**** World Saxophone Quartet with African Drums
FOUR NOW
(Justin Time)
The revolving chair originally held by
Julius Hemphill is filled by
John Purcell
on this recording. He's a very capable voice on
flute,
English horn,
and exotic saxello. This album supplements the quartet's woodwinds with a trio
of African drummers, a sound first realized on Metamorphosis
(Elektra
Nonesuch, 1990). The result is far superior, because the quartet are more
knowledgeable now about how to reconcile the West African rhythms with jazz. A
few of the seven tunes sound like loose jams, rowdy and raucous, with squealing
horns gossiping above the percussive din. But the high point is a lengthy and
very carefully shaped suite by
David Murray,
"Dakar Darkness." Oliver Lake
recites some Afrocentric poetry about the Middle Passage as drummers and
hornmen underscore the words with fierce phrases communicating pain and passion
and pride. This is perhaps the finest album of WSQ's distinguished career.
-- Norman Weinstein
|
