''The Family Secret'' is the second album by Oteil and the Peacemakers, a band led by bassist

Oteil Burbridge Oteil Burbridge is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the bass guitar, trained in playing jazz and classical music from an early age. He has achieved fame primarily on bass guitar during the resurgence of the Allman Brothers Band ...

. It was released on CD in 2003 by

Artists House Artists House was a jazz and blues record company and label established in 1977 by John Snyder. History The label released music by artists that label founder John Snyder had worked with while running the Horizon subsidiary of A&M Records, includ ...

. On the album, Burbridge is joined by Mark Kimbrell on guitar, Jason Crosby on keyboards and violin, Kebbi Williams on saxophone, Paul Henson on vocals, and

Chris Fryar Chris Fryar (born November 22, 1970) is an American drummer. He is a member of Zac Brown Band. He has also worked with Oteil and the Peacemakers, led by bassist Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band, Charles Neville, Victor Wooten, Joh ...

on drums. The disc is accompanied by a DVD that features a video of the recording session, a lesson with Burbridge, interviews, lead sheets, and more. Concerning the album title, Burbridge commented: "I am committed to taking the power away from words that have been hurtful. The family secret is in the first five minutes of ''Blazing Saddles''."

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, Jesse Jarnow called the album "an improv-laced disc of nuanced fusion and jam band funk," and wrote: "the music itself is comparatively low key. If only it were more original." Writer

Dean Budnick Dean Budnick is an American writer, filmmaker, college professor, podcast creator and radio host who focuses on music, film and popular culture. Budnick, who is editor-in-chief of Relix,"Editor's note" ''Relix'' October/November 2013 grew up in ...

stated: "The results are more varied than the Peacemakers' debut, and the group certainly kicks it a bit more." Phil DiPietro of

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

noted that Burbridge's "abilities and acumen as a jazz player and improviser are right there with the greatest, especially when taking the jazzy vamp into absolutely uncharted harmonic and chops-laden territory." He commented: "One of the greatest electric bassists of all time, Oteil Burbridge has finally made the recording that does his music most justice... It... should go a long way toward propelling him and the Peacemakers to well-deserved increased notoriety on the worldwide stage." In an article for Jambands.com, John Patrick Gatta wrote that the album is marked by "an atmosphere of some late night music with the lights turned down low, beer in hand," and remarked: "It's as much about chilling out... as it is about jazz fusion and jamband in its sharp exploration of the melodies... the intent is clear — crisp interplay rules each track with the weaving of bass / guitar / drums / violin / keyboards."

Track listing

"America the Beautiful" by

Katharine Lee Bates Katharine Lee Bates (August 12, 1859 – March 28, 1929) was an American author and poet, chiefly remembered for her anthem "America the Beautiful", but also for her many books and articles on social reform, on which she was a noted speaker. Bat ...

and

Samuel A. Ward Samuel Augustus Ward (December 28, 1848 – September 28, 1903) was an American organist and composer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of a shoemaker, he studied under several teachers in New York and became an organist at Grace Church (Newar ...

. Remaining tracks by Oteil Burbridge. # "Too Many Times" – 5:47 # "Get Ready" – 5:22 # "Honk If You" – 4:09 # "Full Circle" – 9:31 # "Time Won't Tell" – 4:51 # "Hard to Find" – 5:11 # "Rewind and Play it Again" – 7:07 # "My Dog Sassy" – 8:23 # "Thank You" – 6:19 # "Check Yourself" – 4:36 # "

America the Beautiful "America the Beautiful" is a patriotic American song. Its lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and its music was composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The two never m ...

" – 2:04

Personnel

– bass * Mark Kimbrell – guitar * Jason Crosby – keyboards, violin * Kebbi Williams – tenor saxophone * Paul Henson – vocals *

– drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Family Secret 2003 albums Oteil Burbridge albums