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Towner Galaher: Courageous Hearts
ByBrecker Brothers
band / ensemble / orchestraLike Tyson, Galaher works fast: Most of his music comes in under five minutes, with two pieces clocking in around 3:45. In the pop world, 3:45 is an opera; in jazz, it's the equivalent of an e.e. cummings couplet. Short should not be confused with sparse, however, as Galaher and his partners prove there's a lot than can be done in five minutes (or less).
Continuing the Tyson metaphor, the front line comes out swinging on the opening title track, playing big meaty lines as Galaher lays down a colossal beat, wonderfully accentuated by Gabriel Machado's congas. The piece feels like big band, but its aggressive structure and R&B sensibility puts it closer to Brecker-esque "Punk Jazz."
Brian Lynch
trumpetb.1956

Craig Handy
saxophoneb.1962

George Colligan
multi-instrumentalistb.1969
The onslaught never really stops as piece after piece flies in, administers a musical beat-down, and flies out just as fast: "Boogaloobop" morphs from Punk Jazz to quicksilver bebop as Fred Wesley
trombone
b.1943
Courageous aims to thrill, and Galaher certainly does that. While his takes on the standards "Hot House" and "Afro Blue" are good but unsurprising, Galaher's originals go for the heart and the gut, speeding up the former and warming the latter. His drumming has power to spare, as evidenced by how well he matches up with his massive front line. Unfortunately, Galaher seems to see every drum part as a nail, while he is the big hammer. Even on a softer piece like "Winter Sunrise," where a little more nuance could have gone a long way, there's the sense that Galaher can't wait for his next chance to start thrashing his kit again.
There's no question Towner Galaher has big talent and a bright future as a leader. But instead of the textured approach of Eric Harland
drums
b.1976
Track Listing
Courageous Hearts; Boogaloobop; Second Line Samba; Winter Sunrise; Hot House; April 28th (Vivre Egale A Vous M
Personnel
Towner Galaher
drumsTowner Galaher: drums; Charles Fambrough: bass; George Colligan: piano; Brian Lynch: trumpet; Craig Handy: tenor sax; Fred Wesley: trombone; Gabriel Machado: percussion (1, 8, 9); Ze Mauricio: percussion (3).
Album information
Title: Courageous Hearts | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Self Produced
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