Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Malik, McPhee, Robinson: Sympathy
Malik, McPhee, Robinson: Sympathy
ByThe set is a trio effort, with Donald Robinson on the drums and the incomparable Joe McPhee on soprano saxophone and pocket trumpet. Without a bass in the mix, space becomes a major factor.
All the tunes are Malik-penned, though long intervals of solo improvisation reign. Anything I've come across this past year or two in which Joe McPhee is involved—his Visitation (Boxholder, 2003), violist Mat Maneri's Sustain (Thirsty Ear, 2002), or Trio X's Journey (CIMP, 2003)—can be challenging, and ultimately fullfilling. Sympathy proves itself more more approachable than those, but it is still a set that demands full attention. The initial listen leaves an impression of relative simplicity—two horns trading sinuous lines in front of a lose-limbed percussionist—but it proves itself unsuited to the "background music" category. Driving around in the car or cooking dinner with the CD on just leaves one with a nagging feeling of missing out on the fullness of the experience. The darkened room with the listener alone with the sounds reaps the full reward.
I called this sound introspective and searching. Stir in an ineffable mood of spirtuality to the mix, like going to church.
This recording is available from Jazz Loft .
Track Listing
Tewtament, Resolving a Quote, Velcoity, Space March, Hypersonic, Motivic, untitled dialogue, Call and Response, Escape Route
Personnel
Raphe Malik
trumpetRaphe Malik--b-flat trumpet and c trumpet; Joe McPhee--soprano saxophone and pocket trumpet; Donald Robinson--drums
Album information
Title: Sympathy | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Boxholder Records
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