Search - Archie Shepp Quartet :: Blue Ballad

Absolutely beautiful

Strat Man | Shelton CT | 08/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "ballads" label always scares me. Often an excuse to phone it in. Not so here. Mr Shepp remains thoroughly engaged throughout the CD, and the sidemen keep pace.



However, this is all about Archie. He even sings on a couple of tunes. Not the greatest singer on the planet, but not bad and he carries it off with a great deal of feeling. Perhaps about two verses too many through the course of the CD.



Of course, it's his sax playing that makes this CD. It is nothing short of phenomenal. Proof that one can spend years exploring the outer reaches of an instrument's capabilities, and bring the knowledge gained into a readily accessible medium like these ballads.



There are places in the music where it almost seems as if Mr. Shepp is letting the instrument play itself. For instance when he freely floats back and forth between octaves. On several tunes, he makes the instrument alternately sound like a trumpet, oboe, clarinet, and back to sax.



I am really enjoying this release. Also, managed to get it used for much less than $45.



With John Hicks (piano), George Mraz (bass) and Billy Drammond (drums).

"