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Archie Shepp w/ the Ritual Trio: Conversations
“Conversations” serves as a timely alliance and more importantly a chance to collectively celebrate of the life and talents of bassist Fred Hopkins another legendary innovator and one of the guiding lights in the history of Chicago’s creative improvised music community. Hopkins passed away shortly before this disc was recorded and his departure left a rift in the Windy City’s musical heritage that will never be filled. The opening “Conversations 1” captures this sense of loss in a poignantly rendered eulogy propelled by Shepp’s raspy tenor. Rarely has the man coaxed such naked emotion from his horn and the tender accompaniment from the trio shapes soothing rhythmic blanket around his aching lines. “Big Fred” moves past this initial melancholy into more celebratory realms and is a feature for Shepp’s fervent folklore-influenced lyrics. El’Zabar’s earthy African percussion also makes an appearance on this piece.
Regrettably Shepp and Brown spend most of the disc on different instruments, trading duties on saxophone and piano back and forth except on “Brother Malcolm” where both exchange gusty phrases on their reeds. Brown proves a far more adept pianist than Shepp, but the latter’s awkward comping on “Kari” still manages to mesh well the piece’s off-kilter groove. I was expecting more opportunities to hear them both on tenor together and their decision not feature such a combination more often was the only disappointment in an otherwise stunningly executed disc. Here’s hoping that this is only the first of many more meetings between Shepp and his like-minded friends in Chicago.
Track Listing
Conversations 1; The Introduction/ Big Fred/ Kari/ Whenever I Think of You/ Conversations 2; The Dialogue/ Brother Malcolm/ Revelations. Recorded: January 23 & 24, 1999, Riverside Studios, Chicago, IL.
Personnel
Archie Shepp
saxophone, tenorArchie Shepp- tenor saxophone, piano; Ari Brown- tenor saxophone, piano; Malachi Favors- double bass; Kahil El
Album information
Title: Conversations | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Delmark Records
About Archie Shepp
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