COMPOSERS: David Murray
LABELS: Red Baron
WORKS: Saxmen
PERFORMER: David Murray (ts); John Hicks (p); Ray Drummond (b); Andrew Cyrille (d)
CATALOGUE NO: JK 57758
In an age of college-educated young jazz musicians, the autodidactic style of David Murray appears as a rural truth amid urban conformity. No one would argue that he is the most technically complete saxophonist in jazz, but he has nevertheless created an enormous variety of performing situations where his playing has appeared profound, creative and absorbing.
He tackles the canons of the great jazz saxophonists from Charlie Parker to Sonny Rollins, from Lester Young to John Coltrane. Though his playing is firmly rooted in the tradition, Murray’s style is wholly individual. Add to this the exemplary playing of Hicks, Drummond and Cyrille and this is a record that truly deserves its five stars. Stuart Nicholson