Search - New Air, Cassandra Wilson :: Air Show 1

I love me a good air show, don't you?

J. GARRATT | 07/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Air Show No. 1" is not as challenging as other Air/Henry Threadgill releases, but that doesn't mean it isn't any good. As the (New) Air group progressed through the years the fringe edges had softened just the tiniest bit. And of course they warmed up to the idea of having vocals in the group. Enter Cassandra Wilson on tracks 2, 4, and 6. Hearing Wilson sing over Threadgill's topsy-turvy forms can be either humbling or distracting, depending on your mood. And some passages with vocals rightfully take the conservative route since I imagine singing along to hard-bop would be pretty tricky. Still, "Apricots On Their Wings" and "Side Step" are not without pleasant surprises.



Just like most other AACM-related releases, this music stretches and expands, or dismantles, simple formulas of traditional jazz. So if you want avant-garde without the atonal, releases by Air and/or New Air are as good a place to start as any. "Air Show No. 1" has plenty of digestible facets to make it an ideal place to get yer feet wet."