I do not usually boast about my CD collection, but I have over 50 CDs with Joe McPhee as a leader, and with reason. When I tell other jazz fans that I think he's one of the true jazz greats of all times, I often get a frown in reaction. The reason why I think that, is because his music is universal and authentic, in a deep emotional and spiritual sense, open to any influence while still remaining uncompromising in its exploratory nature. He brings a purity of approach while combining sensitivity and warmth, with powerful violent outbursts and musical adventure. And he can play with many different kind of musicians and still build rapport.This record is his fourth sax/drums duet, after "Emancipation Proclamation" with Hamid Drake, "A Parallax View" with Paul Hession and "Voices : Ten Improvisations" with John Heward. Now, with Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, the result of the dialogue is at the same high level. The 34 year old drummer is not in the least inhibited by playing with the 68 year old saxophonist, and to McPhee's credit, he lets the young drummer have the same level of space as he did on the duet with Hamid Drake. There is great respect and mutual encouragement, as already testified by the first track, on which McPhee blows a very mournful slow tune, which incites Nilssen-Love to accentuate with little cymbal sounds, or the opposite, double the tempo for some high energy playing without creating a conflict. The second track starts with high energy drumming, inviting McPhee for improvising with the same intensity, and he does that by playing highly rhythmic bursts of sounds circling around the same tonal center, meeting the drums halfway, almost letting go of the sax as a lyrical instrument. On "Ibsen's Ghost", McPhee switches to pocket trumpet, first riding the intense percussive waves that the drummer creates, then slowing down to bird-like (or is it ghost-like?) fluttering, while Nilssen-Love switches to brushes in reaction. "Acts Of Time" brings the most controlled demonstration of the saxophonist's incredible skill, blowing high sustained overtone sounds, barely touching upon the silence at first, then increasing the intensity for some heart-piercing wailing, supported by thundering drumming. And the treat goes on and on. It must also be noted that the quality of the recording is excellent too, creating a very intimate feeling, as if both artists were playing next to you. Free, creative, open and disciplined : I love it.
Listen and download from eMusic.
© stef
4 comments:
stef, can you recommend some mcphee albums that you think would be a nice introduction?
i only have some albums on which he's a sideman, but none he released under his own name
thanks!
My absolute favorite is Trio X - Roulette At Location One. But he's done so many things. Underground Railroad is early free jazz with funk elements, historically relevant, his "Impressions Of Jimmy Giuffre" is also great, as is "Sweet Freedom, Now What", which is both traditional and free. But I also like his duets, also his sax-bass duet with Dominic Duval, but his solo album "Tenor" is also excellent, although probably a little less accessible.
hello,
i'm glad to see this cd's finally released!
what i wanted to say: maybe you just forgot it, but if you are not familiar with it you should check joe mcphee's duos with drummer johnny mclellan (cd titled 'grand marquis', on boxholder i guess). i slightly prefer it over 'emancipation proclamation' and 'a parallax view' (sound quality:s). i haven't listened to the heward disc yet, so i don't know how they compare.
i have to thank you: since i had no clue where to start with trio x, after reading your recommendations i'll obviously look for 'roulette...'!
for guy: i would recommend 'nation time' over 'underground railroad', since they are from the same period and the letter sounds terrible. by this i mean that you really have to concentrate to hear the horns. of course it's hard to go wrong.
sorry, i can't stand recommending 'linear b'.
gabor
of course i mean i can't resist recommending it.
sorry, it seems hangover doesn't improve my english much.
gabor
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