Search - Art Ensemble of Chicago, Cecil Taylor :: Thelonious Sphere Monk

A Momentous Gathering, Bearing Memorable Witness.

Michael F. Hopkins | Buffalo, NY USA | 05/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here, a grand convergence of sound sorcerors. From the American Midwest comes

The Art Ensemble Of Chicago (trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxophonists Joseph Jarman

and Roscoe Mitchell, bassist Malachi Favors Maghostut, and percussionist Famoudou

Don Moye), representing the pan-idiomatic forces and open mysteries nurturing

the Jazz avant garde -and so much more- into the here and now. From the American

Northeast comes guest Cecil Taylor, grandmaster of the acoustic piano and a

principal purveyor of that very avant garde for a good half-century going

strong. The result, this early 1990 tribute to/extension of the legacies

established by the legendary Thelonious Monk, is a towering

achievement.



The three collaborations showcase the rich diversity that these pioneers

command, from the fertile tempests of "Excerpts from Fifteen Part 3A" to

the lotus jewel delicacy of "Caseworks". Those who pontificate about the

"deep" nature of so-called Rap (or whatever its cover, these days) are

advised to check the Third World dawn, poetic chant, urban diddy-wah

and other soundscapes which emanate from "Intro To Fifteen". Here,

word sound empowers picturesque, polyharmonic flowers, sprouting

courageously through the morass of our deadened senses.



As for the AECO's selections, note the gamely gallop of "Nutty", after

its hysterical intro which is, purposely, quite nutty! "Round Midnight"

is very well-served, its lace of surreal starshine ushering in the

bounties of the full Moon, and a new day at hand.



The Great Black Music emerges unbowed, "Dreaming Of The Masters";

one with the Spirits of those come before, and refreshing mists of

brighter moments to come.



Its promise, the right to wonder, lingers...

"