Tuskegee Experiments

Tuskegee Experiments

ASIN: B000005J1A

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Clarinetist-composer Don Byron declared his liberation from the tyrannies of both style and history with this 1992 release, one of the most significant debut recordings of the 1990s. The sheer span of Byron's musical reach is awe-inspiring, including Ellington's "Mainstem" and Robert Schumann's tender "Auf Eiener Burg" in a program that ranges from the klezmer-suffused "Waltz for Ellen," an unaccompanied solo, to the Latin beat of "Next Love." Part of the album's magnificence, too, is just how extraordinarily well Byron plays the clarinet. He's joined by a shifting cast of sidemen that includes several regular associates, like bassist Reggie Workman, for the atmospheric dialogue with bass clarinet on "In Memoriam: Uncle Dan," pianist Edsel Gomez, and guitarist Bill Frisell, whose bending, soaring electric-guitar solos often match Byron's own leaping, virtuosic performances. The title track, with a powerful reading by the poet Sadiq, is a riveting poem inspired by the notorious "Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male." The grotesque medical experiment provides a subject potent enough to make the fusion of jazz and poetry work, melding the two into one. --Stuart Broomer

Tracks:

Waltz for Ellen
Tuskegee Strutter's Ball
In Memoriam: Uncle Dan
Next Love
Tears
Mainstem
Diego Rivera
Tuskegee Experiment
Auf Einer Burg

Amazon.com

Clarinetist-composer Don Byron declared his liberation from the tyrannies of both style and history with this 1992 release, one of the most significant debut recordings of the 1990s. The sheer span of Byron's musical reach is awe-inspiring, including Ellington's "Mainstem" and Robert Schumann's tender "Auf Eiener Burg" in a program that ranges from the klezmer-suffused "Waltz for Ellen," an unaccompanied solo, to the Latin beat of "Next Love." Part of the album's magnificence, too, is just how extraordinarily well Byron plays the clarinet. He's joined by a shifting cast of sidemen that includes several regular associates, like bassist Reggie Workman, for the atmospheric dialogue with bass clarinet on "In Memoriam: Uncle Dan," pianist Edsel Gomez, and guitarist Bill Frisell, whose bending, soaring electric-guitar solos often match Byron's own leaping, virtuosic performances. The title track, with a powerful reading by the poet Sadiq, is a riveting poem inspired by the notorious "Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male." The grotesque medical experiment provides a subject potent enough to make the fusion of jazz and poetry work, melding the two into one. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

Delving into the past.......2006-06-01

This CD still resonates with me today, Don Byron really tapped into something special in his debut outing, which he hasn't quite been able to capture since. While the CD loosely revolves around his feelings regarding the Tuskegee Experiments and race in general, there are many departures here. The music is as broad as Byron's expansive range of instruments, echoing Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet, alto sax and flute. Reggie Workman, Bill Frisell and Ralph Peterson (check out Ornettology from the same time frame) lend stellar support. Hard to believe this was nearly 15 years ago.

Great debut from great clarinettist.......2003-02-25

Despite being one of his lesser known albums, this is possibly Don Byron's most beautiful. It features amazing tunes, mostly Byron originals but also Duke Ellington's "Mainstem" and Robert Schumann's "Auf Eiener Burg". Byron's playing is as always tasteful, virtuosic and full of life. His support cast is also fantastic. Particularly noteworthy is Bill Frisell who features on some of the album's highlights, the funky latin "Next Love" and the very emotional, aptly named "Tears". A wonderful, varied album.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music