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It is with an amazed dismay that I find no reviews of this extraordinary music. Anyone reading this who is not familiar with the compositions and improvisations of Julius Hemphill is in for a treat. This CD will serve to introduce you to several different forms of greatness.
If you are not familiar with the greatness that is Clean Feed Records this recording will hopefully encourage you to seek out more of their releases. I can only compare them to Blue Note in the '60s. Go to their web site for more of their prolific greatness.
If you are not familiar with Marty Ehrlich who is the musical director of this performance then shame on you. A more adventurous and skilled reed player is hard to imagine. And he plays shakuhachi. Sauce!
The other five players on this recording are Sam Furnace (alto and soprano sax), Aaron Stewart (tenor sax), Andrew White (tenor sax), Andy Laster (alto), and Alex Harding (baritone sax). Ehrlich sticks to alto and soprano.
All the compositions are by Julius Hemphill drawing from his earliest compositions on through later ones.. Hemphill started out by releasing some of the best of the early Arista Freedom releases, went out to be part of the greatness that was the World Saxophone Quartet and in the last part of his life led his own saxophone sextet. His music is as versed in country blues as it is in contemporary classical. It was both experimental and accessible and, for me, always joyful.
Play all the samples for a taste of the variety of beauty that flowed out of Mr. Hemphill's mind. Be sure to check out The Hard Blues which is one of my favorite jazz compostions.
If you want to try some more great Julius Hemphill look for the Reflections CD, Five Chord Stud or some of his big band music. Another version of the Ehrlich lead sextet can be heard on At Dr. King's Table. For the sake of your musical soul, go listen to some World Saxophone Quartet CDs. And check out some of the CDs of Mr. Ehrlich and the rest of the ensemble.
