Greetings again, Crypto-philes...Hope you had a banner 4th (of July) and are somehow surviving this quasi-apocalyptic nationwide heat wave, but it's been quite some time since we've posted anything and in the brief 72-day hiatus a lot has been going on, so let's get busy. First off: we have an eyepopping NEW WEBSITE with plenty of goodies, including a fully updated (and some might say OCD-fueled) Tour page, a new Audio/Visual section, and interviews with Bennie Maupin, Nels Cline and our very own Fearless Leader Jeff Gauthier.
Speaking of Sir Nels, we just got the new digipacks for his New Monastery CD -- you know, his eagerly anticipated tribute to avant-garde pianist Andrew Hill -- in the office and it looks AWESOME and Nels' liner notes are so...well, so very Nels. In addition, the digipacks for Myra Melford's Crypto debut The Image of Your Body and not only is it gorgeous (as all Crypto CDs are, of course) but the music trip contained within from Ms. Melford and her Be Bread Quartet will make this Fall a bounteous harvest for Crypto-philes everywhere.
But wait...there's more: Ben Goldberg's new CD the door, the hat, the chair, the fact just got reviewed on NPR's 'Fresh Air with Terry Gross' by their music reviewer Kevin Whitehead. if you gander a listen, here 'tis: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5535254
We just got the new issue of Downbeat in the office and not only does it have a nice little profile of Crypto cellist Erik Friedlander but also an even nicer review of Bennie Maupin's Penumbra. Since the review isn't up on the DB website yet, we'd thought we'd give it to you hot off the presses. Don't say we never gave ya nuthin!. Until the next time...
"Coming from the multi-instrumental camp of Yusef Lateef, Bennie
Maupin is deeply involved in modulating instrumental color and texture,
but he also likes to tell a story. He shifts between horns (and
occasionally piano) as a way of changing expressive modes. There's a lot of quiet music here, but also lots of variety. The alto flute of
the title track is meditative and calm, where the equally somber soprano miniature that follows, "Mirror Image," is more incisive and
penetrating. Maupin's tenor on "Trope On A Rope" is more pensive,
understatedly restless.
Maupin's acoustic band is perfectly suited to his storytelling.
Percussionist Daryl Munungo Jackson is a longtime partner, and he is the colorist's colorist, added little textures and sounds or using hand
drums to help drummer Michael Stephans propel things, as on the more aggressive "The 12th Day." Compositions - all but one by Maupin - are simple, revolving around short themes, often stated by Maupin in tandem with bassist Darek "Oles" Oleszkiewicz. The latter has a big, woody sound, and he's a powerful foil for Maupin; his solo on the piano piece "Equal Justice" is unfettered and strong.
The meatiest part of Penumbra though, comes in the form of Maupin's bass clarinet, which continues to be his prime instrument. A tough ostinato underpins "Neophilia 2006," as the bass clarinet gradually emerges from the bass vamp to offer a solo equally expressive and reserved. The unaccompanied bass clarinet piece, "One For Eric Dolphy" periodically returns to gulping arpeggios that conjure its dedicatee but with an unforced tone that's Maupin's own. "Message To Prez" perhaps points back at the ultimate source of Maupin's relaxed, often floating melodicism. " (John Corbett, Downbeat, August 2006)
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Posted by: Kevin Collier | July 26, 2006 at 05:39 AM