Gary
Bartz, Larry Willis, Buster Williams and Al Foster--four of today's most
important and influential jazz artists--have joined forces as a collaborative
group for the first time in their storied careers and the result is a quartet
for the ages.
Somewhat
surprisingly after a half-century of working together in various combinations,
these four masters had never performed together as a quartet until last fall at
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club in New York City. They electrified the packed
house during that run and knew immediately that they had something special. As
Williams remembers, "Larry called me the next week, and said, 'What do you
think about us keeping this band together?' I said, 'I like the idea; let me
talk to Al and Gary.'" They agreed and the rest was history in the making.
They were
billed for those first performances as the Larry Willis All-Stars, and their
purpose was to pay tribute to NEA Jazz Master McCoy Tyner. For artists of this
stature to come together with a unified focus upon another master, that
individual needs to be one of enormous significance; McCoy Tyner is certainly
that. Bartz, Williams and Foster have all played and recorded with the
legendary pianist going back to the '60s and '70s and there's no one more
fitting than Willis to capture both the explosive drive and filigreed subtlety
of the master.
After
another sold-out run in January 2015, the band headed into the studio. What had
originally been intended to be a one-time thing has blossomed into Heads of
State, a stunning new ensemble powerfully manifested by their debut album on
Smoke Sessions Records, Search for
Peace.
The Tyner
concept provides the core for this brilliant recording, not only titled for his
majestic hymnal ballad, but also containing four other pieces associated with
his prolific legacy--two pieces he performed with the unparalleled Classic John
Coltrane Quartet, and two Bartz originals from Tyner albums on which Bartz
participated as a sideman.
Although
Bartz still plays in Tyner's groups on occasion--a relationship dating back
into the late '60s--he has been a renowned leader for nearly as long. All four
of these gentlemen are highly respected in their own right and have shared the
stage with nearly every jazz legend and heavyweight musician of the entire modern
era. Combining that wealth of history and their individual virtuosity into a
synergy and spirit that provides a visceral group identity makes Heads of State
as formidable an ensemble as any on today's scene. Bartz's fluently articulate
and always inventive alto and soprano saxes are perfectly framed by the rhythm
section, with Willis comping mightily or embellishing subtly as demanded by the
music; Williams' vibrant wood and potent pulse; and Foster's inspired and
sensitively dynamic drumming.
From the
opening strains of Coltrane's classic "Impressions," it's eminently
clear that the vitality and urgent creativity of the era that spawned these
four giants will be on full display; not only in the fire and energy of this
piece and Bartz's "Soulstice," but also in the relaxed swing and
beautiful balladry that comprises the rest of the album. Of the former,
"Search for Peace" is a lengthy exploration of the classic paean that
is simply exquisite, and Sigman & Russell's "Crazy She Calls Me"
is deeply emotive and poignantly lovely.
There are
unexpected surprises as well. Billy Strayhorn's heartbreakingly beautiful
"Lotus Blossom" is re-imagined in medium swing on an infectious bass
ostinato without losing any of its haunting eloquence. Warren & Gordon's
"I Wish I Knew"--which Tyner buoyed so appealingly on Trane's Ballads
album--is in an easy groove over a distinctly Tyner-ish vamp.
Sparkling
swing in mid-tempo variations are the order for Jackie McLean's nicely grooving
"Capuchin Swing," airily jaunty on Benny Carter's Summer
"Serenade," and playfully whimsical on Bartz's delectably Monk-ish
"Uncle Bubba."
This
configuration of elder statesmen serves as a salient reminder of what makes
jazz such a powerful and poignant art form. Search for Peace is a compelling
beginning for this group, leaving all in anticipation of what is to come from
this newly conceived partnership. As pianist Ethan Iverson wrote on his blog,
Do the Math, "Larry Willis, Gary Bartz, Buster Williams, Al Foster at
Smoke. Jazz like this still exists? Apparently they are playing McCoy Tyner
tunes. Fine. Whatever gets them on the bandstand together." Yes, jazz like
this is alive and well with Heads of State at the helm.
"Search
for Peace" was recorded live in New York at Sear Sound's Studio C
on a
Sear-Avalon custom console at 96KHz/24bit and mixed to ½" analog tape
using a
Studer mastering deck. Available in audiophile HD format.
Heads of
State · Search for Peace
Smoke
Sessions Records · Release Date: July 17, 2015
Release
Performances: July 24 - 26 @ Smoke Jazz Club
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