Mutated
01/29/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Doug is correct in his review but I have some things to add. Tim Berne wrote out charts for all of the instuments on this CD and yes it is in the chamber music/jazz music style popular in Europe and common in 21st Century jazz. Sometimes it's just a saxophone and a cello or a cello and a bass or percusion and guitar in the new music while still finding places for sax monsters Charles Gayle, Peter Brotzmann, David S. Ware and Ken Vandermark to name a few. Also, Tim had performed with Julius Hemphill and recorded on the Julius Hemphill Sextet CD "Five Chord Stud" which was orchestrated and directed by Hemphill. The jazz as chamber music can be found in Hemphill's World Saxophone Quartet, especially the important "Steppin" CD. Berne squeeks and squaks and hits solid long tones more than say John Zorn with his massive attack but he too (Berne) can put his foot on the gas. Anyway this was his first attempt at a mapped out recording and it is a little quieter than "Fulton Street Maul" for sure. But check out Mark Dresser, Anthony Braxton, Erik Friedlander and even Nels Cline and Matthew Shipp for some more controlled power approach style."
A good recording - performance needs more intensity.
Douglas T Martin | Alpharetta, GA USA | 10/09/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A good recording. If someone is an Ornette-influenced saxophonist it's inevitable that they will record in the classic Ornette configuration of sax, trumpet, bass, and drum at some point. That's the lineup on this recording. The song "Homage" is a delicate ballad similar in nature to Ornette Coleman's "Just For You"; a very beautiful melody with sparse accompaniment. The rest of the tracks are more upbeat but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much 'fire' in the performances; the feeling is more like a chamber quartet than a jazz quartet. An exception is Herb Robertson's solo in "The Tin Ear" where he blisters the ear with a brass solo. The playing is excellent but very mannered; not as aggressive as the Bloodcount or Caos Totale material."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1