Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Gabriel Johnson

  • Fra_ctured [Electrofone, 2010] A-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Fra_ctured [Electrofone, 2010]
Though this 30-year-old soundtrack and session trumpeter recently informed his publicist that trumpet jazz "hasn't moved on since 1965," in fact his horn has crystallized more ace electronica experiments than any other traditional instrument. Somebody play that fella Jon Hassell, Nils Petter Molvaer, and how about some '70s Miles? Fortunately, Johnson didn't therefore go reinvent the wheel, mostly because he's got no minimalism in him--his sound and his backdrops are bigger and hotter than his predecessors'. "No Words" could be an arena-rock fanfare. "Be Serious" has club roots. "V.T.F.O" is mucho ominoso. "Lullabye" whispers "Someday My Prince Will Come." A-