Search - Jack Dejohnette :: New Directions in Europe

A Great Live Recording

John Simley | Bentonville, Arkansas, United States | 06/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my five favorite recordings, because it is so inventive, and because it features sparse and unusual voicing. This group was recorded live in Willisau, Switzerland in June of 1979 after making only one studio album. DeJohnette, as leader, then folded the group to form Special Edition, a two-saxaphone quartet. Bad Move. New Directions features DeJohnette on Drums (with a lengthy Piano introduction on Bayou Fever), Eddie Gomez on bass, Lester Bowie on trumpet, and John Abercrombie, mostly playing a four-string "Mandolin Guitar" (but far from limiting him, this smaller instrument forces him to play simpler, stronger chords). Salsa For Eddie G opens with a gentle two-minute drum solo leading into a Spanish-style melody, and then explodes with Bowie's solo. Bayou Fever, the longest track at 18 minutes, opens with a beautiful piano solo by DeJohnette, who then accompanies Gomez as he solos. Gomez holds the tempo only on harmonics as DeJohnette moves from piano to drumset, inviting the rest of the group to begin. The piece flows through several moods, and you can hear the players interacting. At one point, they catch Abercrombie off cue, and even the audience laughs. The performance is made better by the excellent recording quality (DeJohnette's fingertip style of playing is clear, and Gomez has beautiful tone). Bowie is clearly the star of this record, playing with wit and feeling, warbling and howling, and knowing when to lay out. The final tune "Multo Spiliagio" (Italian for "all mixed up") fades out, leaving the listener to wonder where the performance went. This was a great group in a great performance. I'd love to hear the rest of the show."

Spectacular!!!!!!!!!!

Lovblad | Geneva, Switzerland | 02/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This record is beautiful. Dejohnette is a true master in textures and this recording does him great justice. Indispensable!"