Track Listing

1. Stereo
2. My First Mine
3. Cut Your Hair
4. Summer Babe
5. Blue Hawaiian
6. Here
7. Platform Blues
8. Trigger Cut/Wounded Kite At :17

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101695 in Music
• Released on: 2005-09-27
• Number of discs: 1

All About Jazz, October 31, 2005
an enthralling record with memorable melodies that leaves you with the desire to return very quickly for another go.

NPR All Songs Considered Episode 94, November 2005
It's a heavyweight jazz album with masterfully crafted and soulful arrangements.

All Music Guide, October, 2005
"what the hell are a bunch of jazzbos doing playing Pavement tunes?" the short answer, "making a great album"

Customer Reviews

This would be better if James Carter wasn't on it.
I have been a long time jazz listener/musician, but just in the last 2 or so years I started listening to Pavement; quickly getting all the records and seeing the "Slow Century" DVD. When I heard about this record I was curious; The idea of doing Pavement tunes was neat; they do have a lot of cool tunes that would be right for an improvisational setting: good melodies and some interesting song forms. I do question some of the song choices on here though.
Anyway... I was familiar with all the players and, aside from James Carter, had heard all them play at some point or another. Cyrus Chesnut is alright, doesn't really do it for me like some other newer guys but on this record he sounds great; as do the others. It's just James Carter...........man oh man! In the liner notes it says "James Carter is Albert Ayler, Ornette Coleman and Coltrane all rolled into one"; maybe so but those 3 have and had one thing that Carter lacks: soul!
Yes he has major chops; but who cares if he isn't playing good music??? To say he is overbearing on some of the tracks is an understatement. I just wonder how much better this record could be if the sax player was any of these players: Seamus Blake (an underrated player but someone who I think would first perfectly into this format), Chris Cheek (ditto), Joshua Redman, or maybe Chris Potter.
Oh well, maybe some one else will do this (though I highly doubt it) again and get it right.

Fun jazz with indie rock roots
The liner notes by the producer explain that they gathered James Carter on sax, Cyrus Chestnut on keys, Reginald Veal on bass, and Ali Jackson on drums to play Pavement songs. Carter, Chestnut and Veal had played together in various forms before, and Ali Jackson is a young guy rising up (he played on much of Joshua Redman's "Back East", for instance). A Pavement tribute is a novel, but worthy, jazz album. The songs chosen are melodic and catchy, and the band can really dig into them. James Carter, as he does in all circumstances, stands out with his virtuostic saxophone style. Sometimes his tendency to pull out all stops on every song seems silly on "Here", but he redeems himself by pulling out the contrabass sax for overdubs on "Platform Blues". Cyrus Chestnut alternates between organ and piano, and is excellent. Reginald Veal plays electric bass and upright, and he and Ali Jackson are a solid rhythm section. They even add "woo-woo's" to "Cut Your Hair".

This is a really good CD, the only room for improvement would be if Carter restrained himself a little, and they could have been more adventurous with the rearrangements.

GENIUS! Too Cool for School!
Finally someone comes up with an interesting concept album that WORKS! and is not a cheesy collaberation that some old famous person would try to sell me at 3am when i cant sleep. I saw them live at the Iridium in New York City this weekend and the CD captures the magic. I have loved pavement since my teens and i slipped into my jazz pajamas in my 30s. Was this album made for me??? get it and be the coolest in your class.