Search - Barry Altschul :: You Can't Name Your Own Tune

A genius blend of free and melodic fire

Stephen Silberman | SF, CA USA | 05/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the late-'70s "jazz slump," when it seemed like young people wouldn't be caught dead listening to anything as antique as jazz, drummer Barry Altschul, bassist Dave Holland, and sax player Sam Rivers were playing fresh, challenging, lively, swinging music that turned the turf between free jazz and post-Bop into a playground. (Oh, those free Rivers/Holland duets at SF's defunct Keystone Korner!) The best place to hear this music is Holland's "Conference of the Birds," which is one of the best five records that ECM ever put out. But this one is a close second. Out of print for many years, the virtues of "You Can't Name Your Own Tune" seem nearly lost on 32Jazz producer Kevin Calabro, who adds a dorky note to the package about how free-jazz fans had to make him aware of this album languishing in the company vault. But put it on and hear the pure joy of playing -- the swing, the risk, the telepathy, the call-and-response. Altschul is an underrated genius, and the combination of him and Holland is one of the best rhythm sections in jazz. Muhal Richard Abrams' piano is a delight too. This music goes everywhere."