Search - David Murray :: Murray's Steps

Though associated with the avant-garde, David Murray has deep roots in the history of jazz, in terms of both tone and sheer swing. Both are strongly evident here in his octet, with Murray's tenor suggesting the rough burr of Coleman Hawkins or Ben Webster and the charging ensemble passages invoking the powerhouse bands of the swing era. The leader's solo efforts are matched by a gifted band that includes contrasting soloists in Henry Threadgill on alto, Butch Morris on cornet, and the very crisp Craig Harris on trombone. Each of Murray's four original compositions is a good vehicle for this energized group, but the concluding "Flowers for Albert," Murray's impassioned and frequently recorded tribute to his early inspiration, the free jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler, rises to the highest peak. --Stuart Broomer