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David Murray: Fo Deuk Revue

By AAJ Staff
July 1, 2000
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Saxophonist David Murray signed to Justin Time in '95 and makes his Justin Time debut on Fo Deuk Revue, an impressively ambitious work recorded in Dakar, Senegal in mid-'96. His ensemble on this record includes American artists such as Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Darryl Burgee, Hugh Ragin, and Robert Irving III, as well as a host of Senegalese stars including sabar player Doudou N'Diaye Rose and rappers Positive Black Soul. Fo Deuk Revue brings together elements of jazz, funk, African percussion, rap, Afro-pop, and spoken word poetry—a massive fusion of styles and sounds.

While the combinations often succeed (witness "Village Urbana," a groovy piece with Senegalese rapping and Murray's trademark intense blowing; or "Evidence," a showcase for Amiri Baraka's dramatic reading of his intense poem "Africa"), they just as often regress into cheesy smooth jazz or boxed-in formulaic drumming. In parts, the sound creeps closer to the Afro-American tradition than the African one, instead of heading somewhere in between. This deviation originates in large part from the incessantly smooth backing keyboards and Tacuma's usual wanky and out-of-touch bass playing. Just like any work with this incredible range of sounds, Fo Deuk Revue has its hits as well as its misses. Murray deserves credit for even attempting the project, and for Murray fans Fo Deuk Revue presents a totally unique sound hitherto unavailable on record.

Track Listing

Blue Muse, Evidence, One World Family, Too Many Hungry People, Chant Africain, Abdoul Aziz Sy, Village Urbana, Thilo.

Personnel

David Murray

saxophone, tenor

Doudou N'Diaye Rose: sabar, vocals; Amadou Barry, aka Doug E. Tee (Positive Black Soul): vocals/rap; Didier Awadi (Positive Black Soul): rap; Oumar Mboup: djembe, percussion; Hamet Maal: vocals; Tidiane Gaye (Dieuf Dieul): vocals; El Hadji Gniancou Sembene (Dieuf Dieul): keyboard; Abdou Karim Mane (Dieuf Dieul): bass; Ousseynou Diop (Dieuf Dieul): drums; Assane Diop (Dieuf Dieul): xalam, guitar; Moussa Sene (Dieuf Dieul): percussion, backup vocals; Jamaaladeen Tacuma: bass; Hugh Ragin: trumpet; Robert Irving III: piano; Darryl Burgee: drums; Craig Harris: trombone; Junior Soul: vocals; Amiri Baraka: poetry reading; Amiri Baraka Jr.: vocals; David Murray: saxophone, bass clarinet.

Album information

Title: Fo Deuk Revue | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Justin Time Records

About David Murray

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