Incredible CD!!
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | 03/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is such great Jazz Music in the tradtion of the Classic John Coltrane Quartet of the 60's. David Murray is such a talented Musician and Songwriter. He plays with the passion of John Coltrane,but has a sound all his own.He is joined by 3 other great Jazz Musicians as well,including the great Drummer,Andrew Cyrille. David also plays some Bass Clarinet on this CD,which he plays with such a beautiful tone.I highly recommend this CD to all Jazz Fans,especially Fans of traditional Acoustic Jazz and Fans of John Coltrane. Definitely one,if not the best Jazz CD of the year."
Great CD by a major artist of the contemporary scene
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 12/14/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A MAGICAL AND FIERY COMMUNICATOR
David Keymer | Modesto CA | 07/15/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"David Murray never plays badly but when he's good, he's very, very good, and this album is definitely one of those times. To start, he's playing in one of his favorite formats, the piano-sax quartet, and the musicians with whom he plays are old friends and masterful musicians: what better backing could you have today than John Hicks on piano, Ray Drummond on bass and the awesome Andrew Cyrille (has he ever done a bad album?) on drums? All of the songs on this album are first rate but the title song ("Like a Kiss That Never Ends") is a knockout, an almost thirteen-minute-long paso doble, with four and a half minutes of some of the best and most sustained tenor sax I have heard in ages, a tasty solo by Hicks, and Cyrille delivering a non-stop stream of continually arresting percussion accents. I am least enthralled by the Monk tune, "Let's Cool One," which Murray plays on bass clarinet, but I suspect that's simply because I haven't had the album long enough to listen to it properly. In any case, this is the best Murray album I've heard since Fast Life. And when are they going to reissue his classic album, Ming?"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1