Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Michael Marcus Trio: Ithem

Michael Marcus Trio: Ithem

By AAJ Staff
December 28, 2004
Sign in to view read count

Recorded in '93 but only recently released, this encapsulated treat has the trio of Michael Marcus on alto sax and bass clarinet, William Parker on bass, and Denis Charles on drums performing three live tunes at the Old Knitting Factory in New York City, as well as two studio tracks. The live tunes, "Ithem," "Under the Wire," and "Secret Oceans," find Marcus blowing away any inhibitions as he and the trio careen and bounce off each other with imaginative, often powerful ideas.

The last two recorded tunes are also worth a listen, but the live material is clearly the better half on this set. The live take of "Ithem," for example, captures a spontaneous and inspired give-and-take sequence that would have certainly sounded staged if attempted inside the studio. In the live setting, the group's energy surges and falls with greater grace, especially on the mysterious moods of "Under the Wire" and "Secret Oceans." Extra attention should be placed on the insightful support in rhythm placed forth by bassist Parker and drummer Charles. Their work bends but never breaks under Marcus' full-toned explorations.

Though eleven years old, Ithem still sounds fresh.

~ Germein Linares

Track Listing

Ithem (live)/ Under the Wire/ Secret Oceans/ Here At!

Personnel

Michael Marcus

multi-instrumentalist

Michael Marcus - reeds; William Parker - bass; Denis Charles - drums.

Album information

Title: ithem | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Ayler Records

< Previous
Welcome to Life

Next >
Nothing Smooth About It

Comments

About Michael Marcus

Instrument: Multi-instrumentalist

Tags

For the Love of Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help

To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.