Search - Dave Douglas :: Convergence

Amazing!

07/22/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the Dave Douglas 'Five' in top form...a step up (which I didn't think was possible) from the first album, 'Five.' The compositions on this album are of a greater depth and the playing by each individual in the group is so 'honed-in' it leaves me floored. 'Farewell Tony' is definitely the expressive climax on the whole disc..Dave's solo is ridiculously superb...inspired....a more than fitting tribute to Tony Williams. One of the best albums I have heard in a long, long time!"

Think Kronos and Berne!

David Watts | Houston, TX | 11/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well -I would be the first to admit that I don't know an awful lot about Dave Douglas. But I have this CD, and it's pretty wild. Think Kronos Quartet with a bit of Tim Berne thrown in. There are moments of melody here, but with this line up you never quite know where the music is going to go. The liner notes make special mention that Douglas wants everyone to kow that this is an album make by five musicians. So let me mention them here - it's a good idea, because you can get an idea of what to expect: Mark Feldman (violin), Erik Friedlander (cello), Drew Gress (bass), and Michael Sarin (Drums.) And of course, Mr. Douglas with his trumpet.This thing stretches out (72:07 in length) and flies in all directions. In some tracks we're looking at dissonant ranting (opening track being an example) while at other times they take their time to impress a melody, and not to fill every single space with a note.I'm not going to say BUY THIS, BUY THIS here. It wouldn't be appropriate for this kind of disc. The fact is, when you're ready to spend time with something new - something different - something that will challenge you nine ways to Sunday - then go pick this one up. I can't imagine 50 years of listening to this would get you to the bottom of it."

Very Challenging Record

argentspinnaker | Dublin, Ohio United States | 05/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It begins with a rendition of a Burmese folk song, moves to a lengthy, somewhat dissonant piece called Meeting at Infinity, moves to a beautiful Kurt Weill piece and a Messiaen piece . . . well, you probably get the picture. At some level it explores and smashes the boundaries of Classical Music and Jazz. Its pleasure is not the visceral beat-bound pleasure that you get from listening to a lot of music, where the energy is in the beat and the exhilaration . . . rather, the pleasure, and it is almost exhilarating, is the sheer intellectual depth of this music and how demanding of a listen this is. It literally took me three days to get through this record the first time, partly because my wife complained about how much she hated it, but also because it is exhausting to listen to.



What is really remarkable about this, and it is something that I have never heard before, is Douglas' trumpet playing set against a string trio. Very unusual and not like jazz as you might expect it.



I would say to anyone who is interested in music that this is a great record to buy. You may not ever love it, but I think you will keep coming back to it again and again and finding new discoveries. I plan on buying a few more Douglas records, if only to annoy my family.! :)"