Myron Walden - Like A Flower Seeking The Sun (1999)

A Charming Shadowy Gem
-------------------------------
I’m a big fan of Brian Blade’s Fellowship Band and found this Myron Walden album because of that. But apart from Walden’s own penetrating sound on the alto the music has little to do with that of the Fellowship band. Here the mood is darker and more questioning, a feel that flows through the entire record and makes it a great, in my opinion anyway. The jazz idiom produces a lot of record, way too much as a matter of fact. The playing is often great, but albums just seem pointless and flavorless. On this collection of tunes however there is unity, and nothing seems out of place. The main theme is repeated three times on the album: at the beginning, in the middle and of course at the end. The other tunes seem to come from the same place, time and frame of mind. The pairing of Walden’s horn and Rosenwinkel’s guitar just works so well and again helps build that subdued tension that ties everything together. Once in a while every music lover come across a hidden record that just fits exactly his taste, this is one of those for me. ~ Timy Keller, AMG. 

NYC Records, NYC 6032-2, 1999
Recorded 16th February, 1998 at Avatar Studios Room A, New York 

Musicians:
Myron Walden - Alto Saxophone
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Eric McPherson - Drums
Guest:
Kurt Rosenwinkle - Guitar 

Tracks:
01. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (5:52)
02. As Night Falls {Myron Walden} (7:28)
03. From This Moment On {Cole Porter, Arr. Myron Walden} (5:17)
04. Tears Of The Fallen One {Myron Walden} (3:49)
05. E Minor Untitled {Myron Walden} (7:10)
06. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (4:37)
07. Momentum {Myron Walden} (7:01)
08. A Long Road Ahead {Myron Walden} (4:12)
09. Path Of The Sun {Myron Walden} (7:05)
10. Pulse {Myron Walden} (8:12)
11. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (3:49) 

Total Time: 64:32 

Credits:
Producer - Myron Walden, Preston Powell
Engineer - James Farber 

Like A Flower Seeking The Sun

Dr. John with Donald Harrison Band - Funky New Orleans (1991)

Dr. John has been described as "The Living Embodiment of New Orleans Culture". His raspy voice and eccentric fusion of New Orleans R&B, Rock and Mardi Gras have created a unique 'voodoo' sound, aptly demonstrated on these thrilling 1991 sessions with the Donald Harrison Band. This 1991 album comes armed with this unique style and better yet with such passionate energy. Dr. John teams up with the Donald Harrison Band to reproduce the various musical explorations and endeavors Dr. John has brought so far through his music and song writing. His charm is fully revealed through the magical voodoo music and the blues performances that he leads on piano. The upbeat 'Hu-Ta-Nay' sets the voodoo magic in motion, quickly followed by the fun and funky and bluesy numbers 'Big Chief', 'Shave 'Em Dry', and 'Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay', which are strongly inspired by his early days, are truly unparalleled and fervent, enjoy! 

Metro Records, METRCD002, 2000
Recorded 22nd-23rd May, 1991 (#1,9) in New York;
16th-17th November, 1991 (#2-8) Live at Birdland, New York 

Personnel:
Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - Piano, Guitar, Vocals, Whistling
Donald Harrison Jr. - Alto Saxophone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Cyrus Chestnut - Piano (#1)
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Phil Bowler - Bass (#1)
Carl Allen - Drums
Harol “Smiley” Rick - Percussion (#1)
Donald Harrison Sr. - Vocals (#1) 

Tracks:
1. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (6:17)
2. Big Chief {Earl Gaines, Wardell Querzergue} (5:17)
3. Shave’em Dry {Lucille Bogan} (5:17)
4. Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay {Donald Harrison} (6:53)
5. Mamzelle Zizi {Mac Rebennack} (5:43)
6. Livin’ On Borrowed Time {Mac Rebennack} (9:18)
7. You Ain’t So Such A Much {Mac Rebennack} (6:36)
8. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (9:16)
9. Walkin’ Home {Donald Harrison, Jr., Mac Rebennack} (2:23) 

Total Time: 57:07 

Liner Notes - Neil Slaven 

Big Chief

Greg Osby - Zero. (1998)

"Zero." represents Greg Osby's 3rd release for Blue Note records and perhaps his finest recording to date. Osby’s inaugural Blue Note release "Art Forum" sported a 360-degree turn for this artist. Having been a longtime collaborator with Steve Coleman and Cassandra Wilson in the "Mbase" days, Osby subsequently turned his creative juices towards Hip-Hop and the results were less than satisfying. "Art Forum" was a stylish entry into the modern jazz scene and re-established Osby as a major talent on the rise. Osby's 2nd release for Blue Note, "Further Ado" saw the advent of young piano phenom Jason Moran along with a cast of veteran jazz session musicians. "Further Ado" was fairly weak compositionally and lacked identity. Not a bad outing but at times sounded forced and hastily produced. On "Zero" Osby is backed by a fine bunch of young musicians who display earnest intentions and well-schooled technical attributes. The opener, "Sea of Illusion" demonstrates Greg Osby's easily identifiable technique and signature sound. On "Sea of Illusion" Osby artfully blends melody and dissonance in an angular yet rapid-fire fashion. His attack and execution is flawless. Osby tap dances over his alto sax, alluding to his disclosure of thinking like a pianist. Not just a technician, Osby emits fire and emotion; thus, making every note count. Perhaps if Bud Powell were an alto saxophonist, he would have sounded something like Greg Osby? On "Interspacial Affair" the young pianist Jason Moran displays wit and maturity with pervasive chord structures and strong dynamics. Moran superfluous sense of dynamics frequently prods Osby into taking several engaging, razor sharp alto and soprano sax solos. "Minstrale" is Osby's salutation to the fine jazz pianist Andrew Hill. Subtle melodic phrasing with traces of Monk, Moran captures the spirit of Andrew Hill in illustrious fashion. On "Nekide" drummer Rodney Green opens up with some nifty, dexterous stick work although he seems somewhat cautious or at times hesitant to mix it up on most of these cuts. "Deuce Ana Quota" is a lazy funk-blues romp and reminiscent of early 1970’s Lou Donaldson. Moran works the Hammond B-3 while guitarist Kevin McNeal strums delicate blues riffs to augment the spirited feel of the rhythm section. Osby is the bandleader and it shows in most instances. Despite the hefty dose of soloing and improvisation the band is tight and well-rehearsed under Osby’s direction. No doubt Greg Osby has the stuff to become a world-beater. His enormous talents as a composer and saxophonist have seldom been scrutinized. Blue Note records and Greg Osby have forged a strong relationship and with his current band the future looks that much brighter for jazz. ~ by Glenn Astarita, AAJ. 

Blue Note, 7243 4 93760 2 1, 1998
Recorded 8th-11th January, 1998 at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Greg Osby - Alto, Soprano & Sopranino Saxophones
Jason Moran - Piano, Organ [Hammond B-3], Fender Rhodes
Kevin McNeal - Guitar
Dwayne Burno - Bass (#1,2,7,8)
Lonnie Plaxico - Bass (#3-6)
Rodney Green - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Sea Of Illusion {Greg Osby} (5:13)
02. Interspacial Affair {Greg Osby} (6:59)
03. Minstrale {Greg Osby} (5:16)
04. Two Over One {Muhal Richard Abrams} (7:49)
05. Ozthetica {Greg Osby} (6:24)
06. Nekide {Greg Osby} (4:14)
07. Savant Cycles {Greg Osby} (5:59)
08. Extreme Behavior {Greg Osby} (3:06)
09. Deuce Ana Quota {Greg Osby} (6:53)
10. Penetrating Stare {Greg Osby} (4:57)
11. Concepticus In C {Greg Osby} (2:42) 

Total Time: 59:32

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes, Mixing - Greg Osby
Recording & Mixing - Joseph Marciano
Mastering - Nicholas Prout
Art Direction, Design, Illustration [Digital] - P.R. Brown
Photography - Jana Leon