Blum, John - Astrogeny Quartet
SKU
05-EREMITE049
With John Blum-piano, Denis Charles drums, Antonio Grippi alto saxophone, alto-clarinet, William Parker bass, and recorded February 11, 1998 in NYC. "There are few sessions to rival this one for sheer urgency and gusto. it's as if something pent-up in these four musicians waited for this combination of players to unleash it--the music explodes into action. pianist John Blum is a secret hero of new york's free jazz community, known as a proficient & forceful improviser in the tradition of his mentors, Borah Bergmann & Cecil Taylor. Blum's performance on astrogeny is his shining moment on disc to date. The legendary Denis Charles was at his best when paired with William Parker; together they formed one of the great, yet under-documented, rhythm-sections in the music. Antonio Grippi, a shadowy figure in free-jazz history, makes an appropriately rousing contribution on alto saxophone." "Special note should be taken of Blum. the dude is sick; he's like a free-jazz Frank Hewitt, only much younger --a monster player shamefully ignored by the new york city critics and overlooked by the labels. he should be heard." -Chris Kelsey/Jazztimes