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Jazz Articles about Joe McPhee

About Joe McPhee

158

Album Review

Joe McPhee & Joe Giardullo: Specific Gravity

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Multi-woodwind specialist/trumpeter, Joe McPhee also utilizes a valve trombone during these duets with fellow woodwind ace, Joe Giardullo on this outing recorded live at “WPKN” radio in Bridgeport, CT. The soloists commence the proceedings with the twenty-eight minute, “A Priori.” On this piece, McPhee and Giardullo toggle between various instruments along with a metronome like clicking pattern, which establishes a sense of time yet eventually, disappears. With that, the duo morphs an underlying sense of rhythm sans the use of ...

309

Album Review

Joe McPhee: Underground Railroad + Live At Holy Cross Monastery 1968/6

by Derek Taylor
November 1, 2001

True to their word the folks behind the Unheard Music Series have continued in their charge of returning all Joe McPhee’s early recordings for the CJR label to circulation. The latest installment and McPhee’s debut as a leader, Underground Railroad does one better by adding an entire archival concert to the package. At the risk of completely compromising any sense of critical objectivity at the inception of this review let me just say that as far as vintage ecstatic free ...

194

Album Review

Joe McPhee: Trinity

by Derek Taylor
April 1, 2001

Until recently Joe McPhee’s early recorded years were something of a sealed book. The rarity of his vernal trilogy of vinyl releases for the CJR label forced most listeners to access these legendary LPs through poorly rendered bootleg copies or simply via the testimony of the lucky few fortunate enough to own original pressings of the albums. Through the vigilant efforts of the Unheard label the drought has finally ceased and McPhee’s trailblazing platters are at long last finding their ...

224

Album Review

Joe McPhee: Trinity

by AAJ Staff
April 1, 2001

Even for Joe McPhee, Trinity is a far-ranging record. He writes in the liner notes (genuinely, I'm sure) that in this spare trio setting, “the area I wanted to work became more defined." In fact, that area is about as broad as you can possibly imagine. McPhee delivers animalistic howls, plaintive melodies, and bluesy ramble, each in turn. Meanwhile, the group sound spans from free-range “space" music with vocals to high-intensity Tayloresque energy over punchy drums. Each duo combination is ...

171

Album Review

Joe McPhee & Hamid Drake: Emancipation Proclamation: A Real Statement of Freedom

Read "Emancipation Proclamation: A Real Statement of Freedom" reviewed by Micah Holmquist

by Micah Holmquist
March 1, 2001

A couple of photos in the packaging of Emancipation Proclamation: A Real Statement of Freedom feature Joe McPhee and Hamid Drake dressed up in brightly colored shirts and appearing to be two Parrot Heads about to hear Jimmy. However, with all due respect to the fine music of Margaritaville, Mr. Buffett has nothing McPhee and Drake.

For over 30 years McPhee has walked the line between Ayleresque screeching and more lyrical playing. He goes primarily for the latter ...

351

Album Review

Joe McPhee: Nation Time

by Robert Spencer
January 1, 2001

If you have enjoyed some of Joe McPhee's recent releases, such as Undersound or Novio Iolu, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. Even if you're well aware that Joe doesn't always work with the delicacy and subtlety he employs on those two discs, but with the bluster and grandeur of Grand Marquis, you'll find that this one is different. A long-awaited rerelease of a 1970 recording, Nation Time is the exuberance of the master in his ...

258

Album Review

Joe McPhee & Hamid Drake: Emancipation Proclamation: A Real Statement of Freedom

Read "Emancipation Proclamation: A Real Statement of Freedom" reviewed by Derek Taylor

by Derek Taylor
January 1, 2001

Expanding from the declaration of it's title the first duo recording by the redoubtable Joe McPhee and the pan-percussionary citizen Hamid Drake is music steeped in an emancipatory feel. Here are two men in a celebratory mood communing with and expounding on the African American traditions still reflective of larger global histories. Adding to the artistic imperative of the music is the photo that adorns the disc's tray card of Drake and McPhee in colorful print shirts and shades, the ...