It's difficult to read with the small font, but printed underneath the picture of the empty soccer net is "The kicker suddenly started his run," a translated line from German novelist Peter Handke’s 1970 novel, The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick. I'll leave you to your own interpretation and its relation to the music on this album.
Recorded live, June 1980, Theater am Kornmarkt, Bregenz, Austria
As all members of this quartet played with Ornette Coleman, this live set from Austria is set squarely in the Coleman school of avant-garde/free jazz. The band’s on fire, the crowd’s buzzing, and half the tunes were written by Coleman (because why wouldn’t they pick something that dares you to keep up?), and it all just seems to fall together. What makes it fun is how easy they make it all sound. Not because it’s simple because it’s definitely not, but because they’re consummate pros who know exactly what they’re doing—and aren’t trying to prove it every two seconds. It’s jazz without the ego trip. About as good as it gets. To be honest, though, I don't listen to this stuff often because 1) there's a lot going on here that is beyond my comprehension, and 2) the music demands focused active listening, which, while rewarding, is mentally draining.
Don Cherry - trumpet, piano
Dewey Redman - tenor saxophone, musette
Charlie Haden - bass
Ed Blackwell - drums
Reviews/ratings:
- Billboard: "embody the spirit of the avant garde in its broadest and most engaging sense"
- CashBox: "almost a study in mental and musical telepathy as the foursome juggle and exchange ideas with an awesome grace and ease."
- Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
- Musician: "one of the year's best albums"
- DownBeat (★★★★★): "To hear this music almost guarantees tapping the feet, tickling the brain, and vice versa."
- The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000):★★★
- The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★★
- The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: My top picks are Mopti and Broken Shadows. Your mileage will most definitely vary.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
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