Muhal Richard Abrams: Levels And Degrees of Light

Soul Jazz / AACM / Avant Jazz
premiera polska: 1994-01-14
kontynent: Ameryka Północna
kraj: USA
opakowanie: Jewelcaseowe etui
opis:
Editor's info:
Muhal Richard Abrams, the name commands respect. In 1967, founder and president of the AACM, he is wise beyond his years, and older than most of his associates: a teacher. After years of fighting the bebop wars and now yet another, he has an opportunity to present his own music for a larger audience. Typically he enlists a number of unsung, younger artists to display their talents and to expose his own. Honor him and enjoy his music.

allmusic.com:
Levels and Degrees of Light was the first recording under Muhal Richard Abrams' name and was a landmark album that launched the first in a long line of beautiful, musical salvos from the AACM toward the mainstream jazz world. The title track finds Abrams broadly tracing out some of the territory he would continue to explore in succeeding decades, an ethereal, mystic quality (evinced by Penelope Taylor's otherworldly vocalizing and Gordon Emmanuel's shimmering vibes) balanced by a harsh and earthy bluesiness set forth by the leader's piercing clarinet. "The Bird Song" begins with a fine, dark poetry recitation by David Moore (oh! for the days when one didn't approach a poem on a jazz album with great trepidation) before evanescing into a whirlwind of percussion, bird whistles, and violin (the latter by Leroy Jenkins in one of his first recorded appearances). When the band enters at full strength with Anthony Braxton (in his first recording session), the effect is explosive and liberating, as though Abrams' band had stood on the shoulders of Coltrane, Coleman, and Taylor and taken a massive, daring leap into the future. It's a historic performance. The final track offers several unaccompanied solo opportunities, spotlighting Abrams' sumptuous piano and the under-recognized bass abilities of Charles Clark. This is a milestone recording and belongs in the collection of any modern jazz fan.
by Brian Olewnick

muzycy:
Muhal Richard Abrams: piano, clarinet
Anthony Braxton: alto saxophone
Maurice McIntyre: tenor saxophone
Leroy Jenkins: violin
Gordon Emmanuel: vibraphone
Charles Clark: bass
Leonard Jones: bass
Thurman Barker: drums
Penelope Taylor: vocals
David Moore: poet (track 2)

utwory:
1. Levels and Degrees of Light [10:33]
2. The Bird Song [23:00]
3. My Thoughts Are My Future - Now and Forever [9:43]

total time - 43:16
wydano: 1968
nagrano: June 7, 1967 & December 21, 1967
more info: www.delmark.com