Homegrown favorites deliver sweet sounds of spring

by Stephen Israel -Catskill Community-

April 21, 2001

You can smell the sweet scent in the air. You can hear the cheep-chirp of peepers. You can see the tree buds popping and the crocuses blooming. Spring is finally here. What better way to usher in spring than the sound of music. To honor the local music-makers who give us a bit of springtime all year round, I present the return of the In Tune Awards, in which we celebrate recent releases by some of our favorite musicians.

. . . Sweet Surprise of the Renewal of Spring Award:

The Hugh Brodie Cosmic Ensemble - "Songs for Anu." Album after album, year after year, Sullivan County's Hugh Brodie keeps coming up with great musical surprises.

The saxophonist who's played with such giants as Illinois Jacquet and George Benson pulls another one from his jazz hat on his latest album, "Songs for Anu."

His saxophone sounds as sweet and strong as ever, and the album also features striking new sounds that range from political poetry about Malcolm X to a synthesis of jazz and American Indian music.

What's more, he has a terrific new band of pianist Mike Kull, bassist Lew Scott, percussionist: Steve Habib, drummer Joe Anello, vocalists Gayle Two-Eagles and Powhatan Swift Eagle and poet Paul McMahon.