shall Set You Free”. Thoroughly recommended.
- Tony Hall, Jazzwise Magazine
Insight's Album featuring Jimmy Greene
Insight’s latest recording "A Genesis," featuring saxophonist Jimmy Greene, is available as of Saturday, March 17th 2007. It has been six years since their last recording, "Insight," released in 2001. The members include : Joel Gonzalez - trumpet, Zach Lucas - alto sax, Jimmy Greene - tenor sax, Reinaldo De Jesus - congas, Richie Barshay - drums, Luques Curtis - bass, Zaccai Curtis - piano, and joining in on track 9 is Kris Allen - alto sax.
Click here to preview Insight - A Genesis
To download the hit track "Necessity" free click here!
Insight’s "A Genesis" reviewed by Chip Boaz
photo by Kiel Scott
First we want to thank you for coming out to our shows and supporting us in anyway you can.
We want to let you know that in less then a year we are nearing the one thousand mark for how many sold. This summer at the Litchfield Jazz Festival alone we sold 70 CDs! We are so happy with the way this album is being received that we are ordering our next batch soon. We also want to let you know in case you don’t already, that it is available through CD Baby or you can order straight from us through our PayPal account on this website. You can also purchase the album on the iTunes Music Store. Thank you again for supporting real and live music and we hope to bring you more and exciting music in the near future.
– Album of the Week: A Genesis, Insight 11/30/2007 - "The Curtis brothers and their band Insight take this road less traveled on A Genesis, bringing together a variety of influences into a modern Latin Jazz sound." -Chip Boaz
Read the article about "A Genesis" along with many other articles and reviews today! To Read The Chip Boaz Review Click Here
