Camp Meeting
Camp Meeting, from pianist/composer Bruce Hornsby, is an intermixture of pop, jazz, electronica and even swing music. Hornsby covers songs from legends like Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett, while Hornsby puts his own emblem on each song so that listeners will not be able to extract his melodies from their minds.
"Questions and Answers" was previously unrecorded by Ornette Coleman and Hornsby begins the track at a wicked fast pace right from the start. Then, percussion and drum play add to the rapidity of Hornsby's adept piano playing. The tempo of the song might remind listeners of what it feels like to form an inquiry and then wait for a reply.
On "Solar," Hornsby covers the Miles Davis staple with ease and he delivers this song with a slow and practiced texture. Hornsby proceeds to go up and down the musical gradation showing off his proficient instrumentation. Percussion work comes into the melody later on in the song, giving it a jazzy feel.
"Death and the Flower" is a somber cover of the Keith Jarrett ballad. As Hornsby taps away, listeners will hear the affliction which makes this a track that could be heard in a movie where a character is attending a funeral for a loved one and they are paying their final respects. The delayed instrumentation throughout, furthers the sad feeling that is expressed by this song.
On the title track, there is bounteous percussion throughout the whole song as Hornsby skillfully plays the piano. The two instruments blend together to form a seamless melody that listeners will find hard to forget. It is also a song that some will find a breeze to be-bop to as the instruments scat at times.
On "Giant Steps," the flow is totally different as the track's intro has techno and electronic sounds. Then, Hornsby's quick piano work takes over, but the techno sounds continue to prevail in the background. This song could be played in a jazz club or even an electronica club, given its unique rhythm and beats.
Bruce Hornsby's Camp Meeting is sure to be enjoyed by his longtime fans as well as admirers of many varied genres of music. Hornsby's proclivity for mixing instruments that wouldn't usually be used together makes this album a musical summit that listeners should not miss.