What makes High Wire by Rob Brown notable?

This album is significant for its role in expanding the jazz genre during the mid-90s, a period marked by a resurgence of interest in experimental sounds. 'High Wire' received critical acclaim, notably from publications like Jazz Times, which highlighted Brown's unique voice and virtuosic technique, contributing to a broader conversation around modern jazz. By the time 'High Wire' was released in 1996, Rob Brown had already established himself within the jazz scene as a prominent saxophonist. This album followed his debut, showcasing his growth as an artist and his desire to push the boundaries of jazz through innovative compositions and collaborations.

How many songs are on High Wire?

High Wire has 6 tracks, running approximately 59 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

High Wire

Rob Brown · 1996

59 min · 6 tracks · jazz

A vibrant fusion of intricate melodies and rhythmic complexity, blending traditional jazz with avant-garde experimentation.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Hex Key — The opening track sets a powerful tone for the album with its complex structure and dynamic interplay between instruments, highlighting Brown's improvisational skills.
→
Just a Touch — This track exemplifies Brown's ability to blend lyrical melodies with intricate rhythms, creating an immersive listening experience that showcases his artistic vision.
→
Turmoil — With its intense dynamics and shifting tempos, this track captures the essence of Brown's avant-garde approach to jazz, making it a standout moment on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album blends intricate melodies with avant-garde elements, showcasing strong improvisation and rhythmic complexity.

What we noticed

Each track showcases extended improvisation sections, allowing the saxophone to explore intricate melodic lines over varying rhythmic patterns.
The use of silence and space is prominent, particularly in 'Just a Touch', where pauses create tension before the next phrase.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Hex Key 11:54
2 Totter 7:39
3 Revealing 7:38
4 Just a Touch 11:51
5 Turmoil 10:31
6 Trickster 9:51

What to play next

Listen next

Orbit

1997

Go back to

Youniverse

1992

Full Rob Brown discography Artists like Rob Brown

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata