Search - Dave Burrell :: Expansion

Nice start to a new label

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 08/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Good to see the perennially underrecorded Dave Burrell with a new one in the racks, with a new label named after one of his classic albums (though I don't believe that the record label is actually owned by Burrell). This is a very brief disc (40 minutes) but packs in a lot of variety within that space, from wonky marches to free playing to a lyrical stridepiano version of "They Say It's Wonderful". Burrell varies his attack and approach quite widely with the material--from bluntness to snowflake delicacy--& he's got a great band in support. Andrew Cyrille is in excellent form--check out his unusual work on "Double Heartbeat", for instance, which he gives an unusla flavour by using only toms & bass drum (no cymbals). William Parker's playing well too, with a fine arco solo on "Cryin' Out", though he's somewhat clutzy on the final track, "Coup d'Etat". (It's a "Giant Steps" variation, & Parker simply isn't the right bassist to walk over such changes.) It's a handsomely packaged album, too, & the sound is quite good (it's produced by FLAM, of Thirsty Ear Blue Series fame/notoriety)."