Joe McPhee | Michael Zerang | Creole Gardens | no business records
Category: music label and artists| October 25th, 2011
Joe McPhee and Michael Zerang
Creole Gardens (A New Orleans Suite)
Joe McPhee – alto saxophone, pocket trumpet | Michael Zerang – drums
All compositions by Joe McPhee and Michael Zerang. Recorded 24th September, 2009 by Carl R. Moller, live at BIG TOP – New Orleans, LA, USA. Mixed by Todd Carter – belAir Studio – Chicago, IL, USA. Mastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios. Photos by Peter Gannushkin. Design by Oskaras Anosovas. Producer – Danas Mikailionis. Co-producer – Valerij Anosov
Tracklist: Side A – Download 1. Congo Square Dances / Saints And Sinners | Side B – 2. Rise / After The Flood Download 3. Crescent City Lullaby 4. And Now Miss Annie, The Black Queen
All of these title have either direct historical reference to New Orleans or to our visit and stay at The Creole Gardens. Special thanks to Rob Cambre and Kirah Haubrich. The concert and album are dedicated in honor of legendary master drummer Alvin Fielder.
NoBusiness Records NBLP39, 2011, limited edition of 300 records
John Coltrane had it, Albert Ayler had it, Joe McPhee has it :
the incredible artistry to create depth – a true, warm human emotion – at the same time as spiritual breadth- the feeling that the sound resonates with the planet, the sky, the universe. To capture only one of those is already a feat given to few, but both qualities is exceptional.
He is accompanied on this album by Michael Zerang on drums, who demonstrates his fantastic percussive and listening skills on this duo journey. The album is (almost) bookended by a pocket trumpet and drums duet, but one that really smears sound around, devoid of form or clear direction, until gradually, out of the muddy whispers, clarity of sound and basic rhythm emerge, solemn and confident, although struggling at times and falling back in windy washes, but the real thing begins when McPhee picks up his warm tenor, for long longing and yearning notes, with Zerang adding crisp subtlety and drama. The tension increases when McPhee starts his signature singing when playing sax, with the drums resorting to screeching accompaniment, as a dual cry for humanity.
The title already suggests the content is inspired by the devastation of hurricane Katrina in 2005. And it is without a doubt the best musical performance dedicated to the catastrophic event (as by Terence Blanchard or Wynton Marsalis).
How to be all soul and all spirit with just two instruments and remain captivating and compelling from beginning to end may seem like a great challenge to many, but these two fantastic mugicians do it.
The music comes in LP and CD format, with the latter having one track more.
Highly recommended. — stef
24 EURO incl. shipment cost world-wide ( LP )
15 EURO incl. shipment cost world-wide ( CD )
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maybe you are also interested in these THE SHOP cd's and books:
- Joe McPhee | Peter Brötzmann | Kent Kessler | Michael Zerang | The Damage Is Done | nottwo records
- Joe McPhee | Jeb Bishop | Ingebrigt Haker Flaten | Michael Zerang | Ibsen’s Ghosts | nottwo records
- Trio X | Joe McPhee | Dominic Duval | Jay Rosen | Live in Vilnius | no business records
- luc houtkamp | kent kessler | michael zerang | in chicago | entropy stereo recordings
- Oluyemi Thomas | Sirone | Michael Wimberly | Beneath Tones Floor | no business records
