Dann Glenn
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What an amazing cat this Dann Glenn. Octavia is his 8th CD. I'll admit that before this year I don't recall hearing of him, but his music is very big in Europe & Japan. How many times have we heard that before about great music or great musicians? It would lead one to believe that something other than the public's musical tastes influence what's available on the shelves of our record stores. Thanks to this new technology we can now purchase what the rest of the world already had available. Now I have all of Dann's albums, and I'm looking forward to his ninth, Little Toy Horns, which Dann says should be out sometime soon. DG is very hot right now, not only in Europe & Japan, but also at home in the US. Recent interviews in all the best Bass mags talk about his early years with Jaco, and all the great musicians he's played with since. Also look for the new Modulus Dann Glenn Vintage 4 string fretless Jazz bass.
Dann himself descibes his music as "jazz/neo-classical/Martian Big Band." He-he, he may know more about Martians than I do, but Ben Franklin said never use two words when one will do. Ben would simply say Dann Glenn's music is excellent. His music is so appealing that I'm sure the Martians would agree. The first note of Octavia tells you that this is a bass player's album. Deep. At first, I was a little disappointed. I wanted this bass player's album to come right outta the box with some of the quick stuff. But, man, was I wrong? After I gave it a few seconds I really started diggin' the space between the spacey feel. It made me feel I was lost somewhere, somehow. Then I read the title: "The Lost Years." See what I mean about this guy?
Now the second tune I was ready. "Peculiar Feelin," I read. "We'll see," I said. But still it jumped at me. Listen to just a quick sample through the link below. It's so catchy, but not so predictable. Dann plays from the mind of his heart, the heart of his mind, and takes you there with him. This tune is especially catchy for bass players and any listener who tends to concentrate on why the bass is so special. Dann aptly demonstrates a peculiar feeling. I like this. You'll like it. Dann plays all the instruments. You'll like that. Oh, sure it may have been "better" with say André Previn & The London Symphony Orchestra. Maybe. But I'd still like to have forever this copy of the man pouring his heart & soul into every take, and declare both versions incomparable. Françoise, Dann's wife, savior, mentor, child, exec-producer, webmaster and much more, is a major part of why we hear what we hear in Dann's music. Even to hear her husband talk about her is inspirational. Françoise, from those of us who enjoy the result, thank you.
One keyboard sound I usually don't like is "Orchestra", especially if used to replace horns or string parts. But listen to how good it sounds on "Ocean Of The Chosen." Even if you don't become a convert like me, at least you might learn to type faster. {It's on mnnnnnnow.} This tune has a very different walking line. I hope you learn to dig this guy's head the way he puts it on the disc. Ya gotta love it. A good friend of mine (I named my dog after him) once told me he was backstage with David Bromburg, and Bonnie Raitt was there. She was very social before it was time to go on, but, as it drew closer she got quiet and said, "I'm into my head." That shows a lot of responsibility to the music. Dann Glenn is very responsible to his music. You can hear tears in many of his compositions. Very often they will be your own.
"Transparent Sun." Okay, let's see if you can see through this. We're gonna have a contest to see who can hear the most musical references in this sun tune. Don't expect any monetary awards or anything. It'll be like when we were kids. You know, win for winning. (For you kids out there, hide your eyes, but don't block your ears;) There will be the natural (and, of course, cultural, but I'm talking about the natural) rewards of listening intently to Dann's tunes. This one has an oriental sense---to me. Just listen to how intricate all the parts are. Can you DiG it? It's the kind of music that no matter how familiar you are with it, you hear something different every time you take it for a spin. If you could put a price tag on music, that should be the value system. As for the good ol' aesthetic & intrinsic values... well, if you read this thus far, you know how I feel. Give a listen, and let me know what you think.
Speaking of classics, let's talk about "Portable Language." This one has got to move you in your heart & soul. It has Mussgorsky moments. And I'm a huge "Night On Bald Mountain" fan. Speaking of fans, this tune has got to blow you away. Ah, man, it's on now. I encourage you to listen loud... & with a friend.
Through the tribute link below you can discover that Dann says, in an effects-altered voice, "This one's for you, Stevie," at the begining of "Primative Concepts," a lavished 12-bar blues that SRV would enjoy. We all will.
There's plenty good things happening musically on "The Interpreter," but I prefer staying with the bass with this one. He is a master of the hypnotic variation. You'll be lulled into a sense of rythmn that your body and/or mind will continue in palaceguard dedication when every once in awhile Dann will tickle your ear with a musical feather. Not a mistiming, but a wonderful divergence from the expected. What a great sense of humor. Not to mention TIME.
The last tune on the album was the one with which I had my first Octavian experience. The entire "False Horizon" was in RealAudio through Dann's website (click album cover above), and he was kind enough to allow me to share a stereo version from here. Send Dann your personal thank you here. Maybe because this one was the first---you know how that goes---it's my favorite. Maybe it's because it's the one playing right now. If at first you think you hear Don Alias, wait. Dann Glenn is truely on the horizon.
DiG DG yourself, and let me know how deeply you dug it. DiG ya later.
©1999 Mello-Dee-O-Dough Music