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Alison Brown makes magic with a banjo, and her Alison Brown Quartet (Brown, John Burr, Garry West, Larry Atamanuik/David Heyer) meld Jazz and bluegrass on Evergreen. Given Brown's extraordinary proficiency with a banjo, I suppose the quartet is a jazz-infused bluegrass ensemble, as opposed to a bluegrass-infused jazz ensemble, but it is truly a close call. Given Brown's range and vision with the banjo, her international reputation as an exceptional musician is well deserved.

Evergreen jumps right into Carol and the Kings, a spirited mix of holiday tunes, including "We Three Kings," "Silver Bells," and more (cleverly arranged by Brown)! The Two Santas medley similarly combines "Here Comes Santa Claus" with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", a natural blend. Given the wealth of wonderful seasonal choices out there, the holiday medley options are almost limitless, and Brown smartly employs the device on four tracks.

The offering's acoustics include some reverb elements, softening the overall tone. Although Brown is stupendous on the banjo, her fellow travelers cannot be denied; her quartet creates a warm and winning piano-bass-drums framework around her instrument. In addition, "special guest" Joe Craven wails on the fiddle and mandolin (not to mention some percussion!). Beyond the well-executed instrumentals, choral support appears on two tracks, and the singing is incorporated seamlessly. First, remember the WHOS down in WHOVILLE singing Welcome Christmas on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" ("Fah who foraze! Dah who doraze! Welcome Christmas, come this way!)? The University School of Nashville Middle School Chorale makes a guest appearance as the WHOS, and they do a lovely job. The middle schoolers also appear on the Charlie Brown television special's Christmas Time Is Here. Often, when an instrumental album includes a track or two of choral music, the choice comes across as an afterthought or an unecessary add-on. Not so here--the middle school's contribution is spot-on perfection.

Evergreen draws to a close in fine style with a whistle-blowing, island-hoppin' Little Drummer Boy with dancing rhythms and a breezy vibe. Finally, there is a short "bonus track" in the final moments; one young voice sweetly sings The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late). Nice!

In sum, the Alison Brown Quartet has packaged a fun and very fine gift for holiday audiences. The musicianship is top notch. If you enjoy jazz or bluegrass, Evergreen should definitely be under your tree!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Alison Brown: banjo
Joe Craven: fiddle, mandolin, percussion
John R. Burr: piano
Garry West: bass
David Heyer: drums (except 4,7)
Larry Atamanuik: drums (4,7)

With:
The University School of Nashville Middle School Chorale
The USN Singers



From the Website:

Alison Brown achieved an international reputation as a banjo player by pushing the instrument out of its familiar Appalachian settings and into new musical territory. Through four albums on the renowned Vanguard Records label and one on her own Compass Records, Brown composed and played her way into the affections of fans of jazz-hued acoustic music with a unique voice on a relatively unexplored instrument.

Alison Brown Quartet

Evergreen

Artist link

Track List