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Wadada Leo Smith: Fire Illuminations
And so blazes Fire Illuminations, Smith's latest daredevil encounter in the cauldron of fiery free jazz composition. Concurring absolutely with Smith's visionary reach into the unknown, the players assembled here—now known collectively as Orange Wave Electric—bring their sense of the same to the vast potential. There is no margin here, nor should there be. So "Muhammad Ali's Spiritual Horizon" features only Smith, guitarist Lamar Smith and the full rhythm section dodging and driving like Ali himself in the ring. That same line-up fuels Smith's cutting clarion-yowl on "Fire Illuminations Inside the Particles of Light" a disparately evolving metaphor for the power of fire in all our lives.
Brimming with soaring accolades from Smith, "Tony Williams" becomes another of the trumpeter's heartfelt tributes to the incomparable rhythm storms of Tony Williams. Fully employing the sonic sensibilities of the whole unit, the piece unfolds with an episodic rush and rancor, holding tight to form then obliterating it all together. Pared down to the white hot turn-on-a-dime quintet of Smith, Laswell, Cline, Gibbs, and aKlaff, "Muhammad Ali and George Foreman Rumble in Zaire Africa" roils with a rock fire energy which many contemporary rock'n'rollers should take notice of and learn a lot from. Another vital recording in Smith's vital late day career.
Track Listing
Ntozake; Muhammed Ali's Spiritual Horizon; Fire Illuminations Inside Light Particles; Tony Williams; Muhammed Ali and George Foreman's Rumble in Zaire Africa.
Personnel
Wadada Leo Smith
trumpet
Nels Cline
guitar
Brandon Ross
guitarLamar Smith
guitar, electric
Bill Laswell
bass
Melvin Gibbs
bass
Mauro Refosco
percussion
Pheeroan AkLaff
drumsHardedge
electronicsAdditional Instrumentation
Nels Cline: electric guitar (1, 4, 5); Brandon Ross: electric guitar (1, 4); Lamar Smith: electric guitar (1-4); Mauro Refosco: percussion (1-3); Hardedge: electronics: 1, 4).
Album information
Title: Fire Illuminations | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Kabell Records
About Wadada Leo Smith
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