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Matana Roberts/Josh Abrams/Chad Taylor: Sticks And Stones
ByA member of Chicago’s AACM, she plays from the Fred Anderson/Ornette Coleman bag of freedom, yet with a tone somewhere from the West Coast coolness of Paul Desmond. The trio sets on a course of upbeat, yet relaxed playing that cites the new thing but attracts your ear instead of repelling it. The three began as the house band for Fred Anderson’ Velvet Lounge, and have worked out a particular approach to their own freedom principle. They take bop oriented tunes like “Lose My Number” and distill it through an early 1960s Ornette Coleman filter. They keep the music within a chamber sound, meaning they maintain equal volume levels between players. There is no overpowering of one player to the detriment of another. Taylor keeps the shifting energies in constant motion as Abrams maintains a strong pulse throughout.
The recording has nine originals (3 by each musician) plus 2 covers. Their take on Junior Delgado and Lee Scratch Perry’s “Sons Of Slave” is a dreamy, lazy raggae walk. Roberts’ saxophone summons Coltrane’s incantations on “Hannibul” as she blows prayers and calls to attention. The ballad “Suhassani” finds Taylor mingling brushes and Abrams soloing to envelope the cautious Roberts.
Track Listing
Turning The Mark; Equally Strong; Lose My Number; Suhassani; End Of The Game; Usetosay; Sons Of Slaves; Hannibul; Spaces; Salvador; Spicer.
Personnel
Matana Roberts
saxophone, altoMatana Roberts
Album information
Title: Sticks And Stones | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: 482 Music
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About Matana Roberts
Instrument: Saxophone, alto
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