MUJICIAN — The Journey (1990-2003) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

An aptly named CD, as the four British jazz musicians in this improvisational group offer one long, 55-minute piece in a live performance at the Bath Festival in Bristol, and they cover a great deal of musical ground in the process. The participants are not well known in the U.S. (in fact, British jazz is generally ignored in the U.S.), and that's a real shame, because they are all superb musicians who are functioning very nicely as a unit even at this early stage of their collective development. Paul Dunmall displays his woodwind mastery (as he does on later releases) by moving during the long performance from his opening clarinet solo to soprano saxophone and then to tenor and finally baritone. Dunmall's clarinet is initially lyrical and quite lovely, as is Keith Tippett's piano when he joins in, but when Dunmall returns on soprano sax, he begins to create some dynamic tension with rapid flurries of notes and a certain timbral urgency. Finally, about 12 minutes into the "journey," the electricity starts to build, and everyone shifts into ecstatic mode. The obvious influence at this point is the mid-period Coltrane quartet, with Dunmall keening on soprano sax and Tippett paying tribute to McCoy Tyner, spinning aggressive single-note runs with the right hand and crashing block chords with the left. After a thoughtful interlude, Dunmall returns again like a fury on tenor sax, with the powerful rhythm section of Paul Rogers on bass and Tony Levin on drums pulsating behind him and pushing him even further. The music continues to ebb and flow like some organic process. And while all members of Mujician are quite adept at "outside" playing (multiphonics, extended techniques, etc.), their music expresses a wide range of emotions (even serenity and playfulness), which should make them attractive to listeners who are free jazz novices. William Tilland
Tracklist :
1    The Journey    55:02
Credits :
Artwork [Wood Engravings] – Paul Dunmall
Clarinet [Eb], Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Paul Dunmall
Double Bass – Paul Rogers
Drums – Tony Levin
Piano – Keith Tippett

EVAN PARKER - The Ayes Have It (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

According to producer Martin Davidson, these two recordings (tracks one through four, and track five) were not released earlier because each was simply too short to fill an entire CD. Each features a group led by Evan Parker that only performed once as a unit. Parker is in his usually good form at both sessions, which were recorded more than seven years apart. Nonetheless, the two recordings are very different, due to the personalities of his colleagues. The first four tracks (recorded in 1983) are less than ten minutes each, and, without detracting from Parker's fine efforts, the distinguishing characteristics come from Paul Rogers' energetic bass and Jamie Muir's unusual contributions on percussion and toys -- the latter of which, although used highly selectively, adds a fascinating dimension. The 36-minute track (recorded in 1991) with the superb Dutch trombonist Wolter Wierbos offers an extremely rare opportunity to hear him with Parker in a small group. The results do not disappoint in the least -- although apparently due to the extreme heat and humidity, the trombonist stopped playing midway through the nearly 40-minute performance because of problems with his contact lens. Until then, Wierbos is in top form, the similarities to the playing of trombonist George Lewis evident in part, but with this artist displaying a more primitive-sounding approach. While the two sessions have ostensibly little in common (other than the common appearances of Parker and Rogers, and both having been recorded in London, England), each easily stands on its own as an excellent example of the free improvisational spirit of the period. Steve Loewy  
Tracklist :
1    Aye 1    9:16
2    Aye 2    4:02
3    Aye 3    8:54
4    Aye 4    9:29
5    The Eyes Have It 36:30
Paul Rogers - double bass
Percussion, Music By – Mark Sanders
Evan Parker - soprano & tenor saxophones
Trombone, Music By – Wolter Wierbos
Credits :
1-4
Percussion, Toy [Toys] – Jamie Muir
Soprano Saxophone – Evan Parker
Double Bass – Paul Rogers

SAM RIVERS | NÖEL AKCHOTE | TONY HYMAN | PAUL ROGERS | JACQUES THOLLOT - Configuration (1998) FLAC (tracks), lossless

 Tracklist :
1    Béatrice 4'48
Composed By – S. Rivers
2    Cheshire Hotel 7'51
Composed By – N. Akchoté
3    Etchings 5'11
Composed By – P. Rogers, S. Rivers
4    Configuration 13'10
Composed By – J. Thollot, N. Akchoté, P. Rogers, S. Rivers, T. Hymas
5    Jennifer 5'34
Composed By – T. Hymas
6    Zing 4'53
Composed By – P. Rogers, S. Rivers
7    Sketches 4'17
Composed By – N. Akchoté, S. Rivers
8    Rififi 8'41
Composed By – P. Rogers
9    Gleam 2'42
Composed By – N. Akchoté, S. Rivers
10    Ripples 5'18
Composed By – S. Rivers
11    Moonbeams 5'53
Composed By – S. Rivers, T. Hymas
12    Nightfall 5'34
Composed By – Sam Rivers
Credits :
Double Bass – Paul Rogers
Drums – Jacques Thollot
Edited By – Roger Amoros
Guitar [Guitars] – Noël Akchote
Piano – Tony Hymas
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Sam Rivers