Strange Music from a Strange Land
Scott Williams | Oakland, CA United States | 08/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Overview:
Double Sunrise over Neptune is a journey through space and time. Performed by 16 piece ensemble the music has a spiritual and transcendental feel to it. It bears closest resemblance to Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders work of the late 60's and early 70's. It also reminds me a bit of the version of Spanish Key from the Miles From India CD released in spring '08. While the CD has some free moments, it is for the most part groove based with a repetitive bass line holding down structure throughout the song and improvisation over the top. Strings (violin, viola, guitar, banjo, and oud) are very nicely layered together with reeds (sax, clarient, double reeds) which create a very textured and deep sound. The music is perfectly complimented by vocalist Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay whose chants and "Asian/Indian Scatting" really make it sound like music from another world and time. Throughout the album there is a solid percussion framework laid down by Gerald Cleaver, and Hamid Drake.
Performers:
Lewis Barnes (trumpet), Rob Brown (alto sax), Bill Cole (double reeds), Sabir Mateen (tenor sax, clarinet), Dave Sewelson (baritone sax), Jason Kao Hwang (violin), Mazz Swift (violin), Jessica Pavone (viola), Shiau-Shu Yu (cello), Joe Morris (guitar, banjo), Brahim Frigbane (oud), Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay (voacals), Shayna Dulberger (bass), Gernald Cleaver (drums), Hamid Drake(drums), William Parker (double reeds, doson'ngoni, conductor)
Song Highlights:
Neptune's Mirror: Anchored by a chromatic bass line, this song really takes off with Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay and one of the sax players start trading off on solos. At first Sangeeta does some crazy chants/scatting and the sax player repeats what she sang note for note. It only goes on for a about a minute, but its magical. There are also moments throughout the song where there are simultaneous solos going in a very subdued textural way.
Lights of Lake George: This 27 minute marathon resolves around a bluesy walkin' bass line that reminds me a bit of Jimi Hendrix's bass line on "Who Knows" and the bass line on "Good Morning Little School Girl". Over the top of this bass line are honks and buzzing of chaotic saxes and reeds and some occasional guitar lines. There's more great singing by Sangeeta and some well placed violin solos too.
Highly Recommended music for people who like to get lost in a trance. Layers and layers of subtle textures, rhythms and sounds that will keep you entertained for hundreds of listens. I'm not usually one who likes vocals with my jazz music, but it really work well here.
"
Candidate for best of '08.
Heavy Theta | Lorton, Va United States | 01/21/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"large ensembles with vocals are often plagued with a tendency towards the ponderous. it takes much skill and not a small degree of confidence to pull something like this together in a way that remains both coherent and interesting. Mr. Parker is up to the task here. he even manages to induce shades of mind-blowing rapture that has grown rarified over the past couple of decades. this is jazz with some teeth in it. i'm glad that this performance has garnered the attention that it deserves."
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1