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Quick Ordering for Repeat Customers |
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Alabama The combination of poetry and music is as old as the human species. They are twins, born of the human spirit. The profoundest voice of almost every culture we know of, is given form in music and poetry. In Alabama, Joel Futterman and Gregory Foster have tapped into this ancient vein, and found something fresh. At the center of this group of compositions stands Alabama Exequy, a long poem whose theme gives title to the whole work. The poem enacts a ritual grief: shock, anguish, fury, the vision of justice, and the hope of peace. Read all the poetry from this cd. More Price Specials One Final Note Review :::>>> Tell A Friend About This CD From Drimala
I am always interested in combinations of spoken-word with music, particularly when it's improvised! Since I'd just listened to Joel (we reviewed him in the last issue), I knew there would be great energy, but it's always a mystery as to how a player will come across with the addition of spoken-word... or, whether the spoken-word (Foster, in this event) will weave appropriately in that improv format. Having done (more than a little) spoken-word myself (in both live & studio environs), I know that any poet (worth their salt) will approach such a performance with some degree of reservation... for fear the music may (somehow) detract from their focus. NONE of those worries here... this is a H-O-T performance! Greg knows full-well (he should, I reckon, as he's performed with such great names as Miles, Blakey & Monk) how to wrap his images artfully around Futterman's sax/piano & keep the energy going without it becoming (useless) rant. Silences are played as skillfully & passionately as the segues into the "out". Joel is flawless as he shifts between sax, flute & keyboards. You know... when the artists are able to listen to/feel each other, the listener will feel that, too. This is THE best spoken-word effort I've heard this year... it gets (of course) our MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as well as the "PICK" of this issue for "best spontaneous spoken-word improv." -- Rotcod Zzaj, Issue #48, Improvijazzation |
