Label: Import [Generic]
Category: Music
Average customer rating:
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 4014704000484
ASIN: B00000AQ38
Release Date: 2001-04-10
|
|
Artist:
Charles Gayle ,
William Parker , and
Rashied Ali
Label: Import [Generic] Category: Music Average customer rating:
Format: Import Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 1 EAN: 4014704000484 ASIN: B00000AQ38 Release Date: 2001-04-10 |
Avant Garde & Free Jazz
|
Jazz
|
Styles
|
Music
General
|
Jazz
|
Styles
|
Music
General
|
Pop
|
Styles
|
Music
General
|
Compilations
|
Jazz
|
Styles
|
Music
Jazz
|
Imports
|
Stores
|
Music
Listmania:
Tracks:
Similar Items:
Customer Reviews:
Really Never Stops Giving.......2006-03-11
Speaking in Tongues.......2004-01-23
The story of Charles Gayle is a modern day Romantic legend. A veteran of the New York free jazz scene of the late 60s and early 70s, Gayle could never quite fit in with the scenes in the city. His aggressive saxophone style dominated the groups he played with at a time when the idea of the "collective" was in the air. Gayle's tenor style was as aggressive as Albert Ayler, and perhaps even more uncompromising. So somewhere in the early 70s he disappeared onto the streets and remained there for almost 20 years, playing for change and living where ever he could. In the late 1980s he was rediscovered by the manager of the Kitchen in New York and he made a triumphant return to performing and recording.
Gayle has definite scars from his years on the streets. And he also has a reputation for ideas that are not politically correct. Gayle is a born again Christian and makes no secret about it, with a heavily religious content to the titles of his albums and in some club dates, monologues at the audience about religion, morality and abortion, all fueled by his religious background. This has caused Gayle to be boycotted by some clubs. But if one can get past the politics and disagreements that you might have with his religion, Gayle is an astonishing musician. This album, Touchin' on Trane, is perhaps the best recording to introduce yourself to the wild art of this unique artist.
The trio on this group includes the marvelous William Parker on bass and Coltrane's final drummer, Rashid Ali. The combination could not be better. Parker and Ali work together like hand and glove. Parker is unique among his generation of free jazz bassists, in that he is not afraid of a groove. Parker can do a free walk with the best of them as is evidenced by the first cut on the album. Ali made his name as the drummer who drove Elvin Jones out of the Trane ensemble, and as a musician who did away with pulse in a quest for a free music devoid of the "tyranny of the beat". And yet, on this album, Ali shows he can swing as hard as any bebopper. Together, they form a terrific bass over which to feature Gayle's wild blowing.
Gayle himself is a wonder on this album. His style is influenced by the overblowing of the Albert Ayler school, particularly the early trio records Ayler made. But if you listen you can also hear the roots of this music in the primitive Gospel music of Pentacostal churches. Gayle in fact believes that the music he heard in black churches was as free as any avant-garde music. Much has been made of the "glossalia" aspect of the music of Albert Ayler. The same could be said for Gayle. His improvisations are more than just music; they are truly "speaking in tongues". All of the cuts on the album are freely improvised, with not tunes or heads. Gayle's improvisations start out where other musicians end...at a fevered pitch, and they go up from there. This is extreme music, extremely well played. The cuts range from up tempo numbers to fast, unmetered pieces, to wide, Ayler-style ballads. Gayle's voice on tenor is dominating, but always controlled.
Gayle is perhaps one of the best documented of modern free jazz musicians. This recording, though it doesn't include any examples of Gayle's unique alto style or his individualistic approach to the piano, or his work on bass clarinet, is still perhaps the best place to begin exploring this important improviser. The sound is strong and compelling. And, for those who have difficulty with the musician's belief set, this one makes no reference to these beliefs. Progressives can listen to this album with a clear conscience.
An excellent set.......2000-08-24
Its a great CD, not nearly as "out" as Gayles other work.
The quintessential Charles Gayle album.......1999-02-25
Transcendental endurance jazz!.......1999-02-12
Music CD:
Music CD
July 21 2002 Lowell Ma: On the Road ~ String Cheese Incident
60's Revolution ~ Various Artists
Oldies But Goodies, Vol. 10 ~ Various Artists
Melrose Place Jazz (1995 Television Series) ~ Various Artists