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Charlie Munro: Eastern Horizons
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Although not for purists, Munrosupported by a bottom-heavy bass sound with trombone and percussionsucceeds in producing a compelling work of art where Eastern time signatures, jazz improvisations and Western classical harmonies meld seamlessly. The music is sometimes modal in structure, and occasionally freer in style, but never loses its mellifluousness.
This record has been compared to Pharoah Sanders' Karma (Impulse!, 1969) and Alice Coltrane's Indo-centric recordings. Apart from the fact that all of these recordings draw inspiration from Eastern music, there are very few similarities between them. While Sanders and Coltrane induce the feeling of meditating in a quiet, incense-perfumed temple, Eastern Horizons is more like traveling to, or viewing a film about, exotic locations.
The musical interaction amongst the quartet members eschews the traditional labor division of frontline and rhythm section for a more egalitarian distribution of solos and flights of musical ideas. Munro exhibits equal virtuosity on both reeds and cello, while the others also excel on their respective instruments. The sound of the CD has been impeccably remastered with new notes and photos added to the original booklet liner notes and handsomely reproduced cover art.
An intriguing record with an exotic sound from a part of the world not well known for its jazz, Eastern Horizons rewards and delights with repeated listens.
Track Listing
Islamic Suite; Arch's Groove; Malahari Raga; David; Japanese Love Song; Minimum; When I Look At You; Raised Eyebrows.
Personnel
Charlie Munro
woodwindsCharlie Munro: bass clarinet, soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, flute, cello; Bob McIvor: trombone; Neville Whitehead: bass; Mark Bowden: drums, vibraharp, marimba.
Album information
Title: Eastern Horizons | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Votary
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