David Murray - The Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note Vol.1 (5 CD, 2011) [FLAC]

 

The five CDs in this box represent the first David Murray Octet recordings, released between between 1980 and 1991. The original version of the band included Murray on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Lawrence "Butch" Morris on cornet, Henry Threadgill on alto saxophone, trombonist George Lewis, trumpeter Olu Dara, drummer Steve McCall, bassist Wilber Morris, and pianist Anthony Davis. This incarnation lasted for the first two albums in the set, Ming (1981) and Home (1982). Lewis and Dara are replaced on 1983's Murray's Steps by Craig Harris on trombone and trumpeter Bobby Bradford. While all of the Murray Octet recordings are worth hearing, it is these first three that are most enduring in scope and execution.

The Octet didn't record for another four years, emerging in 1987 with New Life. The set featured a substantially different lineup. Only Wilber Morris and Harris returned from their previous outing. The rest of the band included two trumpet players in Baikida Carroll and Hugh Ragin, pianist Steve Colson, alto saxophonist John Purcell, and drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr. Despite the extensive personnel changes, New Life is a very solid date. The final recording by Murray's Octet, Hope Scope, wasn't issued until 1991; it contained more lineup changes. Dave Burrell appeared on piano, Ragin and Peterson returned but were augmented by second trumpeter Rasul Siddik and alto saxophonist James Spaulding. Only Murray and Morris remained from the group's original lineup. There are some truly different personalities at work on this last session, and Burrell's highly idiosyncratic style of play stands in sharp contrast to Spaulding and Ragin, and is quite noticeable; further, coming up against the elegant manner of Peterson's drumming, it can be jarring. That said, this session is yet a further extension of Murray's constant experimentation with textures, shapes, and colors in composition and improvisation. His control over the group is all but total (Burrell's wonderful playing is far too slippery for anyone to truly "control" in any setting). As a whole, this box is not only fine listening, but revelatory as to Murray's ongoing process of development, particularly as an arranger. The sound here is simply extraordinary, especially considering the quality (or lack thereof) of Black Saint's latter day vinyl pressings). Add to this the budget-price tag, and jazz fans can consider this a true bargain.

1981 - Ming
01. The Fast Life [08:54]
02. The Hill [10:40]
03. Ming [04:28]
04. Jasvan [08:51]
05. Dewey's Circle [06:33]

1982 - Home
01. Home [06:01]
02. Santa Barbara And Crenshaw Follies [06:50]
03. Choctaw Blues [06:11]
04. Last Of The Hipmen [09:14]
05. 3-D Family [08:35]

1983 - Murray's Steps
01. Murray's Steps [12:28]
02. Sweet Lovely [08:06]
03. Sing Song [09:43]
04. Flowers For Albert [09:42]

1987 - New Life
01. Train Whistle [11:53]
02. Morning Song [10:06]
03. New Life [06:36]
04. Blues In The Pocket [11:12]

1991 - Hope Scope
01. BEN (For Ben Webster) [07:39]
02. Same Places New Faces [09:03]
03. Hope Scope [08:23]
04. LESTER (For Lester Young) [08:28]
05. Thabo [09:53]