The album Purple Cha Cha Heels by Brass Roots is a curious collection of songs with a Latin theme. Its music contains a neat flavor with a special blend of a variety of rhythm and soulful mixture creating a tasty mix of sound. Purple Cha Cha Heels employs many special techniques to create a rich sound despite it’s small and sparse instrumentation, it has a character and energy very much all it’s own. Although people may not of heard of Brass Roots (due to the fact that this seems like it’s only album) it is definitely worth your time to hear this group album.
It is hard to categorize this group into a single style, however it is clear what sorts of music’s influenced this group. One clear influence is definitely Latin music such as salsa, which can be found in the rhythms of many tracks. It is also clear by the use of call and response and, other rhythms there is a strong influence from Afro Cuban music upon the group. Brazilian like chord structure is also present in many of the tracks. All in all, the album seems to barrow a bit from almost every Latin jazz style to create a gumbo of sound and style.
The instrumentation for this album is for the most part simple and small, but are also used to there fullest to create the complex blend. The band’s foundation comes from the playing of the Ana Norgaard who plays a wide variety of percussive instruments that creates a strong feel and, gives the music a strong pulse. This pulse is the essential element to the music and, the foundation on which the album works as a whole. On top of that is a lower harmony from the second trombone Jim “Mondongo” Messbauer and Tim Meyer on the baritone sax part. These parts create strong sense beat and groove to the music, supporting the lead parts through the use of strong harmony. On the top of the sound is the lead trombone player Russel Jewell and sometimes the trumpet player Scott Aruda. These parts typically play either the melody or leading harmony, however these parts stand out less then a typically melodic part in this sort of music. Sometime Meyers plays flute, to add color instead of to the bass line. This mix up creates a brass-centered mixture driven by a rhythm and the flavor of the music more then really a single melody.
To make the best out of this blend the sound is layered, in a groove pattern to create a blend that allows for the most sound. Still even with this blend, at time the group will sound hollow due to the immense focus on brass groove lines and lack of instrumental variety. Occasionally the band will break a bit from this formula, but for the most part the band sticks to the layered groove approach for a majority of it’s tracks. These grooves are typically more on the simple, but pleasant side though occasionally there are some very difficult parts (especially in the Trombone parts). This is probably where the album is weakest; to create a nice mixture it loses some of it’s freedom of sound in return for it’s sound and, even with the blend it can only have so much variety of sound due to the small size of the group. On the other hand with the instruments it has it uses a nice variety of sounds and, song styles. Despite the lack of instrumentation and the sacrifices the band makes in freedom of sound, it makes up for somewhat with its variety of style.
The album Purple Cha Cha Heels uses an interesting concept to create a full sound with a small amount of similar instruments. Its strength also creates its weaknesses with a lack of free expression available due to its format. What is most impressive about this album however is its blend of various Latin styles. This is definitely worth picking up if you like Latin music and, if you can find it. It is very good and pleasant album, though it isn’t the best album and wouldn’t be my first pick for a Latin album, still it is definitely worth having if you can find it.
