Search - David Murray, James Newton Quintet :: David Murray/James Newton Quintet

Freewheeling, Swinging, Spirited Jazz.

Michael F. Hopkins | Buffalo, NY USA | 12/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the varied wonders who continue to make innovative song from within and about the fields of Jazz, two men stand strong as prime movers of the Here and Now. Since the mid-1970s, reedmaster David Murray and flutist James Newton have persistently spun grand and intimate tapestries of harmonic delight, melodic flight, and rhythmic might. Both have heeded the jovial missives of Eric Dolphy, and have each heeded that call and more in the honing of their own dynamic muse. From the most sanguine balladry to the most searing jamdowns, they represent Jazz in all its sumptuous poise, deliberative fire, and searching wholeness.



Murray, the baddest tenor player of the past 30 years, has made an equally distinctive impression through his playful, resonant implorings on the bass clarinet. Newton's flutistry bids to embody the wind itself, deftly incorporating traditions of Japanese shakuhachi, Indian bansri and West European chamber charm into an approach deep in the sass of the hulley gulley, and the no-nonsense balladry of the Blues. Each commands

textual character and compositional panache sorely lacking in the Crescent City wunderkinds of the past couple of decades or so. Both are internationally acclaimed, and sadly ignored at home.



Take the case of an exceptional Japanese import from the DIW label. Recorded in 1991, THE DAVID MURRAY/JAMES NEWTON QUINTET is a masterpiece of spirited play and freewheeling skill. From the hipster's swing of "Blues In The Pocket" to the sorceror's conjure of "Moon Over Sand II", from the rhapsodic pugilism of "Muhammad Ali" to the serenading summons of "Valerie", "Doni's Song" and more, the reunion of these Californian songmates stands as one of the finest recordings in each of their careers. Tenacious duos, volcanic trios, smooth quintets; all here to bewitch, beguile, and beckon you wide awake.



Vibrantly fleshing out the rest of the band, pianist John Hicks turns in his renowned brand of quintessential wonder; tapping broad, colorful mosaics from the keys and the soul. Bassist Fred Hopkins laces it all through the tuneful grasp and supple dexterity which has distinguished his mastery for over 20 years, from his epic work in the ensemble Air right on through. Andrew Cyrille (and Billy Hart on the opening selection) represents the very best in drumtalk, tastily sifting sensibilities as well as time and tide.



Freeform, swing, whatever thing, this is a classic collection of Music, from the raw to the regal, Black and very real. Know its feel.

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