As Kevin Whitehead's liner notes to this release reflect, Sanders "pays explicit tribute to his late mentor John Coltrane -- as this set's Coltrane-oriented sound makes unashamedly clear." Actually, Coltrane penned only one of the eight tunes, while Sanders wrote six, but the spirit of the master looms heavily throughout. Sanders displays an uncanny resemblance to Trane's unique way of over-blowing and his special ability to get inside a ballad. Pianist John Hicks is in perfect form and contributes mightily to the success of the session. Most will probably prefer the original Coltrane to Sanders' imitations, but Africa is nonetheless a joyous and worthy tribute to one of the giants of jazz. This album marked somewhat of a backtrack for the saxophonist, as he had frequently become identified with much more traditional playing. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1 If I Die Before I Wake 15:00
2 Three Jewels 13:55
3 Akdemus 7:37
Flugelhorn – Chris Gekker
4 Peace On Earth 5:50
5 Solomon's Daughter 9:25
6 Birds Of The Nile 7:18
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Drew Gress
Drums, Composed By, Producer – Franklin Kiermyer
Piano – John Esposito
Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders
6.11.22
FRANKLIN KIERMYER | PHAROAH SANDERS - Solomon's Daughter (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
30.10.21
JOHN ABERCROMBIE QUARTET - Up and Coming (2017) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
When pianist Marc Copland formally joined the John Abercrombie Quartet for 2013's wonderful 39 Steps, he brought with him the fruit of the musical relationship between himself and the guitarist that had been established some four decades earlier with Chico Hamilton, and in the fusion band Dreams. Their evolution continued the guitarist's participation on several of the pianist's albums, and as sidemen playing in the same bands with Kenny Wheeler and David Liebman. Bassist Drew Gress, who has worked with both men separately over the years, is a further link in the chain, while drummer Joey Baron has played with the guitarist often enough to be intimately familiar with his compositional and improvisational processes.
Abercrombie wrote five of these eight tunes, Copland contributed a pair, and the group offers a startling read of Miles Davis' nugget "Nardis." It's in the reinvention of the latter number where this band showcases its greatest strengths. While they remain faithful to the song's harmony and spirit, they open up its inner space a moment at a time, almost imperceptibly at first. Abercrombie parses his phrases, albeit fluidly, to reveal the hidden magic in Davis' nuances, as Copland follows through and around them to crystallize its striking chorus. There's a great deal of magic in the originals as well. Opener "Joy" commences with a poignant minor-lyric statement, picked up by Copland before the pair stagger the melody and begin a gradual yet emotive and inquisitive interplay. Gress accents the changes while Baron adds dimension and texture with his whispering cymbal work. The pianist's solo highlights each melodic fragment with canny lyricism. The guitarist's "Flipside" is brief, but its swinging tempo and tight changes spotlight the band breezing through post-bop with zest, humor, and chops to spare. A more complex side of that nature is expounded upon in Copland's "Silver Circle," providing an opportunity for Abercrombie to underscore the edges in a rounded yet knotty solo. The pianist's "Tears," with its processional yet lithe chord voicings, hushed cymbals, and muted tom-toms, is initially so gentle and tender, it momentarily distracts from the darkness within. Abercrombie's break caresses the melody's haunting frame; Gress picks apart its elements and exposes its spine reinforced subtly by Baron, and Copland opens the seam to expose drama, vulnerability, and loss. The set concludes with the guitarist's "Jumbles," a jocular, midtempo workout that juxtaposes angles and breezy harmony with a varying rhythmic palette. Up and Coming clocks in at under 50 minutes. Its compositional and improvisational economy is countered by the quartet's disciplined ability to colorfully and authoritatively illustrate an abundance of creative ideas without hinting at compromise.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1 Joy 4:12
John Abercrombie
2 Flipside 2:53
John Abercrombie
3 Sunday School 7:18
John Abercrombie
4 Up and Coming 5:50
John Abercrombie
5 Tears 7:34
Marc Copland
6 Silver Circle 7:06
Marc Copland
7 Nardis 6:21
Miles Davis
8 Jumbles 5:57
John Abercrombie
Credits :
Double Bass – Drew Gress
Drums – Joey Baron
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Piano – Marc Copland
8.6.18
JOHN ABERCROMBIE QUARTET — 39 Steps (2013) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1 Vertigo 6:23
Composed By – John Abercrombie
2 LST 6:51
Composed By – Marc Copland
3 Bacharach 7:21
Composed By – John Abercrombie
4 Greenstreet 6:15
Composed By – John Abercrombie
5 As It Stands 4:08
Composed By – John Abercrombie
6 Spellbound 6:53
Composed By – Marc Copland
7 Another Ralph's 5:22
Composed By – John Abercrombie
8 Shadow Of A Doubt 3:12
Composed By – Drew Gress, Joey Baron, John Abercrombie, Marc Copland
9 39 Steps 8:36
Composed By – John Abercrombie
10 Melancholy Baby 4:37
Composed By – Ernie Burnett, George A. Norton
Credits :
Double Bass – Drew Gress
Drums – Joey Baron
Guitar – John Abercrombie
Piano – Marc Copland
Producer – Manfred Eicher
+ last month
EDDIE HARRIS — The Last Concert (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Unless something unauthorized turns up, this appears to be Eddie Harris' last recording. The concert was taped in Europe -- where Harris...