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08/20 Chastity Brown at First Avenue
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Chastity Brown made a stop at First Ave on Saturday night to promote her latest album Sing to the Walls, an album that took four and a half years to make. An album that spanned two continents (half recorded in Stockholm, Sweden and the rest in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN). An album created in the middle of a pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. And what culminated was a resolve not to give into the hopelessness. “This album does not serve sorrow…” Brown wrote in her press release. “What matters to me is my survival, it’s been necessary to try to embrace some joy.”
Opening the evening was Omar Abulkarim and his quartet with a lively set that pleasantly surprised a crowd that wasn’t use to seeing a traditional jazz quartet, especially on the stage of First Ave.
Born in Minneapolis, MN, Abulkarim had a trumpet put in his hands at fourteen months by his father and fellow trumpeter. He never put it down and he became a journeyman, playing for eleven years in New York before coming back to Minneapolis to be closer to family and work in the local jazz scene.
Abulkarim and his band played a combination of original songs and ones from Miles Davis and Roy Hargrove. They even snuck in the timeless jazz standard “Autumn Serenade” which Abulkarim played on flugelhorn.
Then a special treat: Abulkarim invited his dad on stage. Even at the age of 87, his father still has a warm tone that Abulkarim has incorporated into his own as well as adding other masters like Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard. It was also special moment to see a father bask in a warm light of appreciation at seeing his son play in front of the receptive audience.
Then Chastity Brown and her band took the stage with a far-off, sonic intro that built into “Wonderment.”
Four and half years is a long time and during the interlude Brown has worked on expanding her musical universe. Already versed in the traditions of folk music, blues and Americana, the evening had a more soulful, danceable vibe with a driving percussion and electric guitars. But there was also a cellist and violinist on stage to create an orchestral feel. It seemed like an experiment of sorts, perhaps a collective of musicians working on something new, but through it all was Brown with a soothing, calming feel in her voice letting everyone know it will be all right.
Brown devoted quite a bit of the evening to her new album with songs like “Boston”, “Like the Sun” and “Gertrude”. At one point she even made a nod to Jimmy Hendrix with a heavy guitar charge at the end of “Golden”. There was still the harmonica and the quiet piano solos, but after a pandemic and the social upheaval, Brown was pointed in a new direction and the audience was more than willing to join in on the journey.
Omar Abulkarim (and father) |
Chastity Brown |
Chastity Brown |
Chastity Brown at First Avenue, Minneapolis (20 Aug 2022) |
| dave ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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