Billy Harper • The Awakening

 

Review by Thom Jurek
This 1979 date by tenor saxophonist Billy Harper is one of his most transcendent. Rife with his deep study of Coltrane's modalism, and his own deep knowledge of the blues and Eastern music, Harper and his quintet take on three extended pieces: "Soran Bushi-B.H." comes in at over 12 minutes, while "Cry Of Hunger," is over 20; both work out of extended harmonic architectures to place improvisation as a new element (remember, this was 1979), as an extension of the jazz "song." Trumpeter Everett Hollins, pianist Fred Hersch -- who was by this time already in full command of his great reach and complex sense of harmonic engagement -- Louis Spears on bass, and drummer Horace Arnold delve deep into Harper's muse and come out with a record that sounds like a suite. From the title track, which opens the disc through "Soran Bushi-B.H." to "City Of Hunger," modalism gives way to Senegalese folk themes, and Asian variations on theme, in both harmonic and rhythmic languages. Melodically, this group was messing around with ideas that no one else could -- or probably would -- touch at the time. The interplay between Hersch and Harper is so intimate and instinctual, where Harper's ragged edges coruscate beautifully into Hersch's large chords and deft, tight-hand intrigues. When tempos move from Malian folk modes to stomping gospel-blues shouts, Harper's horn sings against Spears' basslines, which don't so much anchor, as propel forward the rest of the ensemble into the great mystery. This is a winner, top to bottom, and one of the more engaging vanguard jazz outings of the late '70s to come from American soil. https://www.allmusic.com/album/awakening-mw0000186652

///////

Reseña de Thom Jurek
Esta fecha de 1979 del saxofonista tenor Billy Harper es una de sus más trascendentes. Repleto de su profundo estudio del modalismo de Coltrane, y de su propio y profundo conocimiento del blues y la música oriental, Harper y su quinteto abordan tres extensas piezas: «Soran Bushi-B.H.» dura más de 12 minutos, mientras que “Cry Of Hunger,” supera los 20; ambas trabajan a partir de arquitecturas armónicas extendidas para situar la improvisación como un elemento nuevo (recordemos que estábamos en 1979), como una extensión de la “canción” de jazz. El trompetista Everett Hollins, el pianista Fred Hersch -- que para entonces ya estaba en pleno dominio de su gran alcance y complejo sentido del compromiso armónico -- Louis Spears al bajo, y el batería Horace Arnold ahondan en la musa de Harper y salen con un disco que suena como una suite. Desde el tema que da título al disco, pasando por «Soran Bushi-B.H.» hasta «City Of Hunger», el modalismo da paso a temas folclóricos senegaleses y a variaciones asiáticas sobre el tema, tanto en lenguajes armónicos como rítmicos. Melódicamente, este grupo estaba jugando con ideas que nadie más podía - o probablemente tocaría - en ese momento. La interacción entre Hersch y Harper es tan íntima e instintiva, donde los bordes ásperos de Harper coruscatean maravillosamente con los grandes acordes de Hersch y sus hábiles intrigas de manos apretadas. Cuando los tempos pasan de modos folk malienses a gritos de gospel-blues, la trompa de Harper canta contra las líneas de bajo de Spears, que no sólo anclan, sino que impulsan al resto del conjunto hacia el gran misterio. Se trata de un disco ganador, de arriba abajo, y uno de los discos de jazz de vanguardia más atractivos de finales de los 70 que han salido de América. https://www.allmusic.com/album/awakening-mw0000186652

Tracks:
1 - The Awakening    7:58
2 - Soran Bushi--B.H.    12:41
3 - Cry Of Hunger    20:14

    
Credits:
    Bass – Louie "Mbiki" Spears*
    Design – Pierre Delgado
    Design [Original Cover] – Gérard Pétrillo
    Drums – Horacee Arnold
    Engineer [Assistant] – Laurent Peyron
    Photography By [Cover] – Nobuyasu Urushiyama
    Photography By [Inside] – Maïté Aletti
    Piano – Fred Hersch
    Producer – Gérard Terronès
    Recorded By, Mixed By – Jean-Louis Rizet
    Tenor Saxophone, Composed By – Billy Harper
    Trumpet – Everett Hollins

Recorded At – Studio Ramsès
Recorded on January 29, 1979 in Paris.

Label:    Marge – MARGE 09
Country:    France
Released:    2013
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Bop, Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/5664443-Billy-Harper-Quintet-The-Awakening

MORE Billy Harper ...

 

This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader