(photo : Damien Lafargue / GetThePicture)
I apologize for not getting this post up last week, but with the weather taking a nice turn here, sitting in front of a computer was the last thing on my mind. On to the album...
Lester Bowie stood out as one of the truly interesting, entertaining and enlightening personalities in the jazz world. His sense of humor always seemed to find its way out in whatever he did (just check out this photo above--this guy was one eclectic individual), yet he took his music very seriously. I was just watching an Art Ensemble of Chicago DVD last weekend with our 5 year-old, and it really made me realize just how talented Bowie was. He had a definite showman's air about him, but he was very much in tune and focused into what was being created on the stage. He energized his work with so much soul and feeling, it would seem impossible to not get into it. Oh yeah, our little guy was fascinated with the amount of instruments on the stage as well (About Don Moye at one point, "How many different drums is that going to try and play?")and was totally into it. What kind of effect will this have on him? Positive, of course! :)
While I admit that my favorite Lester Bowie stuff was recorded with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, this album definitely has its great moments. Here he is paired with his AEC buddy Malachi Favors and manages to put together a pretty decent session. Kind of cool that a younger Arthur Blythe appears on this album as well. This definitely has its hard blowing moments, but much of it is more laid back--as always, very creative. Enjoy!
The 5th Power
Lester Bowie
1978
128 Rate AAC Files (Equivalent to 192 MP3)
Arthur Blythe Sax (Alto)
Lester Bowie Trumpet
Malachi Favors Bass
Amina Claudine Myers Piano, Vocals
Giacomo Pellicciotti Producer
Phillip Wilson Drums
1 Sardegna Amore (New Is Full of Lonely People) Bowie 6:20
2 3 in 1 (Three in One) Bowie 9:32
3 BBB [Duet] Blythe, Myers 5:52
4 God Has Smiled on Me (Traditional Gospel) Bowie, Myers 18:02
5 The 5th Power (Finale) Bowie 4:58
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5 comments:
Thanks for this one J-Bombay. Nice to hear something with Arthur Blythe on it.
Heya Boromir,
Good to hear from you again--hope things are going well! Yeah, Blythe was definitely a nice addition. I have been listening to "Focus" and a little from "Lennox Avenue Breakdown" in passing lately. Great stuff.
Speaking of great stuff, I just got a couple of discs in the mail the other day. (As if I don't have enough to sift through already with the great posts in the community lately) The album "14 Love Poems" by Peter Brotzmann is absolutely amazing. It starts out with his version of Ornette's "Lonely Woman," and what a beginning it is. Things start out fairly tame, but about 2/3 of the way through, Brotz just releases some gut-wrenching wails. It took the song to a whole new level for me. Check it out if you can! (That goes for anybody else reading this as well...)
Maybe I will try and post the single track from it here in the future.
-J
hey j :)
thanks for this, which i'm just starting to listen to now - been a bit behind over the last few days, both with listening and posting comments but i'm still checking in with you on a regular basis ;-)
i grabbed the two d:o trax before and just thought wow, what a line-up... so to hear the whole thing is a real treat... and speaking of lenox ave breakdown, that's now offically oop i believe - any chance of upping that? :))
Hey Centrifuge,
So, Lennox Avenue Breakdown, huh? Nice choice, and I am sure something can be arranged, if not here shortly. I still can't believe that it is actually out of print--it is too good to not be heard!
-J
heh heh... as you can see:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenox-Avenue-Breakdown-Arthur-Blythe/dp/B00000DBVL/ref=sr_1_1/203-2883053-1168708?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1175800890&sr=1-1
- it's oop. not difficult to get hold of, but i don't think i'll be lining the pockets of any corporate sellers at this point... i haven't heard that album at all, had it down on a list a few years ago but never actually got round to buying it and then it was gone (inevitably... major label, was it not? they wouldn't make any money off it so wouldn't bother keeping it in print). now i see there are plenty of (remaindered?) copies doing the rounds but i'd rather just a hear a rip at this stage... i know it's meant to be good, and features my man james blood ulmer...
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