Search - Arthur Blythe :: Basic Blythe

Blythe with strings

Case Quarter | CT USA | 05/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is a basic quartet, led by arthur blythe on alto, john hicks on piano, anthony cox on bass and bobby battle on drums, backed up by a string ensemble. most jazz artists in a string setting either lean toward an european concert sound or work against the strings in the manner of jazz orchestration. the arrangement here backs up the quartet without altering the quartet's thumping jazz sound.



i have the vinyl copy in front of me, not the cd recording. listed on side one, are autumn in new york (part one), lenox avenue breakdown, heart to heart, and as of yet. heart to heart is by john hicks. as of yet and lenox avenue breakdown are by arthur blythe. the version of lenox avenue breakdown, here, is a shorter version by almost seven minutes of the version from the recording of the same name, released in 1978, a decade earlier than the version on basic blythe. the basic blythe version has the differing tone of a gloved fist of a professional fighter opposed to the solid bare knuckled blow of the earlier recording.



side two contains ruby my dear, faceless woman, and autumn in new york (part two). ruby my dear is, of course, the monk composition. faceless woman is another blythe original which according to the linear notes 'is one of blythe's most beautiful and haunting compositions. played in 6/8 time with a tremulous swing on alto, piano and strings...'.



both renditions of autumn in new york are unique. i greet every autumn by playing them, and the rest of the album."