DON
CHERRY / DOLLAR BRAND / CARLOS WARD – THIRD WORLD-UNDERGROUND
A stunning little
session – and every bit as wonderful as you'd expect from a lineup that
includes Dollar Brand, Don Cherry, and Carlos Ward! The three players work
together here in open, spiritual styles – with really long-flowing lines from
Brand on piano, in a more modal style that's different from some of his other
records – balanced out with bold trumpet lines from Cherry, and soaring alto
sax from Ward – a player who doesn't always get the chance to step out this
much! All three players vocalize a bit, but more in some sort of rootsy way
that echoes the music – and the album's a really unique outing from all three
players – and a set we'd rank with their best from the time. Titles include
"Don's Song", "Cherry", "Bra Joe From
Kilimanjaro", "Swazi", and "Jabulani Easter Joy".
(SHM-CD pressing! Part of the Deep Jazz Reality series.) ~, Dusty Groove
CLINT
HOUSTON – WATERSHIP DOWN
One of the rare few
albums cut as a leader by bassist Clint Houston – a player who always worked
with very hip collections of musicians, including the lineup for this unusual
date! The album's got a wonderfully warm, soulful vibe – a mode that's never
polished or commercial, but which has Houston expressing himself in this very
personal sort of way – in the company of players who include Onaje Allen Gumbs
on piano and moog, Joanne Brackeen on piano, John Abercrombie on guitar, and Al
Foster on drums – playing with even more sensitivity than usual. Abercrombie's
especially great – and his chromatic notes have a way of ringing out with a
slightly sprightly feel that illuminates some of Clint's deeper tones on bass –
a balance that's also offset well by the acoustic piano. Titles include
"Escape Velocity", "Watership Down", "Lifetrip",
"Con Alma", and "Afternoon Moods". (SHM-CD pressing! Part
of the Deep Jazz Reality series.) ~ Dusty Groove
EDDIE
GOMEZ – DOWN STRETCH
Bassist
Eddie Gomez hardly ever has a down stretch – especially given all the creative
combinations he's worked in over the years – and this rare 70s album from Japan
is more of a high point than anything "down" at all! The record's a
trio date, with killer work on Fender Rhodes and piano from Takehiro Honda –
who's easily one of our favorite Japanese pianists of the time, and a musician
who really brings a different sort of energy to the record than some of Gomez's
other sessions with piano players, especially Bill Evans. Drummer Elliot
Zigmund is also nicely creative, too – really working the kit in unusual ways,
and often staying back a bit so that Eddie can get some wonderful space in the
lead, especially at the start of some of the songs. The whole thing's great –
an overlooked moment of genius from Gomez – and titles include
"Caprice", "Half Life", "Blues E", "Dream
Passage", and "Down Stretch". (SHM-CD pressing! Part of the Deep
Jazz Reality series.) ~ Dusty Groove
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Where does one find the Deep Jazz Reality CDs?
Try either Dusty Groove or Amazon.
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