Whit Dickey & The Tao Quartets
Release Date: 05 July 2019
Label: AUM Fidelity
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 642623310823
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Description
A tremendous pair of brand new studio albums created by drummer-leader Whit Dickey together with two distinct yet interrelated quartets. 'Peace Planet' features Matthew Shipp (piano), Rob Brown (alto sax), William Parker (bass). 'Box of Light' features Rob Brown (alto sax), Steve Swell (trombone) and Michael Bisio (bass).
Having left an indelible mark via classic albums under the leadership of David S. Ware and Matthew Shipp, the projects which drummer Whit Dickey led and produced in the ensuing years often brought out the best from all involved; that is certainly the case here. A united pair of albums created Winter 2018, the two works represent the Yin and the Yang respectively.
Representing the Yin is 'Peace Planet': a fluid, supple and dynamic flow of instantly composed wonder; each of the pieces presents as a mini-suite, with astonishing cohesiveness. Gentle lyricism and rhythmic/melodic invention abound. Also of note here is "Suite for DSW" - a paean to Dickey/Shipp/Parker's former bandleader, David S. Ware, whose profound and enduring inspiration is deeply felt by all.
'Box of Light' brings the Yang herein, with fiery energy and crackling interplay to the fore. The inspiration of Dickey's early studies with Milford Graves are clear here, as is the precedent set by such as the New York Art Quartet (feat. Graves/ Tchicai / Rudd). It is likewise clear that the idea of total sensitivity, to each and from each musician toward the evolution of the music, is also to the fore.
Press Quotes on 'Vessel in Orbit' (AUM101):
"The expressive expanse of this music is held to account by the tautness of the emerging forms: not a single note is played in vain. Utterly compelling – a sound world unlike anything else in jazz." - Jazzwise (Philip Clark)
"Vessel in Orbit has the air of an abstract drama, the three storyteller-improvisers utterly in sync" - DownBeat (Bradley Bambarger)
"Superb." - The Quietus (Stewart Smith)
Tracklisting
William Parker
James Brandon Lewis / Red Lily Quintet
William Parker
Mendoza Hoff Revels
William Parker & In Order to Survive
Shrimp Boat
William Parker Quartet
Kidd Jordan, William Parker & Hamid Drake
Nigel Price Organ Trio
Conrad Herwig
Norma Winstone & Kit Downes
Oded Tzur
Su Rossy Girod, Nat Su, Jorge Rossy
Jonathan Salvi Arugula Sextet
Bob Baldwin
Steven Nichols
