Roscoe Mitchell and the severity of his muse.
greg taylor | Portland, Oregon United States | 07/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I wanted to add some remarks and context to the info provided above from John Litweiler's liner notes. There are three CDs in this set.
CD1 is entitled Tech Ritter and the Megabytes and features Mitchell on various saxophones or flutes and the percussion cage. Many of the pieces are overdubbed. Even the ones that are not overdubbed may seem like they are for Mitchell, like Evan Parker or Braxton, is capable of circular breathing while playing so fast and distinctly that it sounds like at least two saxs are being played. Mitchell is also capable of playing with great serenity as he does on 1999/2000. And remember this is the man who with his very first recordings brought into the free jazz aesthetic an attention to space and layers in music. Before his CD, Sound, there was much skronking in free jazz. Still is. But after that CD, there were other possibilities as well.
CD2 is called Solar Flares (for Alto Sax) and consists of ten alto soli. About these I will only say that they are lyrical, harsh, and very impressive to me. I have listened to solo sax players for over thirty-five years now and there are very few who are Mitchell's peers. I suggest some time that you put on CD2 and do nothing but listen to these improvs. They are worth the focus.
CD3 has surprised me by how much I enjoy it. This is called The Percussion Cage And Music On The Go. This consists of 17 pieces for the cage and flutes and four shorter soprano sax soli. The percussion cage is a just that- a four sided structure on which hang the hundreds of "little instruments" that Mitchell has collected since his early days in Chicago and the AACM. Some are instruments, some are things that he has collected that have a nice ring to them. Mitchell does not use them as percussion instrements but as a means to carry a melodic line, indeed, a complete musical structure. These are surprisingly lovely and approachable pieces.
Roscoe Mitchell is one of those individuals who seems to be constantly striving for a music that is just out of his reach. His is a demanding aesthetic that will not let him settle for the mundane. To a remarkable degree over the years his CDs have lived up to that standard. This set is a wide-ranging document of his current work that will satisfy those of us who have followed his work from his early recordings as well as those who are just now coming to it. Keep your ears open, people, and hang on. We got some expanding to do."
Music of the Stars and Planets
R. McCoy | San Diego, CA | 08/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lester Bowie said that Music is the "Master of the Universe," and indeed it is. After listening to this music, you will know what it is like to travel into the worlds beyond via the sound current. I have travelled into the worlds beyond (earth) many times only using the mantra of "HU." I do this by closing my eyes and singing HU which sounds like the proper name "Hugh." Nothing compares with this experience, but If a novice should ask me what is it like to travel into the other worlds, I might suggest that he or she acquire Roscoe Mitchell's "Star Music," for that's what I call it, and listen!
I do expect this music to be the vanguard of music that will change the world. I know this may sound like hyperbole, but music has changed the world in the past, get ready for it to happen again.
Spread the word about this music, be a part of a revolution.
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