Search - Billy Harper :: Blueprints Of Jazz Vol. 2

Remarkably Explorative And Progressive

Mike | Here and There | 06/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, after checking out Mike Clark's Blueprints Of Jazz Volume 1 I had to go and check out Billy Harper's Blueprints of Jazz Volume 2. While I was a fan of Vol. 1, I like this one for very, very different reasons. Mike Clark's release was very bright and traditional sounding; with a greater deal of focus on letting the drums drive the band. This release was darker, more brooding, with a greater attention to being expressive and experimental.



The first two tracks, "Africa Revisited" and "Knowledge of Self" start off textural and connected, with a spoken word piece going over the two compositions. With the exception of "Oh... If Only", the remaining songs are purely instrumental. The theme of the album's lyrical content centers around the preservation of Black History and how it relates specifically to jazz music. The tone of it all seems somber at times, but the whole album from start to finish was absolutely beautiful and well conceived.



All and all, this was an excellent work of art that tells a story both figuratively and literally. I was really impressed."