Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rob Reddy's Gift Horse: A Hundred Jumping Devils

196

Rob Reddy's Gift Horse: A Hundred Jumping Devils

By

Sign in to view read count
Rob Reddy's Gift Horse: A Hundred Jumping Devils
Rob Reddy's music conveys motion—a rare thing in an era when jazz often seems like the stuff of historians, when even the most astute artist might fail to create anything genuinely new. Doubtless, though, Reddy is a capable creative voice, and A Hundred Jumping Devils is far more than mere repertory work or pastiche.

Following the William Carlos Williams quote from which the album takes its title, Devils longs to be free from the torment of its materials, and in doing so actually creates something out of the cultural slough from which it was born. Reddy confronts the old Robert Kennedy proverb—"May he live in interesting times —acknowledges the problem, and dances with it.

Make no mistake, this is a true dance, a ritual of an album. The Afro-Latin rhythm that underscores the group orchestrations does not dominate the music—it only grounds the pieces, providing a counterpoise to Reddy's opulent, engrossing melodies. Reddy understands the link between rhythm and song as well as any younger composer in the wake of Henry Threadgill; there is a sort of hypnotizing tension to the record, a romantic lilt.

With Gift Horse, Reddy has found a band that is truly in common step. This is an ensemble of partners, interlocking parts, and there is scarcely a moment of bombast, no braying egoism. It says a lot that Reddy, a robust, powerful saxophonist, never dominates the proceedings; he is merely the troupe leader here. There is a hint of prime Albert Ayler in the group sound—nowhere near as devastating, and much more contained, but in its own way just as sympathetic and communicative. These are musicians in (spiritual?) unity, and when any one voice calls, everyone responds.

If Reddy and friends have not banished their "hundred jumping devils, then they have at least found a way to imagine through the struggle. If we are to have creative music in these days, it will come from artists like Reddy, who refuse to live or stand still.

Track Listing

Hymn For The Insurrection; The Unnamable; Procession; A Hundred Jumping Devils; Mark Of Sincerity; O-Brasil; Gabriel's New Horn; Abraham; Solipsism; One (for Jef).

Personnel

Rob Reddy
saxophone

Rob Reddy: soprano and alto saxophones; Mark Taylor: French horn; Charles Burnham: violin; Brandon Ross: acoustic and electric guitars; Dom Richards: double bass; Mino Cinelu: percussion.

Album information

Title: A Hundred Jumping Devils | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Reddy Music

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.