ANDREW CYRILLE | WADADA LEO SMITH | BILL FRISELL — Lebroba (2018) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lebroba, Andrew Cyrille's second leader date for ECM, finds the septuagenarian rhythm explorer trading in all but guitarist Bill Frisell from the quartet that recorded 2016's fine The Declaration of Musical Independence (with bassist Ben Street and pianist Richard Teitelbaum). This bass-less trio also features trumpeter/composer Wadada Leo Smith. While this setting is somewhat unusual, Frisell is quite familiar with it, performing in this same setting on Ron Miles' 2014 offering Circuit Rider. Back in 2010, the guitarist led another unusual trio for Beautiful Dreamers with sidemen Eyvind Kang on viola and Rudy Royston on drums.
In fact, this set's opener is a redo of the guitarist's "Worried Woman," from the latter album, a lithe charmer of a melody wherein Frisell envelops himself in a call-and-response conversation on the lyric with Smith's as Cyrille colors time around the beat rather than on it. The longest piece here is Smith's nearly formless "Turiya: Alice Coltrane Meditations and Dreams: Love" at over 17 minutes. The tune is mostly "free," though the trumpeter, in true signature fashion, sketches out spaces for emphasis on dialogic exchanges that evolve from melodic fragments to dissonance and back again, with Cyrille's colorful, textured rhythmic pulses bridging the gap between frontline players. Despite the fragmented nature of the piece, the intuitive interplay between the trio's members is canny, welcoming, and thoroughly enjoyable. Cyrille's title track is based on an eight-bar blues, but it's a chameleon-like work. There are lyric aspects that recall Charles Mingus' "Good-Bye Pork Pie Hat," but Smith's soulful, muted trumpet abstractions -- ever the picture of tasteful economy -- highlight and underscore Frisell's turnarounds and expressionist reflections of deep blue Americana from the Delta to Chicago. The five-plus-minute "TGD" is credited to the group, commencing with Cyrille's dancing snares and whispering cymbals through Frisell's effects-laden soloing and sonic smears and fills and Smith's interrogatory improvisation above and around the paying of his bandmates. The only complaint is that given the nearly symbiotic nature of communication in this improvisation, the track doesn’t go on long enough. The juxtaposition of Frisell's subtly shaded chordal voicings and long single notes by Smith in the intro to the drummer's closing rubato ballad, "Pretty Beauty," are breathtakingly poignant. Cyrille's hushed and spacious use of brushes around the lyric line, highlight its dips and subtle assertions, which are exchanged by guitarist and trumpeter to create an achingly beautiful groupspeak that seemingly creates a narrative language from air. While much of Lebroba is gentle, none of it is nebulous or speculative. This trio engages in the kind of magical interplay that only extremely experienced players can conjure.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1    Worried Woman 7:35
Music By – Bill Frisell
2    Turiya:Alice Coltrane / Meditations And Dreams:Love 17:24
Music By – Wadada Leo Smith
3    Lebroba 5:44
Music By – Andrew Cyrille
4    TGD 5:17
Music By – Andrew Cyrille, Bill Frisell, Wadada Leo Smith
5    Pretty Beauty 6:24
Music By – Andrew Cyrille
Credits :
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Guitar – Bill Frisell
Trumpet – Wadada Leo Smith

CHARLIE HADEN — Liberation Music Orchestra (1970) Two Version | 1996, RM | BONUS TRACK | Impulse! – IMP 11882 + 2001, RM | Impulse! Best 50 – 38 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A fascinating reissue that comfortably straddles the lines of jazz, folk, and world music, working up a storm by way of a jazz protest album that points toward the Spanish Civil War in particular and the Vietnam War in passing. Haden leads the charge and contributes material, but the real star here may in fact be Carla Bley, who arranged numbers, wrote several, and contributed typically brilliant piano work. Also of particular note in a particularly talented crew is guitarist Sam Brown, the standout of "El Quinto Regimiento/Los Cuatro Generales/Viva la Quince Brigada," a 21-minute marathon. Reissue producer Michael Cuscuna has done his best with the mastering here, but listeners will note a roughness to the sound -- one that is in keeping with the album's tone and attitude. Steven McDonald 
Tracklist :
1  The Introduction 1:15
Carla Bley 
2  Song of the United Front 1:52
Bertolt Brecht / Hanns Eisler 
3  El Quinto Regimiento (The Fifth Regiment)/Los Cuatro Generales (The Four G 20:58
Carla Bley / Traditional 
4  The Ending to the First Side 2:07
Carla Bley 
5  Song for Ché 9:29
Charlie Haden 
6  War Orphans 6:42
Ornette Coleman 
7  The Interlude (Drinking Music) 1:24
Carla Bley 
8  Circus '68 '69 6:10
Charlie Haden 
9  We Shall Overcome 1:19
Guy Carawan / Frank Hamilton / Zilphia Horton / Pete Seeger / Traditional 
Credits :
Bass, Producer – Charlie Haden
Clarinet – Perry Robinson
Cornet, Flute [Indian Wood Flute, Bamboo Flute] – Don Cherry (tracks: 3, 5) 
French Horn, Wood Block [Hand Wood Blocks], Bells, Reeds [Crow Call], Whistle [Military Whistle] – Bob Northern
Guitar, Kalimba [Thumb Piano] – Sam Brown (tracks: 1, 3 to 7) 
Percussion – Andrew Cyrille (tracks: 8), Paul Motian
Tambourine, Arranged By – Carla Bley
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Dewey Redman
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Gato Barbieri
Trombone – Roswell Rudd
Trumpet – Michael Mantler
Tuba – Howard Johnson

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Eight (+3) Tristano Compositions 1989 For Warne Marsh (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Two Not One    7:14
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
2    317 E 32nd Street    8:14
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
3    Dreams    5:41
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
4    Lennies Pennies    9:20
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
5    How Deep Is The Ocean 4:42
Composed By – Irving Berlin
6    Victory Ball    4:45
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
7    Sax Of A Kind 4:05
Composed By – Warne Marsh
8    Lennie Bird    6:25
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
9    Time On My Hands 4:50
Composed By – Vincent Youmans
10    Victory Ball (Take 2)    5:07
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
11    Baby    5:10
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
12    April    9:26
Composed By – Lennie Tristano
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Flute, Arranged By [All Arrangements By] – Anthony Braxton
Baritone Saxophone – John Raskin
Bass – Cecil McBee
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Piano – Dred Scott

ANDREW CYRILLE | ANTHONY BRAXTON - Duo Palindrom 2002, Vol. 1 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For many years, both greats of modern jazz - the saxophone player Anthony Braxton and the drummer Andrew Cyrille - have been pursuing their own musical developments. In the autumn of 2002 their wish to make a joint CD recording was fulfilled.
What came of the meeting are fifteen internal dialogues: new compositions, spontaneous improvisations, as well as interpretations of well-known pieces from Cyrille and Braxton. Both CDs are an artistic manifesto of two jazz innovators, a document of African-American music, borne of mutual respect, equality and esteem.
The legendary duo of saxophone and percussion, which Anthony Braxton began with Max Roach, finds a fascinating continuation in the duo Anthony Braxton-Andrew Cyrille. https://anthonybraxton.bandcamp.com
Tracklist :
1    Duo Palindrome 2002    4:34
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
2    The Loop    5:39
Composed By –  Anthony Braxton
3    Interlacing    4:35
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
4    Celestial Gravity    2:48
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
5    Quickened Spirits    4:50
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
6    Effluence    4:24
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
7    Composition No. 310    11:46
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
8    Ascendancy    11:36
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille, Anthony Braxton
Credits :    
Drums, Mastered By, Mixed By – Andrew Cyrille
Producer – Intakt Records
Reeds, Mastered By, Mixed By – Anthony Braxton

ANDREW CYRILLE | ANTHONY BRAXTON - Duo Palindrom 2002, Vol. 2 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For many years, both greats of modern jazz - the saxophone player Anthony Braxton and the drummer Andrew Cyrille - have been pursuing their own musical developments. In the autumn of 2002 their wish to make a joint CD recording was fulfilled.
What came of the meeting are fifteen internal dialogues: new compositions, spontaneous improvisations, as well as interpretations of well-known pieces from Cyrille and Braxton. Both CDs are an artistic manifesto of two jazz innovators, a document of African-American music, borne of mutual respect, equality and esteem.
The legendary duo of saxophone and percussion, which Anthony Braxton began with Max Roach, finds a fascinating continuation in the duo Anthony Braxton-Andrew Cyrille. https://anthonybraxton.bandcamp.com
Tracklist :
1    Water, Water, Water    5:28
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille
2    Dreams Alive ... Concretize    4:28
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille / Anthony Braxton
3    Excerpt From The Navigator    4:55
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille
4    Sound Relations    9:13
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille / Anthony Braxton
5    Composition No 311    10:15
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
6    Dr. Licks    7:30
Composed By – Andrew Cyrille
7    A Musical Sense Of Life    6:50
Composed By – Anthony Braxton
Credits :    
Drums, Mixed By, Mastered By – Andrew Cyrille
Producer – Intakt Records
Reeds, Mixed By, Mastered By – Anthony Braxton

ROSWELL RUDD | ARCHIE SHEPP - Live in New York (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded live at New York's Jazz Standard in 2000, this generally excellent CD marks the reunion of two avant-garde improvisers who were separated for way too long: tenor man Archie Shepp and trombonist Roswell Rudd. The jazzmen played together a lot during the turbulent 1960s but, regrettably, they didn't record together at all in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s. After more than 30 years apart, was that old chemistry still there? Absolutely. A 63-year-old Shepp (who doubles on piano) and a 65-year-old Rudd have no problem bringing out the best in one another whether they are embracing pieces from the 1960s (including Shepp's remorseful "Steam") or turning their attention to songs they wrote in the 1980s or 1990s such as Rudd's "Bamako" and Shepp's "Hope No. 2." Some people might wish that the veteran jazzmen paid more attention to their 1960s work, but Live in New York isn't meant to be an exercise in nostalgia. Shepp and Rudd (who are joined by trombonist Grachan Moncur III, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Andrew Cyrille) aren't trying to recreate the past -- nor should they. But that doesn't mean that they aren't excited about being reunited; they bring a wealth of enthusiasm to their post-bop and avant-garde performances -- none of which are as extreme as some of the blistering free jazz that Shepp provided in the 1960s. Shepp's "Déjà-Vu," in fact, is a hauntingly pretty torch ballad that finds the saxman singing. Although Shepp's singing isn't in a class with his tenor playing, he still manages to get his points across on "Déjà-Vu" -- which is an ironic song title for an album that avoids being nostalgic. Shepp and Rudd keep things unpredictable on this inspired reunion. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Keep Your Heart Right    2:13
 Roswell Rudd
2    Acute Motelitis    8:23
 Roswell Rudd
3    Steam    7:33
 Archie Shepp
4    Pazuzu    8:27
 Roswell Rudd
5    We Are The Blues    5:46
 Amiri Baraka
6    Ujamma    9:16
 Archie Shepp
7    Bamako    5:46
 Roswell Rudd
8    Slide By Slide    11:57
 Roswell Rudd
9    Deja Vu    3:59
 Archie Shepp
10        Hope No 2    10:38
 Archie Shepp
Credits :
Bass – Reggie Workman
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Piano, Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III, Roswell Rudd

COLEMAN HAWKINS - The Hawk Relaxes (1961-2006) RVG Remasters | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It is said that one grows wiser and mellower with age, as proven by this recording from Coleman Hawkins that is a successful follow-up to his previous Moodsville album At Ease. There is a difference, as Kenny Burrell joins the legendary tenor saxophonist in this quintet setting, with no threat of upstaging or even a hint of any real showcasing of the guitarist's then developing laid-back side. Underrated Ronnell Bright is on the piano, and also proves a veritable equal to Hawkins even more than Burrell. But it is the burgeoning talent of bassist Ron Carter and drummer Andrew Cyrille who mark their territory, not as the maverick individualists they would become, but as supple performers who understand the strength of Hawkins from a modest standpoint. Not all ballads, the fare is standard American popular song played for people sitting by the fire, the calm ocean, or late at night with a sweetheart over candles and wine. Any version of a well-known tune can be made classic by Hawkins, as heard during the somber "I'll Never Be The Same," the straight ballad "Under a Blanket of Blue" with the tenor's slight fluttery trills, or "Just a Gigolo" where the spotlight is firmly focused on the leader's droll tones. Burrell's strumming on "When Day Is Done" signifies a downplayed, wound down feeling, and where he generally chooses a sublimated role in these recordings, he does come out with a strong lead melody for the soulful ballad "More Than You Know." The modified tunes on the session are the midtempo take of "Moonglow" as Hawkins adopts some of Lester Young's swagger as Cyrille's nimble brushwork keeps the song moving forward. "Speak Low" is interpreted in a sleek and seductive calypso beat ably conjured by the drummer, a nice touch to end the album. This quintet -- as unique as any Hawkins ever fronted -- speaks to his open mindedness, but more so to his innate ability in adapting musicians to his situational hitting. The Hawk Relaxes is one of his best latter period efforts. Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1     I'll Never Be the Same 6'11
Gus Kahn / Matty Malneck / Frank Signorelli
2     When Day Is Done 4'28
Buddy DeSylva / Robert Katscher
3     Under a Blanket of Blue 4'39
Jerry Livingston / Al J. Neiburg / Marty Symes
4     More Than You Know 4'12
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
5     Moonglow 5'59
Eddie DeLange / Will Hudson / Irving Mills
6     Just a Gigolo 5'04
Julius Brammer / Irving Caesar / Leonello Casucci
7     Speak Low 6'44
Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill    
Credits :
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Ronnell Bright
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins

AHMED ABDUL-MALIK - Jazz Sounds of Africa (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jazz Sounds of Africa compiles the complete contents of two early New Jazz LPs by Ahmed Abdul-Malik, which were originally issued as The Music of Ahmed Abdul-Malik and Sounds of Africa. The music on this reissue is simply captivating, as the brilliant bassist and oud player of Sudanese descent blends elements of jazz with that of Middle Eastern and African music. While the names of several of the contributing musicians are likely to be unfamiliar to many jazz fans, except for Andrew Cyrille and Tommy Turrentine, the music proves to be fascinating throughout both sessions. Any fan of John Coltrane's composition "India," which was written and performed around the same time frame, will delight in the hypnotic opener, "Nights on Saturn," with an eerie solo by an unidentified Korean reed instrument played by Bilal Abdurrahman. The leader overdubs on oud (the Middle Eastern ancestor of the mandolin) on several tracks, as well as demonstrates his fine arco bass on the old standard "Don't Blame Me." Tommy Turrentine, whose career was unjustly overlooked because he retired from music prematurely, is a compelling soloist on the 1961 session. The latter session is far more percussive, with Abdul-Malik utilizing a larger ensemble. The highlight of this date is the lengthy exploration of the infectious original "Communication," which almost conjures up an African tribal chant with Richard Williams' trumpet as the lead voice, with the percussionists eventually taking over as they play off one another with vocal encouragement from one of the players. The songs on this CD compilation of the two-decades-old albums have stood the test of time very well. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1    Nights On Saturn 7'53
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion, Reeds [Korean Reed Instrument] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
2    The Hustlers 5'32
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
3    Oud Blues 4'11
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass, Oud – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
4    La Ibkey 5'51
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass, Oud – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
5    Don't Blame Me 7'53
Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By – Jimmy McHugh
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
6    Hannibal's Carnivals 4'39
Cello – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
7    Wakida Hena 3'49
Alto Saxophone – Edwin Steede
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion [Darabuka] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Congas, Bongos – Montego Joe
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Rupert Alleyne
Percussion [African Drum] – Chief Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Taft Chandler
Trumpet – Richard Williams
8    African Bossa Nova 5'58
Alto Saxophone – Edwin Steede
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion [Darabuka] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Congas, Bongos – Montego Joe
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Rupert Alleyne
Percussion [African Drum] – Chief Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Taft Chandler
Trumpet – Richard Williams
9    Nadusilma 3'55
Alto Saxophone – Edwin Steede
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion [Darabuka] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Congas, Bongos – Montego Joe
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Rupert Alleyne
Percussion [African Drum] – Chief Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Taft Chandler
Trumpet – Richard Williams
10    Out Of Nowhere 4'57
Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Composed By – Heyman, Green
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Tenor Saxophone – Eric Dixon
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine
11    Communication 9'43
Alto Saxophone – Edwin Steede
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion [Darabuka] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Congas, Bongos – Montego Joe
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Rupert Alleyne
Percussion [African Drum] – Chief Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Taft Chandler
Trumpet – Richard Williams
12    Suffering 5'12
Alto Saxophone – Edwin Steede
Cello, Violin – Calo Scott
Clarinet, Percussion [Darabuka] – Bilal Abdurrahman
Composed By, Bass – Ahmed Abdul-Malik
Congas, Bongos – Montego Joe
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Rupert Alleyne
Percussion [African Drum] – Chief Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Taft Chandler
Trumpet – Richard Williams

Recording Date
May 23, 1961 & August 22, 1962

CECIL TAYLOR - Conquistador! (1966-1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For the second of Cecil Taylor's two Blue Note albums (following Unit Structures), the innovative pianist utilized a sextet comprised of trumpeter Bill Dixon, altoist Jimmy Lyons, both Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on basses and drummer Andrew Cyrille. During the two lengthy pieces, Lyons' passionate solos contrast with Dixon's quieter ruminations while the music in general is unremittingly intense. Both of the Taylor Blue Notes are quite historic and near-classics but, despite this important documentation, Cecil Taylor (other than a pair of Paris concerts) would not appear on records again until 1973. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Conquistador 17:55
Cecil Taylor
2     With (Exit) 19:22
Cecil Taylor
3     With (Exit) 17:23
Cecil Taylor
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Lyons
Bass – Alan Silva, Henry Grimes
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Piano, Written-By – Cecil Taylor
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Bill Dixon

CECIL TAYLOR - Unit Structures (1966-2000) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 After several years off records, pianist Cecil Taylor finally had an opportunity to document his music of the mid-'60s on two Blue Note albums (the other one was Conquistador). Taylor's high-energy atonalism fit in well with the free jazz of the period but he was actually leading the way rather than being part of a movement. In fact, this septet outing with trumpeter Eddie Gale, altoist Jimmy Lyons, Ken McIntyre (alternating between alto, oboe and bass clarinet), both Henry Grimes and Alan Silva on basses, and drummer Andrew Cyrille is quite stunning and very intense. In fact, it could be safely argued that no jazz music of the era approached the ferocity and intensity of Cecil Taylor's.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1 - Steps 10:18
Cecil Taylor
2 - Enter, Evening (Soft Line Structure) 11:05
Cecil Taylor
3 - Unit Structure / As Of A Now / Section 17:45
Cecil Taylor
4 - Tales (8 Whisps) 7:43
Cecil Taylor
Credits
Alto Saxophone - Jimmy Lyons
Alto Saxophone, Oboe, Bass Clarinet - Ken McIntyre
Bass - Alan Silva, Henry Grimes
Drums - Andrew Cyrille
Piano, Bells, Written-By, Liner Notes - Cecil Taylor
Trumpet - Eddie Gale Stevens Jr.