The View From Here

opis:

“There’s no denying Kyle has imagination and skill”
The Observer

“Considerable charm and unassuming excellence”
The Times

In March 2013, Kyle Eastwood will release "The View From Here", a brand new album of original compositions that embrace a musical heritage enriched by the varied soundtrack of his youth. Dynamic and bursting with powerful grooves and innovative melodies, the album presents the eclectic music of a band leader, virtuoso instrumentalist and composer who has forged a path as one of the leading artists in his field.

As the eldest son of actor and director Clint Eastwood, Kyle grew up surrounded by music. His father had been attending the Monterey Jazz Festival since it began in 1958 and when his children were born it became a yearly family outing. Being the son of one of the most famous men in the world gave Kyle immediate access backstage to meet huge jazz stars who were performing at that time such as Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and it wasn’t long before he’d fallen in love with the genre and a career as a jazz musician beckoned.

Today, Kyle Eastwood is less commonly referred to as the son of Clint and more as a universally respected musician and band leader in his own right. As well as being a virtuoso bassist on electric and upright Kyle is also an acclaimed composer who has contributed music to eight of his father’s films including Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and Gran Torino.

On "The View From Here", Kyle has affirmed his love for all things French by bringing his loyal band of eager young Brits to record at La Buissonne, one of France’s best modern studios. His music resonates with swing and funk overtones and as Kyle puts it “my roots remain in jazz but I like adding all kinds of different flavours”.

criticaljazz.com
[. . .] Eastwood draws from roots that include Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Miles Davis which may play a major role in his success in films and the thanks to the Miles Davis influence, the uncanny ability to change dynamics and harmonic direction on the fly while having his more than eager young band from London following every step of the way.

Eastwood is living his passion which has included working in the company of such prolific talents as Ray Brown, Lennie Niehaus, and Buell Neidlinger. This particular release was recorded at one of the finest studios in France, La Buissonne. By no means is this a cover album as was Abercrombie's fine release. The View From Here is an artistic self portrait of Eastwood and the powerful grooves and evocative melodies they would seem as though he were channeling his inspiration from past masters while utilizing his own dynamic spin to communicate through the slightly eclectic set list that Eastwood has constructed.

In terms of criticism this release rolls a doughnut, it is flawless and easily separates Eastwood from a crowded field of bassists that seem more concerned with the academia behind the performance than the performance itself.

Kyle Eastwood is a virtuoso talent that has come into his own while maintaining the tortoise and the hare approach of slow and steady wins the race. There are a great many promising young bass players that should take note that Eastwood has now raised the bar some have insisted on limboing under for years. [. . .
by Brent Black