The Snake Charmer
Origin, 2025
9/10
Now over 20 albums deep, the trumpet player Brad Goode brings his skills a Big Band effort, where the 8 songs are fleshed out with plenty of winds and brass on hand.
The lively and rich “Goose Chase” opens the listen with Paul Romaine’s frisky drums amid the bright brass, and “The Snake Charmer” follows with a calmer mood, as Victor Mestas-Perez contributes warm keys alongside the saxophones.
“Ornithology” and “Pentacles” reside in the middle. The former bops and shakes with an infectious energy via the animated trumpets and Tim Wendel’s frisky guitar, while the latter allows for Eddie Ness’ playful bass to help illuminate the unpredictable and adventurous album highlight.
Near the end, “Hypnotic Suggestion” uses 5 trumpets for the calm versus busy bouts, and “I Can’t Forget About You” exits with a haze of fluid textures and dynamic interplay between Grayson Stewart’s trombone, Jonas Shofler’s tenor sax and Goode’s trumpet.
Goode has enjoyed a 4 decade career, and his vision certainly hasn’t waned, where his timeless delivery is present across the joyful themes of past, present and future.
Travels well with: Peter Erskine- Vienna To Hollywood: Impressions Of E.W. Korngold & Max Steiner; David Friesen- A Light Shining Through