Rumpel Vim
I listen to a lot of death metal and angst-ridden experimental rock. This album fits into my library quite nicely.
Favorite track: Chasing The Ghost.
Darius Jones: alto saxophone
Adam Lane: bass
Jason Nazary: drums
“Fulfilling (and exceeding) expectations, Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) is a rightfully compelling follow-up to his stunning debut. With another installment already in the works, Jones has set the stage for a winning series of albums designed to document his rise as one of the most impressive and unique voices of our time.”
–Troy Collins, All About Jazz
"Big Gurl is a series of stories that burns hot with emotional conviction and technical invention. Another superb effort from Jones, who is taking a mix of top-shelf ingredients and making them over in his own language. And it's righteous fun, lest we forget that challenging jazz can hit these buttons, too." –Jason Bivins, Dusted
"Equally earthy and avant-garde .. intellectually stimulating [though] anything but academic .. Jones can keen, weep, caress – and cut, too. The appealing unruliness to his music coexists with authority." –Carlo Wolff, JazzTimes
"A powerhouse saxophonist with an unusually focused perspective, Darius Jones laces his urgent avant-jazz vision with deep soul and dirty funk." –Time Out New York
“[Jones] seems to have the ability to take in a fair percentage of jazz history at a hell of a rate and come out with something of his own as a result, and that's an enviable skill. When the passion builds, it does so collectively, the three men musically moving with a staggering unity of purpose." –Nic Jones, All About Jazz
Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) was/is the second album / verse / character in alto saxophonist-composer Darius Jones' on-going Man'ish Boy epic, and features his trio with bassist Adam Lane and drummer Jazon Nazary. Given a spotlight on "Chaych!" (a bonus track on Jones' debut), the trio fully owns this next book of Jones' indelible compositions. The session took place in February 2011 following a series of stellar live shows and rehearsals; the band were rather evidently busting at the seams to drop this. On the compositions: Darius' gift for lyrical song shines anew in the gorgeous "Michele (Heart) Willie" & "I Wish I Had A Choice"; his radical rearrangement of "Take the 'A' Train" and the fully original "E-Gaz" are stunning for their ever-compelling forward momentum & invention; "My Special D" showcases the trio's long-form improvisational prowess developed over 3 years playing together; "Chasing The Ghost" is revisited with equal fervor and perhaps even greater intensity.
A scintillating jazz saxophone trio love letter to underground hip-hop, soul, gospel, jazz, blues, rock and all things funky. Soul Power!
* Full art & notes included as PDF booklet with Digital Album.
Produced by Darius Jones & Steven Joerg
Recorded by Michael Marciano
at Systems Two Studio, Brooklyn
on February 21, 2011
Mixed and mastered with Michael Marciano
Original cover art/paintings by Randal Wilcox
Darius Jones has created a recognizable voice as a critically acclaimed saxophonist and composer by embracing individuality
and innovation in the tradition of African-American music. Jones’ music is a confrontation against apathy and ego, hoping to inspire authenticity that compels us to be better humans.
supported by 24 fans who also own “Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)”
This record has such a magical flow to it, it seems to capture so directly the ups and downs of life, the joy of music and dance, and it's just so damn catchy and fun to listen to as well. Giles
supported by 19 fans who also own “Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)”
This music has everything I need: acoustic instruments, a slow build, layers of atypical harmonies and rhythms being added each pass through, subtle melodies and combinations. Excellent work! Little James
A sonic exploration of the life and thoughts of trees, this is brave and exploratory contemporary classical music and avant-jazz. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 6, 2022
supported by 19 fans who also own “Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)”
Verisimilitude was at the top of my "Top Ten Records of 2017".
https://www.poisonpie.com/publishing/reviews/text/musicreview_2017.html
Can't wait for the vinyl version to arrive. Hebeloma Crustuliniforme
supported by 18 fans who also own “Big Gurl (Smell My Dream)”
I really appreciate that with such a large group of musicians the overall sound and experience of listening is really spacious, never cluttered. The lovely recording helps that a lot, and of course the compositional aspects that make it breathe are superb- it gets more and more fun as I listen again and again. Jasper Skydecker