★★★★★
Those who have heard Karl Denson's ferociously unfettered sax playing with his band Tiny Universe (or even in a more regimented setting with Lenny Kravitz) tend to be persuaded that he's one of the artists who will be keeping jazz vital in this new century. Unlike other players who are easily pigeonholed, Denson's sole musical agenda seems to be finding what works...
- www.rollingstone.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
No matter how much meters-influenced musicians like Karl Denson and Medeski, Martin and Wood play with their formulas, to many listeners, they'll always just be jam bands. Saxophonist and singer Denson neatly sidesteps this problem on the disciplined, surprisingly accessible Bridge. He's written songs, not vamps, and he builds each atop the kind of tightly wound rhythm associated with James Brown tunes...
- www.rollingstone.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
While some of the jazz cognoscenti may suggest that the acid jazz scene has played out its welcome, the fact remains that artists such as Medeski, Martin & Wood and others of their ilk seem to be finding new things to say within the borders of improvisation and dance rhythms. Now add to the list saxophonist/flutist Karl Denson, a decidedly groove-based player who has been straddling the lines of jazz and more popular forms since 1992...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2009-06-05
★★★★★
While some of the jazz cognoscenti may suggest that the acid jazz scene has played out its welcome, the fact remains that artists such as Medeski, Martin & Wood and others of their ilk seem to be finding new things to say within the borders of improvisation and dance rhythms. Now add to the list saxophonist/flutist Karl Denson, a decidedly groove-based player who has been straddling the lines of jazz and more popular forms since 1992...
- www.allaboutjazz.com
2009-06-05
★★★★★
Karl Denson's tenor style is in the tradition of John Coltrane and Joe Henderson and sometimes resembles Ernie Watts, but without sounding like a copy of any of them. Although he mostly sticks to conventional notes, Denson plays quite passionately on six of his originals, plus an infectious version of Dexter Gordon's "Fried Bananas," most of which are performed in a sparse trio with bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-28
★★★★★
On his second album, Denson opts for an expanded musical palette, utilizing sax, trumpet, piano, bass, drums and percussion. The songs include "Yusef," an homage to Yusef Lateef, and a cover of Charles Mingus' Lester Young tribute "Goodbye Porkpie Hat."
- music.aol.com
2008-08-28
★★★★★
Karl Denson wants you to dance to his music. That's why the former Greyboy Allstars frontman named his first solo album Dance Lesson #2. The disc is a collection of funky, soul-driven tracks highlighted by Denson's fiery extended saxophone solos. Like a true student of jazz, Denson is always experimenting with new collaborations...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-28
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