Song / dance
| Song / dance | ||||
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| Studio album by The Convergence Quartet | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Clean Feed Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
9 |
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running time |
54:17 |
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| occupation | ||||
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The Convergence Quartet |
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Studio (s) |
Red Gatbies Studios, London |
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Song / Dance is a jazz album by the Convergence Quartet by Taylor Ho Bynum , Alexander Hawkins , Dominic Lash and Harris Eisenstadt . The recordings, made on May 4th, 2009 at Red Gatbies Studios , London, were released in 2010 on Clean Feed Records .
background
Song / Dance was the Convergence Quartet's second album after their debut album Live in Oxford , which was released in 2007 on FMR Records . Taylor Ho Bynum, who plays cornet and flugelhorn, made a name for himself with Anthony Braxton and drummer Harris Eisenstadt with his combo Canada Day . In the UK, bassist Dominic Lash was a big part of the improvisation community; At the time of the album's release, pianist Alexander Hawkins was, in the opinion of Martin Longlay, the least known member of this "unlikely transatlantic foursome", although it was to be expected that he would soon become an important presence in the improvisation scene. In addition to the band members' own compositions, the album also contains a traditional South African melody brought in by Hawkins and an old classic by violinist Leroy Jenkins , the title "Albert Ayler".
Track list
- The Convergence Quartet: Song / Dance (Clean Feed CF187CD)
- Second (Dominic Lash) 4:37
- Next Convergence (Harris Eisenstadt) 9:33
- Baobabs (Alexander Hawkins) 5:48
- Iris (Taylor Ho Bynum) 7:04
- Albert Ayler ( Leroy Jenkins ) 3:53
- Song / Dance (Alexander Hawkins) 5:11
- Representations 17 (Dominic Lash) 8:03
- The Pitts (Harris Eisenstadt) 5:38
- Kudala (Long Ago) (Traditional) 4:35
reception
According to Martin Longlay, who reviewed the album on the BBC , the band name Convergence Quartet is particularly suitable, not only because the members of this group come from England, Canada and the USA, but also because there is a cross-fertilization of styles and Influences as well as geographical backgrounds. All members of the quartet deal with improvisation, composition and the unpredictable paths that lie between these two areas, says the author. "The composite style of this band consists of some very different elements, but they play the magical craftsmanship that allows the retention of individuality while developing a highly structured set of group themes that are blessed with a melodic openness." Equality is the message of the ensemble, according to Longlay; all four players contribute pieces to the album, and when they play solo, these exposed passages are “without exception pointed and short, then stand aside for the next salvo or wait for an in-depth ensemble topic. The melodies are closely arranged, but this does not prevent their spontaneous fire. The album is recorded crisply, with Bynum's horns being particularly close to the microphone and artfully muffled penetrating deep into the listener's ears. ”Simultaneous solo play would be abundant. Regardless of the material, the Convergence members "took an undermined organizational approach that resulted in a persistent sense of open surprise," concludes Longlay.
John Sharpe gave the album 4½ (out of five) stars in All About Jazz and wrote, after two consecutive tours under the banner of the Convergence Quartet, the foursome forged its own identity. Each member brings pieces that cover a variety of styles, but the similarities arise from a field that takes up the gaps between composition and improvisation. All four musicians are "not only accomplished authors, they are also terrifying improvisers, and the mixture makes for an intoxicating brew." This resulted in a repertoire that was further elaborated on the tour before it was reduced to the essentials for recording . This explains the density of the tricky arrangements, but also the relaxed manner in which the band performs them with strong solos and well-developed arrangements that, in addition to the instrumental skills, contain some haunting melodies. A lot happens with every cut, so it seems like someone is always improvising, no matter what else is going on.
Web links
- Listing of the album on Allmusic (English). Accessed January 1, 2020.
- Information about the album at Clean Feed
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Marrin Longlay: The Convergence Quartet Song / Dance Review. BBC, May 6, 2010, accessed May 19, 2020 .
- ↑ The Convergence Quartet: Song / Dance at Discogs
- ^ John Sharpe: The Convergence Quartet: The Convergence Quartet: Song / Dance (blues). All About Jazz, November 24, 2010, accessed May 15, 2020 .