Reviews

Review of "It's Time For U"
From Jazztimes
By Susan Frances

Drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. reveals that he had one goal in mind when he created his debut album It's Time For U as he claims in a recent press release, "I want to bring music back to its original purpose and that's for people to escape through the music, and have inspiration to approach life with more vigor and purpose."

Some strands of music which Owens articulates and entwines on his debut recording include elements of post-bop, soul, funk, and rhythm & blues. He cooks up a bluesy-funk tempest deep fried in gospel and soul on "N'Awlins Greens," which transitions to a buoyant bop romper on the following track "Cyclic Episode" adorned with titillating solos from Owens on drums, Ben Williams on acoustic bass,

and Sullivan Fortner on the simmering moans of the Hammond Organ. Also, on Owens recording are Tim Green on alto and soprano saxophones, Adam Burton on trumpet, Danny Hall on trombone, and Eric Hall on alto saxophone.

Produced by Greg Knowles, It's Time For U not only elicits Owens talent to keep the music mobile and ramp up the songs dynamics with well-positioned solos, but the use of vocals on some of the tracks deepens the album's luster. For instance, Alicia Olatuja's silky clarity on "Stop This Train" broadens the scope of the melody with balmy vocal lifts, and Nicolas Ryan Gant's exalting vocal rises on "Sing" embalm the harmonious mixture with a blessed sonorous. Tracks like "Red Chair" and "The Maestro Blues" are welded into sleek improvisations which parasail along a bop-inspired rhythm that profiles Owens adventurous and spirited side. The songs are ruled by an unforeseeable force that directs their course steadily congregating into deft arrangements.

Using every square inch of the chord progressions creatively, Owens keeps the gist of the album upbeat, and forges through impasses and rough patches in the fluidity of the music so the harmonic formations roll smoothly. The horns and keyboards operate the gear shift of Owens vessel, but he controls the paddling and the pace of the tracks mobility. A graduate of New York City's Juilliard School, Owens' ambitions are simple in comparison to his peers, to play music that he loves and to be loved in return for it. It is the stuff that indelible musicians are made of, and remembered for through time.

Review of "It's Time For U"
From This is Books Music

Upon looking at this cover, I knew it was jazz but I didn’t know who U.O. (Ulysses Owens Jr.) was or what kind of jazz it was. I know it’s bad to judge a book by its cover, but I thought okay, maybe it’s a bit of soulful jazz (or jazzy soul) and that he was a vocalist. Keep in mind I didn’t read the bio or the liner notes, I just went in and pressed play.

Even with a song like "N’Awlins Greens" (the opener), I wasn’t sure what this could be but a minute into it… then two, then three. The core of this CD is not vocals, although two tracks do feature them.

Owens is a drummer, and a damn good one at that. The kind of jazz he plays as part of his Project is the kind of jazz I enjoy listening to a lot, whether it’s bebop, hard bop, funky jazz but not too much, he knows how to play the drums like someone trying to crack open a safe. He knows how to do all the right things at the right times, hold himself back and gently decorate the music, and then just play not only as the leader, but as a team member.

When vocals come into the mix, he allows others to share their talents. In the case of "Stop This Train" (a John Mayer cover), he brings in Alicia Olatuja, who easily makes you forget this is a Mayer song. My favorite track on here is a cover of Sam Rivers‘ "Cyclic Episode", and out of the many jazz CD’s I receive on a regular basis, Rivers is not exactly a name that pops up along with those within the great American songbook. This is where his Project gets a chance to truly shine, as Sullivan Fortner (Hammond B-3, piano), Ben Williams (acoustic bass), and Tim Green (saxophones) take the long road towards musical ecstasy. For more of that spotlight, also realize that four of the seven songs here are Owens originals, including the tight "T.I." and "Red Chair", and Owens sounds incredibly comfortable behind the drum set playing these songs and showing off his skills, and skills he has.

As the title says, it is indeed ...Time For U, but are you ready for U? Make yourself ready.

Review of "It's Time For U"
From O’s Place Magazine
By D. Oscar Groomes
4/4

O's Notes: Drummer Ulysses Owens is the master behind the U. O. Project. He leads a fine band and also composed four of the seven compositions. Owens lays down some funky beats for these jazzy selections. They start with "N'Awlins Greens" interlacing the D.E.A. Horns and Tim Green (sax) with Sullivan Foster on the B3. "Cyclic Episode" is more of a neobop tune with Foster switching to the piano. Alicia Olatuja sings with passionate soul on "Stop This Train" before they swing hard on "The Maestro Blues" with strong solos from Ben Williams (b) and Owens. They wrap up the set with "Sing" a spiritual ballad featuring lead vocals by Nicholas Ryan Gant. It is a well-balanced album.

The performance was inspiring. The smiles Elling's crew had on their faces the whole time spoke volumes. Ulysses Owens, Jr. has a ridiculously infectious smile, not to mention awesome skills on the drums. The hushed banter between one another just barely audible made me feel like part of the production as I wondered who was having more fun - me, or the band.
-Jazz Times May issue


A program of all original soul-jazz under the leadership of the drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. Therein lies the 'UO.' With the inclusion of Hammond B-3 and some earthy vocals in the soul genre, you’ll find "The Maestro Blues" to be invigorating and straight ahead. For fans of the r&b-soul, this is better than most I’ve heard.
-George Fendel, Jazzscene


"The hungry young understudy. Man, I'm so in love with this cat. He is serious. He soaks up information quicker than a google search. A very well-spoken, well-studied young brother, and extremely soulful to boot. As a drummer, he just put it in the pocket. A very difficult concept for some young drummers to grasp, but not Ulysses. He let the music come to him. He didn't try to force anything. That's an extreme rarity for drummers of ANY age! I predict Ulysses is going to be one of the next major cats"
-Christian Mcbride


It started from show opener "Brother Mister," its slinky, soul-jazz melody driven by drummer Ulysses Owens Jr.'s quarter-note pulse. Hampton native Steve Wilson's saxophone runs strode and glided along a skipping 16th-note path, with pianist Peter Martin underpinning it with stabbing complementary chords.

On the late Freddie Hubbard's "Theme for Kareem," McBride opened with a percussive and percolating solo before the band hit the syncopated melody. Owens closed it with an astounding break, displaying a skill set tall as the song's namesake, basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - but always implying the melody.Owens, is a young man with a huge future in jazz.
-Tad Dickens "Roanoke Times Newspaper"