Jerry Granelli - The V16 Project (2003)

Jerry Granelli reunites with guitarist Christian Kögel and picks up guitarist David Tronzo and bass player Anthony Cox for the V16 Project. However, the music this band makes is markedly different than Granelli's past two guitar, bass and drum lineups (News From the Street, Broken Circle). First off, Granelli has a hybrid electro-acoustic drum kit now, and Kögel and Tronzo are both armed with samplers (mostly for looping purposes, not sound effects) and the results are astounding. In the liner notes, Granelli claims that "this music is based on three vehicles: spontaneous composition, pre-composed pieces, and sonic adventure." There's something to be said for truth in advertising. The album starts with the only composition from outside the band, the old standard "Temptation." Acoustic and electric guitars are introduced, looped, and layered until they sound like a virtual swarm as the tune kicks into high gear. The band works extremely well together: Cox is generally the anchor, with Granelli supplying rhythm and extra "sonic adventure" through his electronic percussion. Kögel and Tronzo are basically free to indulge themselves on all manner of guitar (electric, acoustic, slide, wah-wah, fuzz), and have sufficiently different playing styles that don't interfere with each other. After the first three composed pieces, it's time for Granelli to sit out for a few improvised pieces, then rejoin for some more "spontaneous composition." In the hands of these musicians, spontaneous composition is not exactly the same as free improvisation, as there is both a strong rhythmic and melodic element present in all these tunes, and each player is a consummate listener. The tunes range from quite intense, "Temptation" and "Black Confederacy," to the beautiful and lyrical "Family Man," which features some fantastic slide work from Tronzo. Adventurous listeners and avant-guitar fans should definitely check out the V16 Project. ~ by Sean Westergaard, AMG. 

Songlines Recordings, SGL SA1544-2, 2003
Recorded 23rd-25th April, 2003 at The Terrarium, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Musicians:
Jerry Granelli - Electro-Acoustic Percussion
Anthony Cox - Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass Guitar
Christian Kögel - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sampler
David Tronzo - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Sampler 

Tracks:
01. Temptation {Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed} (11:17)
02. O Bossa, Where Art Thou? {Christian Kögel} (7:01)
03. Lunch With Mr. Wong / Leaving Mr. Wong's {Jerry Granelli} (7:24)
04. Acoustic Trio {Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (1:44)
05. Acoustic Duo {Christian Kögel, David Tronzo} (3:49)
06. Cassius {Anthony Cox} (2:51)
07. Hobo Comedies {Granelli, Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (4:56)
08. Family Man {Anthony Cox} (2:49)
09. Walk By {Granelli, Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (0:23)
10. Mutator {Granelli, Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (4:05)
11. Good Wheat {Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (2:45)
12. Texas Oklahoma Conspiracy {Granelli, Cox, Kögel, Tronzo} (3:34)
13. Black Confederacy {Anthony Cox} (4:21) 

Total Time: 57:04 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Jerry Granelli
Producer - Tony Reif
Engineer - Jeff Mee
Assistant Engineer - Eric Olsen
Engineer, Mixing - Jason Orris
Editing, Mastering - Dawn Frank
Collage, Photography - Amy Fastenau
Photography - Steven Gale, Steve Purd 

Family Man

Uri Caine - Sphere Music (1992)

Uri Caine's debut, 1992's Sphere Music, introduces his kaleidoscopic take on jazz, coloring it with classical and Yiddish influences. Along with clarinetist Don Byron, Caine rejuvenates Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" with an ambitious, fluid grace, while the brash "Jelly" hints at his avant-jazz leanings. An eclectic tour through different musical moods and styles, Sphere Music is an engaging, promising first work. ~ by Heather Phares, AMG. 

Winter & Winter, 919 064-2, 2005
Digitally Recorded April and May 1992 at Clinton Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Uri Caine - Piano
Graham Haynes - Cornet (#3,9)
Gary Thomas - Tenor Saxophone (#3,7,9)
Don Byron - Clarinet (#1,4,6)
Anthony Cox - Acoustic Bass (#3,5,7-9)
Kenny Davis - Acoustic Bass (#1,2,6)
Ralph Peterson - Drums (#1-3,5-9) 

Tracks:
1. Mr. B. C. {Uri Caine} (8:55)
2. This Is A Thing Called Love {Uri Caine} (7:12)
3. When The Word Is Given {Uri Caine} (5:20)
4. 'Round Midnight {Hanighen, Monk, Williams} (4:17)
5. Let Me Count The Ways {Uri Caine} (6:34)
6. Jelly {Uri Caine} (7:18)
7. Just In Time {Adolph Green, Jule Styne} (7:50)
8. We See {Thelonious Monk} (8:03)
9. Jan Fan {Uri Caine} (10:09) 

Total Time: 65:43 

Credits:
Producer - Uri Caine
Executive-Producer - Hiroshi Itsuno
Engineer - David Baker
Mixing, Mastering & Remastering - Adrian Von Ripka
Editing - Bob Ward
Design - Stephen Byram, Günter Mattei
Photography - Robert Lewis, Jan Galperin 

Excellent Uri recording along with superstar crew. If you're into Uri this is the CD to get now before it mysteriously goes out of print. An eclectic tour through different musical moods and styles Not a bad track on the entire 65-minute CD. ~ Kindle Customer, Amazon.com.

Geri Allen Trio - The Printmakers (1984)

Geri Allen's 1984 debut as a leader is a far cry from her better-known releases. The pianist leads a trio with drummer Andrew Cyrille and bassist Anthony Cox through a set consisting of advanced original compositions. Her opener, "A Celebration of Life," initially focuses exclusively on Cyrille's mouth percussion (followed by a drum solo) before she and Cox make a belated entrance to turn it into a delightful African dance, cast in a post-bop setting. Her haunting tribute "Eric" (dedicated to the late Eric Dolphy) is a dissonant melody reminiscent of the compositions of Dolphy's associates Jaki Byard and Charles Mingus. "M's Heart" is another moving bittersweet ballad, building from a repeated motif into a tension-filled solo. "Printmakers" is yet another furious vehicle for the trio and a stimulating one. "Andrew" is an eerie, twisting theme featuring Cox's moody arco bass and Cyrille on tympani, accompanying Allen's mysterious ballad. Released by the European based label Minor Music, this brilliant CD unfortunately seems to have lapsed from print. This session will prove to be an ear-opening experience for those familiar with Geri Allen's more mainstream work. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Minor Music, MINOR MUSIC 001, 1984
Minor Music, MM 8001, 1987
Recorded 8^th & 9^th February, 1984 At Tonstudio Zuckerfabrik, Stuttgart, Germany 

Musicians:
Geri Allen - Piano
Anthony Cox - Double Bass
Andrew Cyrille - Drums, Human Beatbox [Mouth Percussion], Timpani 

Tracks:
1. A Celebration Of All Life (6:21)
2. Eric [For Eric Dolphy] (5:33)
3. Running As Fast As You Can...TGTH (3:11)
4. M's Heart [In Memory Of Mrs. Barbara Jean Allen] (4:56)
5. Printmakers [Altosaxophonistic Poetic Type Printmakers] (8:09)
6. Andrew [For Andrew Cyrille] (4:27)
7. When Kayuba Dances (7:02)
8. D and V [For Daddy And Vernie] (2:00) 

All Compositions by Geri Allen

Total Time: 41:39

Credits:
Producer - Stephan Meyner
Recording & Mixing - Johannes Wohlleben
Cover Art & Photography - Christin Schindler

Erica Lindsay - Dreamer (1989)

This is the debut album by the talented tenorist Erica Lindsay. Erica handpicked the musicians for this session: Howard Johnson on tuba, baritone sax, flugelhorn and pennywhistle; Robin Eubanks on trombone; Francesca Tanksley on piano; Anthony Cox on bass and Newman Baker on drums. She composes five of the six tunes, and arranges those with Howard Johnson stepping in on "Day Dream". 

Erica Lindsay's tenor sax is laid back and breathy, and it suits her compositions-which account for five of the cuts on this, her first recording under her own name. The drive of the piece though, comes from Howard Johnson, who plays from the bottom (tuba and baritone sax) to the top (penny whistle). Robin Eubanks makes a trombone appearance on one cut, too. The album as a whole is satisfying and fresh. ~ Jack Fuller, Chicago Tribune.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Candid Records, CS 9040, 1992
Recorded 3^rd-5^th March 1989 At Clinton Studios, New York City

Musicians:
Erica Lindsay - Tenor Saxophone
Howard Johnson - Tuba, Baritone Saxophone, Flugelhorn, Pennywhistle
Robin Eubanks - Trombone
Francesca Tanksley - Piano
Anthony Cox - Bass
Newman Baker - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. First Moment {Erica Lindsay} (8:55)
A2. Day Dream {Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, John LaTouche} (6:21)
A3. Walking Together {Erica Lindsay} (7:15)
B1. Dreamer {Erica Lindsay} (6:57)
B2. At The Last Moment {Erica Lindsay} (6:48)
B3. Gratitude {Erica Lindsay} (7:58)

Total Time: 44:14

Credits:
Executive-Producer - Alan Bates
Recording Engineer, Producer - David Baker
Producer - Kenny Inaoka
Design - Eliko Yamanaka, Takeshi Masuda
Photography - Shunsuke Yamamoto
Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff 

Also released as Candid Records [CCD 79040]

Magnificent !!!
============
Certainly, one of our most Unsung Current Reed Players! Erica Lindsay plays w/ passion, flexibility and originality. All of her recordings are must haves, but this one, her first remains my personal favorite. A great cast of supporting, innovative musicians as well - Robin Eubanks, Francesca Tanksley, Howard Johnson, Anthony Cox, Newman Baker. An Absolute Gem! ~ Robert Ricketts, 5 Stars, Amazon.com.