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Charlie Hunter: Everybody Has A Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth
Recorded live in a studio in Hudson, New York, on Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth (quote courtesy Mike Tyson), Charlie Hunter returns to his quartet by adding
Kirk Knuffke
trumpet
Bobby Previte
drumsb.1957
Curtis Fowlkes
trombone1950 - 2023
In fact, Charlie Hunter concentrates on his music to the exclusion of cultural fashion or the trappings of celebrity. This, in turn, accounts for a confidence that fosters minimal recording time to produce tracks such as "Leave Him Lay," yet still fosters a natural momentum within the musicianship and, by extension, the recordings. For instance, "Who Put You Behind the Wheel," radiates the jaunty air of New Orleans without the often self-conscious trappings of homages to NOLA.
That number also reminds there's been an undercurrent of blues in many of Charlie Hunter's past albums and it's more overt on this outing in numbers like "(Looks Like) Someone Got Ahead of Schedule on Their Medication;" this particular track is also one more place where the room between the instruments is virtually as important as the sounds the four musicians make with them. The additional continuity of Bobby Previte's is hard to underestimate as well, because his history with Hunter, in the Groundtruther series, Coalition of the Willing (Ropeadope, 2006) and beyond, allows for ordered, intuitive interaction.
The drummer's easygoing rapport with Hunter's allows them to render an accessible style fresh because they won't overthink it. Thus, they inject the proper bounce into "Latin For Travelers." The title song here represents another one of the guitarist's steadfast virtues: a willingness to support his bandmates. Pithy horn punctuation leaves more than a little room for the low notes Hunter plays to echo in the air, which in turn allows Knuffke and Fowlkes to play around them, Meanwhile, Previte just lays back in order to maintain only subliminal rhythm.
An altogether spooky air emanates from that cut and similarly tangible atmosphere prevails throughout most of Everybody Has a Plan..., to the extent that some music lovers may find it relaxed to a fault. There are enough brisk intervals here though, and they are so arresting precisely because this Charlie Hunter-led quartet leans forward into its music, imperceptibly but decisively, just as the frontman progresses along his artistic path. ">
Track Listing
Everybody Has A plan Until They Get Punched In The Mouth; (Looks Like) Somebody Got Ahead Of Schedule On Their Medication; Leave Him Lay; We Don't Want Nobody Nobody Sent; Big Bills Blues; Latin For Travelers; No Money, No Honey; Who Put You Behind The Wheel?; (Wish I Was) Already Paid And On My Way Home; The Guys. Get. Shirts.
Personnel
Charlie Hunter
guitarCharlie Hunter: 8-string guitarl Kirk Knuffke: cornet; Bobby Previte: drums; Curtis Fowlkes: trombone.
Album information
Title: Everybody Has A Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: GroundUP
Tags
Charlie Hunter
CD/LP/Track Review
Doug Collette
GroundUP
Kirk Knuffke
Bobby Previte
CURTIS FOWLKES
New Orleans
Everybody Has A Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth
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