By Esther Callens
Prolific drummer and composer Ulysses Owens continues to thrill audiences with the release of his third album as a leader. Onward And Upward is the title of this impressive collection that shows a side of Owens that is seldom seen. With 11 extraordinary tracks, it is a wonderful expression of just who he is.
Owens gave his take on the selections recorded on Onward and Upward. He states, “This record was really about me playing music that was close to home. I feel like my first two records were me doing what everybody else wanted me to do. But this is the first record where I didn’t want to lean on a big name like Christian McBride or play what was expected of me. I just wanted to let the world know there are other sides of me, that I’m really in this more open space.” This is definitely a side fans wouldn’t mind seeing more of.
It is not surprising that Onward and Upward opens and closes with Owens doing his thing. The intro features a mid-tempo mellow groove complete with handclaps while Drum Postlude (finale) rocks out. A really funky spin is put to “People Make the World Go Round” which is absolutely amazing. It is already an awesome tune which Owens and friends took to another level. Thumbs up for Charles Tuner’s incredible vocals. A smooth version of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” is listed with the piano at the forefront with percussions pulling a close second. All the tunes on Onward & Upward validates that Ulysses Owen is a rare marvel – whether he is performing or composing.
Album Personnel: Ulysses Owens Jr. (drums, percussion and vocals), Anat Cohen (tenor sax and clarinet), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Michael Dease (trombone), Gilad Hakselman (guitar), Christian Sands (piano), Rueben Rogers (bass), Charles Tuner (vocals-People Make The World Go Round), Adam Rongo (alto sax-For Nelson), Benny Benack (Trumpet-The Gift Of Forgiveness and vocals/percussion-Onward Upward Intro), Matthew Rybicki (bass-The Gift Of forgiveness, For Nelson and Human Nature).
Track listings: Onward & Upward Intro; People Make the World Go Round; Just 25 Miles To Anywhere; SST; Exodus; Samba Jam; Fee Fi Fo Fum; The Gift Of Forgiveness; For Nelson; Human Nature; Drum Postlude
