Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » New York Art Quartet: 35th Reunion

166

New York Art Quartet: 35th Reunion

By

Sign in to view read count
New York Art Quartet: 35th Reunion
The Fluxus art happenings of the sixties are being recalled today by so many people “that were there,” that it is to laugh (ha ha). Like Fluxus, the free jazz loft scene was witnessed by too few. The music, with all its propulsive energy and (un)structure, was more of a rumored scene, then a music viewed by the thousands. Free jazz, like every great revolution in thought and art, passes before the masses or the critics, for that matter, catch wind. In the sixties, when so many thought revolution would bring down our government, practitioners of this most creative of musics were slowly changing the future of creative jazz. In 1963, The New York Art Quartet was defining the direction of change, whose banner was to be taken up by the October Revolution In Jazz in 1964, Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz, Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, and of course John Coltrane. Thirty-five years after their self-titled ESP recording, the quartet plus Amiri Baraka a.k.a. Leroy Jones is back to remind us that the New Thing has yet to become an old thing. Baraka asks, “of what use is poetry?” and is answered by a collective and spontaneous creation. Rudd, who takes me back to Steve Lacy and their interpretations of Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols, plays with such superb vocalization while Graves’s throaty accompaniment of his percussion leaves a magic picture in the minds eye. Baraka’s recollection of the turbulent sixties on “Seek Light At Once” is the highlight of the recording, acting as the most creative bridge to the 21st century so far.

Track List:A Meeting Of Remarkable Journeys; Reentering; Llanto Del Indio; VG’s Birthday Jamboree; Visiting Ogun; Perceiving Passerby’s; Seek Light At Once; Music’s Underwear.

Personnel

New York Art Quartet
band / ensemble / orchestra

Album information

Title: 35th Reunion | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Izuma Records

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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