Search - David Ware :: Cryptology

Great 90s Avant-Garde Jazz

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 07/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The label that brought you classic indie rock like Nick Cave's "Your Funeral, My Trial," Dinosaur jr.'s self-titled first album, and Squirrel Bait's "Squirrel Bait/Skag Heaven" is now proud to present...David S. Ware? It does sound strange that Homestead would decide to put out avant-garde jazz, but after DIW cut Ware loose at least somebody had the cohones to pick him up. Ware clearly is not a big seller, but he is as cutting edge as jazz gets these days. "Cryptology" finds the Ware's quartet of Matthew Shipp, William Parker and Whit Dickey playing even more refined compositions, and practically telepathic improvisational flights. It only gets better from here -- "Tao/Dao" explores an even darker side of this experimental music, and Ware eventually gets picked up by Columbia. Ware's quartet is the closest thing the 90s has to the classic Coltrane Quartet -- any jazz fan shouldn't miss them."