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Elton Dean's Ninesense: Happy Daze + Oh! For The Edge
ByThe single-disc reissue combines two albums. Happy Daze (Ogun, 1978), the studio album, transmits a robust power that relaxes at just the right moments. The standout, "Seven for Lee," is a hypnotic and exotic masterpiece with bright phrases and solos blown over a South African-flavored rhythm. There is an overall sense of drama on the studio tracks that contrasts nicely with the looser, more playful vibe on the live tracks recorded on Oh! For The Edge (Ogun, 1976), like "Friday Night Blues."
Dean exploits the full power of his playing, composing and arranging skills in these memorable compositions. His individual style of moving from tonal to atonal in a mere verse is realized on a larger scale. The mood is joyful, as free and traditional currents swish back and forth smoothly to form one larger sound. There appears to be a warm familiarity and trust amongst the members that can be felt inside the music.
Despite the frenetic bursts of energy that each player fires off in solos, the tunes melodically resolve in a more cohesive fashion than typically heard in music from Tippett and McGregor's groups. This amazing band only lasted about three short years, making this welcome reissue an enjoyable reminder of the range of talents possessed by this sorely missed legend.
Track Listing
Nicrotto; Seven For Lee; Sweet F.A.; Three For All; Dance; Fall In Free; Forsoothe; M.T.; Friday Night Blues; Prayer For Jesus.
Personnel
Elton Dean
saxophoneElton Dean: alto sax, saxello; Alan Skidmore: tenor sax; Harry Beckett: trumpet, flugelhorn; Mark Charig: trumpet, tenor horn; Nick Evans: trombone; Radu Malfatti: trombone (1-4); Keith Tippett: piano; Harry Miller: double bass; Louis Moholo: drums.
Album information
Title: Happy Daze + Oh! For The Edge | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Ogun Records
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