💿 ALBUM REVIEW: Brad Goode Quintet Featuring Ernie Watts - Live Your Dream - Live At North Street Cabaret

First documented together on 2018's That's Right!, the musical relationship of virtuosic trumpeter Brad Goode and legendary saxophonist Ernie Watts goes back 8 years earlier when the two met on a stage together. Their vivid musical rapport immediately apparent, they've pursued yearly opportunities to tour ever since, each time exciting audiences with their high energy, tight-rope style improvisations within an ever-expanding collection of original compositions. 

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The Deep Dive

Opening with aggressive original Goode track, Covid Nightmare, Brad Goode on trumpet and Ernie Watts on tenor sax are really hitting it hard. Adrean Farrugia on piano works sophisticated phrasing on piano, with Jay Anderson on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums. Goode rips a high energy trumpet solo with tight rhythm by Farrugia and Nussbaum. Watts, never breaks a sweat delivering an endless line of expressive riffs and Farrugia takes the temperature down low but creatively high blending the quintet back to TDC. Powerful opener. Farrugia original, Half Moon, has a strong melody with clean, articulate riffs by Goode over rhythmic piano lines. Watts picks up the melody on sax, carrying it richly before joining Goode, duet style with full quintet backing. Watts breaks free with the first adventurous solo really pushing hard and taking the track to the next level. Farrugia holds the melodic rhythm and Goode picks up the lead on trumpet with crisp inventive lines, then handing to Farrugia who really delivers on piano. On Jimmy Davis', Lover Man, Goode warmly embraces the melody on trumpet and stretching his instrument, really floats nicely. With clean accompaniment by Farrugia, Anderson and Nussbaum... beautiful. Nussbaum penned, I Miss Missing You, begins with simple rhythm and Watts on melody but as the track starts to open the bottom gets a super jazz bouncy rhythm and Watts really shines. Goode takes the hand off and again alters the rhythm with soulful bursts accented by Farrugia and Nussbaum. 

Farrugia takes the melody and really develops it nicely and drives the energy with a first double time then reggae rhythm supported by Nussbaum. Anderson picks up the lead on bass with only light drums and piano giving the track wide dynamics. Nicely done. Wrapping the release is another Farrugia composition, Goose Dance with a calypso rhythm. Watts and Goode partner on the melodic outline before Goode takes the lead. Excellent rhythmic articulation on trumpet and piano feeds into a full throated sax solo by Watts and solid piano rhythm by Nussbaum and Farrugia. Strong closer. 

Select an Album to View on Amazon:

• Shock of the New (1988) →
• Chicago Red (2013) →
• That's Right (2018) →
• The Unknown (2023) →
• Polytonal Big Band: The Snake Charmer (2025) →

Watch: Brad Goode and Ernie Watts play Nobody's Human

This is a heaping hopper of contemporary jazz work. Recommended, but not for the feint of heart. 

Bman's Verdict This release has something for most jazz listeners. It's certainly not a release for the beginner ear, but it does have different speeds for casual and experienced listeners.

Label: Origin Records Released: June 26, 2026