Search - Myra Melford :: Now & Now

WARNING! This is not evevator Music.

Dworkin Gork | Skay Jubal, The Last Castle in Ann Arbor, Michigan | 03/23/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Artstic, complicated, energetic, tasteful and fully enjoyable presented in the classic 3-peice trio setting. On the cover picture, one see's three people with pleasent facial features and that represents the music. Now, I've played drums for years and have good ears (who amoung audiophiles doesn't?) but I can't hear a snare drum on the first cut, yet it is perhaps the best song. This is not safe, easy listening jazz; you won't hear it on "mellow" FM stations. Ranging from abstract to harmonic and melodic, this is spiced with inticate interplay by very talented musicians that display a kinetic spontanious quility. Myra listened to Paul Winter, Frank Zappa, McCoy Tyner and maybee John Zorn I suspect. The term Progressive Avante Garde springs to mind, what energized beatniks may have played, had they indulged in LSD. The group is greater together than as soloists. I'm not fond of the upright bass, but here it fits well. And they are busy musicians, though there are moments of flowing rythyms. The two drawbacks with this group; this recording is too short and they can not make enough to be financially viable. This recording has the feel of little overdubbing and is nicely produced, clean, very intense. I like to paint while it is on. I imagine this translates well to performance live. Myra is an excellent pianist and the other players as well. This is all acoustic, no electronics or vocals here and is not for everyone but is certainly worth listening to. You may make that that detirmination yourself."