“Groove is essential to this collective of saxophonist Peter Brainin, keyboardist Noah Haidu, bassist Marcus McLaurine and drummer Steve Johns.”
- Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes
“…I have to say, these guys play spectacularly well!”
- Glenn A. Mitchell, LA Jazz Scene
“Haidu’s soulful riffs on the keyboard had an intense gravity … McLaurine’s adept solos were refreshing … the dynamic communication between Mclaurine and drummer Steve Johns was illuminating.”
- Ivana NG, AllAboutJazz.com
“One thing the 11 pieces have in common is groove: a pulsing feeling permeates each track.”
- Doug Simpson, Audiophile Audition web magazine
“NATIVE SOUL is the name of a quartet that seems to burst at the seams with talent. Their sound is so well melded that the four players – Peter Branin, saxophone and flute, Noah Haidu, piano, Steve Johns, drums, and Marcus McLaurine, bass – suggest the wealth of tone and sound produced by the Big Bands. But they go a step beyond big sound and instead turn into a quartet that understands completely the respect of each other’s talent, making it almost impossible to single out a lead person.
In ‘Deep Blue’ Noah Haidu’s piano work is subtle and dreamlike, in ‘Castles Made of Sand’ McLaurine shines brightly, in ‘Into the Night’ Peter Brainin makes the flute sound like an entirely new instrument so wide is his range, and in ‘Talking Drum’ it is Steve Johns time to step into the spotlight. ‘Gift Within’ is as deeply soulful as music gets (Brainin’s sax gets us there) and the lead song ‘Soul Step’ that opens the CD blends each of these talented artists as wholly equal. This is first class/first rate jazz and one of the finest overall albums to be released this year. Recommended.”
- Grady Harp, March 11
- Randy Brecker
Peter Brainin is one of the most recognizable and brilliant saxophonists in the jazz world today.”
“For the New York-based group, Soul Step represents the band’s second effort blending an amazing selection of hard-swinging contemporary jazz with a mix of blues, Brazilian, funk and a touch of gospel to make it interesting.”
“Soul Step- there’s little question that the music delivers a rousing and soulful musical statement worth many spins.”
CD Review: http://ejazznews.com/