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World Saxophone Quartet: Experience
By Experience is a rewarding, if uneven album. Some tracks feature the horns unaccompanied, others add a variety of guests. In addition to drummer Gene Lake and bassist Matthew Garrison, Craig Harris provides trombone, didgeridoo, and spoken word; and Billy Bang plays violin. The disc was recorded over three days in March 2003, with all but two of the tracks produced by the band. As a result, the album doesn't quite work as a piece, but the individual tracks still succeed.
Approaches wander from the sweet, naked singing familiar from the band's early days to simple settings for poetry to gently funky arrangements that would fit in on an old Stanley Turrentine record. Some of the choices were inevitable. They work over "Foxy Lady, do a soulful "If 6 Was 9 and an abstract "Hey Joe. But there's no "Purple Haze, no "Fire, no "Crosstown Traffic even the suggested titular track doesn't show up. Instead, they blast through "Freedom and make a bass clarinet ballad out of "Hear My Train A Comin'. Their best may be behind them, but they've still got the spirit.
Track Listing
Freedom; If 6 Was 9; Hey Joe; Machine Gun; Little Wing; Foxey Lady; Hear My Train a Comin'; The Wind Cries Mary
Personnel
World Saxophone Quartet
band / ensemble / orchestraBilly Bang (Violin); Hamiet Bluiett (Baritone Sax); Matthew Garrison (Bass Guitar); Craig Harris (Trombone, Didjeridu); Gene Lake (Drums); Oliver Lake (Alto Sax, Soprano Sax)
Album information
Title: Experience | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Justin Time Records
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About World Saxophone Quartet
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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