The Razor's Edge

Artist: Dave Holland Quintet Label: Ecm Records Category: Music Average customer rating: Format: Original recording reissued Media: Audio CD Number Of Discs: 1 UPC: 042283304826 EAN: 0042283304826 ASIN: B000026FKK Release Date: 2000-06-06

Listmania:

1. Add depth to your jazz collection
2. Ten great Dave Holland albums
3. Killer Bop albums from outer space!

Tracks:

1. Brother Ty
2. Vedana
3. The Razor's Edge
4. Blues For C.M.
5. Vortex
6. 5 Four Six
7. Wights Waits For Weights
8. Figit Time

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1. Triplicate
2. Seeds of Time
3. Jumpin' In
4. Extensions
5. Conference of the Birds

Customer Reviews:

Keep on keepin' on; not the same ole same ole.......2000-11-23

1987's "Razor's Edge" is yet another one of those excellent band records, and the high level it operates on could only have been maintained under Holland's confident leadership. "Razor's Edge" features 3 Holland originals, two by Steve Coleman, two by Doug Hammond and one by Kenny Wheeler. Don't expect some neo-traditionalist rehash, you won't find it here. This is a progressive jazz record of rare excellence and depth, the exceptional qualities of which are easily recognizable and enduring but not instantly accessible without some effort on the part of the listener. There are no mediocre tunes, all the compositions are top-notch and always stay fully progressive while running the gamut of emotions: from high-energy uptempo mayhem to mid-tempo cool to exquisite modern jazz balladry. The record as a whole is a more consistent effort than 1984's excellent "Seeds of Time." The more energetic tunes hit you like a cold slap on the face but reveal more and more warmth on each repeated listen as you become comfortable with their aura. The band sound is loud and horn heavy, just wild enough to scare off squeamish yuppie jazz fans but never too wild and arrogant for its own good. There's plenty of Mingus-like ensemble playing and loud dissonance to blast people out of cornbread Pat-Metheny-land and give them a nice little artistic headache full of healthy neurotic complexity which is relieved by the majestically smooth flugelhorn melodies of Wheeler and the magnificently cool trombone melodies of Robin Eubanks. Needless to add, some of alto saxophonist Steve Coleman's most amazing playing is also on this record: high-concept, supertoned, non-cliche, virtuoso sax lines to make your head spin. And, of course, the fire that lights the spark is drummer extraordinaire Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Smith is on a subtle burn throughout in the background, managing to squeeze in incredible drum fills at the most unexpected moments, and becomes truly volcanic and unchained on the display piece "Figit Time," where he turns up the heat and takes center stage.

Music CD:

1. The Caribbean Suite ~ Harold Vick
2. You Tempt Me ~ Billy Taylor
3. The Champ: Round 2 ~ Joey DeFrancesco, Paul Bollenback, Byron Landham
4. Blue Train ~ John Coltrane
5. 14 Compositions 1996 ~ Anthony Braxton, Stewart Gillmor
6. It's About Time
7. Under the Harlem Moon ~ Fletcher Henderson
8. 1937-40 Broadcasts ~ Bob Crosby & Bob Cat Orchestra
9. Ballads for Trombone ~ Various Artists
10. Spirit

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

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Pleasure & The Pain ~ Saga

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Maxiwagon Calls in Sick ~ Maxiwagon

Sex Machine: The Very Best of James Brown ~ James Brown

Emotion Pt. 2

Hella Deep ~ Everlasting Gangsta

Da Baddest Bitch ~ Trina