Search - David Ware :: 3rd Ear Recitation

Better Ware

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 08/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"David S. Ware's "Third Ear Recitation" on DIW (a Japanese arm of Sony/Columbia) is a better effort than his early material for the Silkheart label. The band has definitely forged a distinctive (and loud) sound that relies heavily on group improvisation. However, in some ways this album is a disappointment. After the soaring "Flight of i," I was hoping to find even more blending of musical, spiritual introspection and soaring, exploratory avant-garde flights. But instead of his wonderful original compositions, Ware has instead settled for standards like "Autumn Leaves" and Sonny Rollins' "East Broadway Run Down." While it is interesting to hear Ware tackle these tunes, this is not the best vehicle for his playing. "Third Ear's" successor "Earthquation" covers similar ground, but once Ware switches over to the Homestead label, the music really starts to take off and expand."