David MURRAY,Power Quartet - Like A Kiss That Never Ends 2001

David MURRAY,Power Quartet - Like A Kiss That Never Ends  2001

Jazz

David Murray is such a voracious force on tenor saxophone, naming a band of his a "power quartet" is a little like naming a boar "wild." No matter what setting he is in--quartet, octet, pan-African ensemble, gospel group--he blows lights out with his blend of gutbucket classicism and squealing modernism. But Like a Kiss That Never Ends certainly does deliver his most sustained jolt of front-and-center tenor in a while. Backed by pianist and longtime bandmate John Hicks, mainstream bassist Ray Drummond, and free-jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille, Murray sinks his teeth into an engagingly varied program, including a breakneck blues and a fine-tempered ballad, an energized free-bop workout, and the Spanish-tinged title cut. The last-mentioned song, which recalls the richly melodic tours de force of the late tenorist George Adams (and his departed piano partner Don Pullen), draws complexity from layered rhythms grounded in Cyrille's brisk march patterns. An unexpected bonus is Murray's thoughtful bass clarinet rendering of "Let's Cool One," a rare excursion by this artist into the Thelonious Monk songbook.
By Lloyd Sachs.
**
David Murray,48 years old,is one of the most impressive and original players in the contemporary jazz scene.I was lucky enough to see and hear him play in my town,three weeks ago.David's musical influences aren't only made of free jazz blowers; you can hear a lot of Ben Webster,Coleman Hawkins,Hershell Evans,some Benny Golson and Lockjaw Davis,and of course a lot of Albert Ayler and Eric Dolphy (mostly when he plays bass clarinet).Another reviewer wrote that this quartet reminds him of the John Coltrane quartet; I can't hear Coltrane's reminiscences in Murray's playing.Surely,there are in the spirit of his music,but not in his sound or phrasing.I can hear some Stan Getz (the beginning of "like a kiss that never ends"),some Benny Golson.In this fantastic CD,Murray is backed by three very great musicians: pianist John Hicks,bassist Ray Drummond,two old time associates,and the great drummer Andrew Cyrille,the veteran of the session (60 years old).The album's title song,"like a kiss that never ends" is a fascinating spanish melody,and it reminds me of some George Adams/Don Pullen masterpieces.Dewey Redman played some similar tunes too (remind the spanish songs recorded by Redman with the Liberation Music Orchestra)."Let's cool one" is Murray's salute to Thelonious Monk.The other tunes were written by Murray,except "dedication" which is by Drummond.All the tunes are great.But the main interest in this very beautiful album is that it can be heard,and appreciated,as well by free jazz lovers as by Ben Webster or Hawkins' addicts.
David Murray is one of today's most important jazz players.We only hear about Brad Meldhau or Diana Krall,but Murray's music is miles and miles away from that stuff; his music is fascinating because it is the music of life.His influences produced a very singular musician who creates something new.This is very rare in our times.Listen to this outstanding voice.
By  JEAN-MARIE JUIF.
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Ray Drummond- Bass
Andrew Cyrille- Drums 
John Hicks- Piano
Producer- David Murray
David Murray- Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet 
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01. Blues For Felix (7:21)
02. Like A Kiss That Never Ends - Como Un Beso Que Nunca Se Acaba (For Valerie) (12:44)
03. Dedication (7:14)
04. Suki Suki Now (9:43)
05. Ruben's Theme Song (6:30)
06. Mo' Bass (For The Bulldog) (7:40)
07. Let's Cool One (9:50)
**
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