Label: Gramavision – GR-8303
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1983
Style: Free Improvisation, Free Jazz
Recorded at Vanguard Studios, New York City in July 1983.
Mixed at Gramavision Studio, New York City in August 1983.
Cover – Francesco Clemente
Photography By [Photo By] – Robert Mapplethorpe
Design [Album Design] – Peter Corriston
Engineer – David Baker
Mastered By – Bob Ludwig
Mixed By – David Baker
Producer – Anthony Davis, Jonathan F. P. Rose
A1- Mvt I: Esu At The Crossroads....................................................... 4:52
A2- Mvt II: Little Richard's New Wave................................................. 8:31
A3- Mvt III: Ifa: The Oracle, Esu The Trickster .................................... 4:46
B1 - Mvt IV: A Walk Through The Shadows ....................................... 13:26
B2 - Mvt V: Clonetics............................................................................ 7:06
Composed By – Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis – piano
Dwight Andrews – flute
J.D. Parran – clarinet
Leo Smith – trumpet
George Lewis – trombone
David Samuels – vibraphone
Shem Guibbory – violin
Eugene Friesen – cello
Rick Rozie – bass
Pheeroan AkLaff – drums, percussion
Written as music to accompany the choreography of Molissa Fenley, Anthony Davis followed the huge artistic (if not commercial) success of his albums Episteme and Variations in Dreamtime with yet another wonderful recording along similar lines. Using many of the same musicians and, in fact, recycling some of the same thematic material (as he was to do often in his career), Davis once again finds enormous richness and power in a territory straddling advanced jazz and contemporary minimalism, here even enjoining the services of Steve Reich's violinist of choice, Shem Guibbory. The compositions combine propulsive, oddly metered rhythms with fascinating and often gorgeous melodies including, especially his bitterly beautiful "A Walk in the Shadows," here given arguably its finest, most intense performance with Guibbory doing gut-wrenching work. The ensemble is incredibly tight and features superb playing by, among others, trumpeter Leo Smith and trombonist George Lewis. The cover painting by Francesco Clemente and the portrait photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe indicate how closely Davis was becoming involved with the New York avant-garde in the early '80s. This would lead to an increased "classicalization" of his work, largely to its detriment, in oncoming years, and Hemispheres would prove to be perhaps his last unqualified success. Very highly recommended.
_ Review by Brian Olewnick
It would be nice to read this:
Commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival
Molissa Fenley and Company/ANTHONY DAVIS and EPISTEME
HEMISPHERES - An evening length dance work with live music
http://molissafenley.com/view_works.php?id=51
Note:
THIS MONTH – ALBUMS THAT YOU REQUEST !!!
If you find it, buy this album!