Showing posts with label Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio. Show all posts

Friday, December 21, 2012

Kahil El'Zabar does my mood

I posted not long ago on Kahil El'Zabar.  Yesterday I downloaded one of his early albums as leader (of the Ritual Trio): Renaissance of the Resistance (1994).  El'Zabar has roots in very edgy jazz, but this album is both accessible and very compelling.  Here is the trio:
I am playing the title cut.  It is one of those long, moody, meditations that are just right when you want to wallow in the sweetness of your sadness.  Frankly, I need to assemble a playlist of such compositions.  

I am also playing 'Trane In Mind'.  I am not sure it brings Trane to mind, but it kept me dancing with my beagle while I put together the Kung Pao Shrimp.  Trust me; this one will make you want more.  Ari Brown's sax wails like he thinks he is Pharaoh Sanders.  There is a lot of love in them there notes.  

Friday, May 25, 2012

Kahil El'Zabar & Muhal Richard Abrams



There is a lot of magnificent jazz out there waiting to be discovered, at least by this jazz collector.  Muhal Richard Abrams escaped my many trips through the Penguin Guide to Jazz largely because he comes very near the beginning.  Sometimes having a name that begins with "A" is not an advantage.  

Yesterday I downloaded Muhal Abrams album Blu Blu Blu (1990).  This is one of those albums you can't shut down if the house is on fire.  

Pianist Abrams began with his roots planted deep in the hard bop of Dexter Gordon, Max Roach and Sonny Stitt.  He expanded into the avant garde with Roscoe Mitchell and was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).  Anthony Braxton was one of the usual suspects. Blu Blu Blu is a large ensemble album.  Here is the lineup:
I am playing 'Bloodline', and the title cut.  This is my favorite kind of jazz: avant garde genius digging deeply into the marrow of a New York or Chicago blues club.   Everything is here, and not a note is false. 

I also happened on Kahil El'Zabar's Ritual Trio Live At the River East Art Center (2005).  Here is the lineup:
I am playing 'Return of the Lost Tribe' and 'Where Do You Want to Go?'.  Much of what I said above could be said here.   Everyone is good.  Ari Brown's sax deserves a temple.  I was intoxicated by the synergy between Brown and Billy Bang's electric violin.  If you like a great live quartet recording, here is one for you. 

Get these two albums!  Your life will be better in the future.  I promise.