Jazz master does avant garde classical
Grant D. Green | Los Altos, CA USA | 08/20/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although Roscoe Mitchell is probably best known for his avant garde jazz, this disc demonstrates that he is equally skilled at crafting avant garde classical works. The first three works use fairly common instrumentation (flute, bassoon, piano; violin and saxophone; woodwind quintet), but the fourth work is truly unique: where else will you find a work scored for countertenor, bass saxophone, contrabass sarrusophone, and triple contrabass viol? For those unacquainted with the last two, there is a picture of the quartet in performance inside the liner notes. All of the works here are relatively accessible (as long as you're expecting avant garde, and not Mozart). Where extended techniques are used (mainly on track 2, where RM plays alto sax), they actually extend the music rather than irritate the listener. Well worth hearing :-)"