Steve Lehman Octet - Travail Transformation and Flow (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Search - Steve Lehman Octet :: Travail, Transformation, and Flow

Steve Lehman Octet
Travail, Transformation, and Flow
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Jazz, Pop

Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
1. Echoes
2. Rudreshm
3. As Things Change (I Remain the Same)
4. Dub
5. Alloy
6. Waves
7. No Neighborhood Rough Enough
8. Living in the World Today [GZA Transcription] - Steve Lehman, Diggs, Robert Jr.

Travail, Transformation, and Flow is an important new recording from the Steve — Lehman Octet that marks the first fully realized exploration of spectral harmony in the history of recorded jazz. In spectral music, instrumen... more »

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Steve Lehman Octet
Title: Travail, Transformation, and Flow
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Pi. Recordings
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 6/9/2009
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Jazz, Pop
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Dance Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 808713003024

Synopsis

Product Description

Travail, Transformation, and Flow is an important new recording from the Steve
Lehman Octet that marks the first fully realized exploration of spectral harmony in the history of recorded jazz. In spectral music, instrumental
overtones are blended together to create striking new harmonies, which
Lehman has astonishingly adapted as a platform for jazz improvisation.
The result is an all-encompassing musical universe that advances a singular conception of rhythm, harmony, and improvisational form.

CD Reviews

Glass meets Coltrane

Rpihawk | 10/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a great mesh of classical minimalism ideas with improvisional jazz. This is the most exciting music I've heard in awhile. I just keep thinking about how hard this music must be to play. There are a lot of time changes, tight playing, and great improvisional areas all within one song. Really good stuff."

Just a Hear! Hear! for the other reviewers and for Mr. Lehma

greg taylor | Portland, Oregon United States | 05/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the type of CD that makes acolytes of those who hear it. I want to spread the news about it but the first three reviewers more or less covered most of the details.

So I just want to add a few thoughts to what they had to say. First, I agree with Rpihawk's observation about the mix of minimalism and creative improv. The first thing I thought on hearing Echoes for the first time was, "michael nyman". The opening phrase is repetitive, propulsive and has nice chiming effects from Dingman's vibes. For some reason, I had never thought of minimalism as a resource for creative improv. Once you hear it though, the question becomes why hasn't it happened before.

Another point I want to make is to praise Lehman as a arranger. His use of the resources that his seven superb band mates provide him is brilliant. Harmonies unusual to creative improv, the splitting of the octet into subgroups that play off each other, the way the octet supports whoever is soloing- Lehman works with it all.

Finally, Lehman himself. I have followed his career for a while. But I think that what he does here and on his new CD with Mahanthappa (see the title to the 2nd tune on this CD) evidences a leap forward. So I leave you with this thought- listen to this CD, listen to the new one with Mahanthappa (I promise a review soon) and see if you don't agree. Lehman is becoming a powerful and creative presence on the creative improv scene. His artistic future looms bright and we listeners just might be in for some serious fun."