Record Reviews

ALEX CLINE ~ FOR PEOPLE IN SORROW CRYPTOGRAMOPHONE 146 (Barcode: 671860014621) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is a momentous album by American drummer Alex ClineFind albums by this artist, which pays homage to the saxophonist / composer Roscoe MitchellFind albums by this artist´s composition of the same title as this album, originally recorded in 1969 in Paris by the Art Ensemble Of ChicagoFind albums by this artist and released first in France and then in the US. The original piece, which lasted for forty minutes, is expanded here to last almost sixty four minutes and is performed by fourteen participants assembled for this occasion, in contrast to the original quartet recording with Mitchell, saxophonist Joseph JarmanFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Lester BowieFind albums by this artist and bassist Malachi FavorsFind albums by this artist. In addition the album also includes a recitation of a poem by Larry WardFind albums by this artist, entitled "A Wild Thing". The musicians taking part in the recording include, in addition to Cline of course, saxophonist Oliver LakeFind albums by this artist, woodwinds player Vinny GoliaFind albums by this artist, violinist Jeff GauthierFind albums by this artist, bassist Mark DresserFind albums by this artist and other representatives of the American Avant-Garde community. Considering the fact that the original music was largely freely improvised, this new performance is not an attempt to re-create the original performances as such, but to preset them in-spirit, i.e. invoke a series of new spontaneous improvisations by contemporary musicians, inspired by the music created over forty years earlier. The greatest challenge of Free Jazz / Improvised Music is always the question if the music created during a live performance continues to be a valid listening experience in recorded form and if it inspires repeated listening. Only in a minority of cases the answer to both these questions is affirmative, and this recording definitely belongs to one of the performances with a lasting value. This happens not due to the spectacular individual performances, which can be heard herein, but only due to the aesthetic and emotional commitment the musicians make in the process. The music is well recorded and beautifully packaged, with many beautiful photographs included and with in-depth liner notes by Cline himself. It also includes a DVD documenting the performance. The package and its contents fits very well the image, which the excellent CryptogramophoneFind albums on this label label is maintaining for years, firmly establishing its position as one of the most interesting record labels in existence. This album proves that although Jazz in America is almost dead and certainly smells funny, there are oases of sanity, creativity, ingenuity and artistic greatness, which kindle a hope for the future, against all odds. Warmly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 05/11/2016

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