|
| |||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy a CD or a vinyl record, get a $1 Amazon MP3 Credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Editorial Reviews
Review
Rarefield and full of gusto,
a kind of high-modernist onslaught. --Ben Ratliff, New York Times
a kind of high-modernist onslaught. --Ben Ratliff, New York Times
Product Description
Apex is a blazing all-star collaboration between alto
saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green,
along with Jason Moran on piano and the great Jack
DeJohnette on drums. Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely
considered one of the most important jazz musicians
today, perennially at or near the top of the DownBeat
Critic s Poll. At the age of 75, Bunky Green is a
significant, though unsung, trendsetter in the history of
jazz. A historically important voice on the alto saxophone,
Green transformed the hard-bop jazz vocabulary of the
1960s into a modern musical language. Though his
influence is vast, his recorded output is slim most of
his albums are either out of print and highly collectible,
or difficult-to-find imports, and Apex provides a rare
opportunity to actually hear his music.
saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green,
along with Jason Moran on piano and the great Jack
DeJohnette on drums. Rudresh Mahanthappa is widely
considered one of the most important jazz musicians
today, perennially at or near the top of the DownBeat
Critic s Poll. At the age of 75, Bunky Green is a
significant, though unsung, trendsetter in the history of
jazz. A historically important voice on the alto saxophone,
Green transformed the hard-bop jazz vocabulary of the
1960s into a modern musical language. Though his
influence is vast, his recorded output is slim most of
his albums are either out of print and highly collectible,
or difficult-to-find imports, and Apex provides a rare
opportunity to actually hear his music.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Avant Garde All Stars (Mahanthappa, Bunky Green, Dejohnette, J. Moran, F. Moutin)
September 28, 2010
Format:Audio CD
Overview:
On Apex alto sax players Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green team up with a cast of all stars to create the best avant garde jazz CD of 2010. Green and Mahanthappa have similar styles in that they both frequently let loose with explosive solo runs. While their phrasing is amazing similar, their tones couldn't be more different. Green sports a traditional post bop tone, while Mahanthappa plays with an abrasive accented tone. Their distinct tones really work well in the album as they often have dual melody lines, or simultaneous solos that snake in and out of each other, and their unique voices make it easy to follow what each musician is playing. Mahanthappa and Green are joined by an unbelievable cast of musicians. First you've got Jason Moran on piano, the premiere piano player in 2010 (see my review on his release "Ten" for more details). Next you've got legendary drummer Jack Dejohnette on drums on 4 of the 10 tracks and Damion Reid on the other 6 tracks. The band is rounded out by bassist Francois Moutin (Martial Solal's long time bassist). When I first heard about the CD and the lineup I had high expectations. Here's a case where a stellar band was assembled, and everyone delivered and the results are outstanding. It takes a few listens to take it all in. The music is constantly taking off in different directions, and you've got to pay attention or you'll get lost. It does not make for good background music. This is the type of music where you want to put on your head phones, block everything else out, and follow all the tangents, subtle nuances, and sudden change in directions, and some of the best soloing of 2010.
Song Highlights:
The Journey - Moutin opens up with a monster solo statement on the bass. Green and Mahanthappa then do a call and answer section based loosely around an "eastern" sounding riff. After that section Moran has short piano solo that leads into a Mahanthappa solo, followed by a Green solo.
Who? - This song begins with Mahanthappa and Green soloing simultaneously. After that there is an "off time" section where everyone is playing a staccato riff, all a little bit out of sync (on purpose). This leads into a very free section with a great solo by Green. Another "off time" section leads into a Moran solo, then a Mahanthappa solo. All of the solos have a free feeling. Mahanthappa's solo has some crazy piano and drum backing by Moran and Dejohnette. Throughout the whole thing Moutin is dropping in perfect notes, and sections of occasional walking bass lines. Finally Dejohnette gets rewarded with some solo time on the drums. There are always several interesting things happening simultaneously on this song, perhaps that's where the name "Who" comes from. It's hard to keep track of who is doing what.
Playing With Stones - This song opens with a Moutin bass line. It's got a nice melody line and is perhaps more "post bop" in style then the rest of the album. There is just a great piano solo by Moran on this album, my favorite of the CD.
Highly recommended. There are endless hidden treasures here.
On Apex alto sax players Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green team up with a cast of all stars to create the best avant garde jazz CD of 2010. Green and Mahanthappa have similar styles in that they both frequently let loose with explosive solo runs. While their phrasing is amazing similar, their tones couldn't be more different. Green sports a traditional post bop tone, while Mahanthappa plays with an abrasive accented tone. Their distinct tones really work well in the album as they often have dual melody lines, or simultaneous solos that snake in and out of each other, and their unique voices make it easy to follow what each musician is playing. Mahanthappa and Green are joined by an unbelievable cast of musicians. First you've got Jason Moran on piano, the premiere piano player in 2010 (see my review on his release "Ten" for more details). Next you've got legendary drummer Jack Dejohnette on drums on 4 of the 10 tracks and Damion Reid on the other 6 tracks. The band is rounded out by bassist Francois Moutin (Martial Solal's long time bassist). When I first heard about the CD and the lineup I had high expectations. Here's a case where a stellar band was assembled, and everyone delivered and the results are outstanding. It takes a few listens to take it all in. The music is constantly taking off in different directions, and you've got to pay attention or you'll get lost. It does not make for good background music. This is the type of music where you want to put on your head phones, block everything else out, and follow all the tangents, subtle nuances, and sudden change in directions, and some of the best soloing of 2010.
Song Highlights:
The Journey - Moutin opens up with a monster solo statement on the bass. Green and Mahanthappa then do a call and answer section based loosely around an "eastern" sounding riff. After that section Moran has short piano solo that leads into a Mahanthappa solo, followed by a Green solo.
Who? - This song begins with Mahanthappa and Green soloing simultaneously. After that there is an "off time" section where everyone is playing a staccato riff, all a little bit out of sync (on purpose). This leads into a very free section with a great solo by Green. Another "off time" section leads into a Moran solo, then a Mahanthappa solo. All of the solos have a free feeling. Mahanthappa's solo has some crazy piano and drum backing by Moran and Dejohnette. Throughout the whole thing Moutin is dropping in perfect notes, and sections of occasional walking bass lines. Finally Dejohnette gets rewarded with some solo time on the drums. There are always several interesting things happening simultaneously on this song, perhaps that's where the name "Who" comes from. It's hard to keep track of who is doing what.
Playing With Stones - This song opens with a Moutin bass line. It's got a nice melody line and is perhaps more "post bop" in style then the rest of the album. There is just a great piano solo by Moran on this album, my favorite of the CD.
Highly recommended. There are endless hidden treasures here.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I know Rudresh's music having collected most of his CDs and heard him live. I however had only vaguely heard of Bunky Green Reading the previews to the album and Bunky's credentials I was encouraged to pursue more and to my amazement I discovered Bunky as one of those nearly lost treasures of the alto saxophone
This album is a path breaker, the kind of recording that sticks out among thousands that pile up in the stores and online each year. It has all the elements of a jazz classic;the lineup,the genre,the styles,the raw energy,the innovation exploding out from a platform of postbop.This is the kind of jazz which should enthuse the fringe listener, make the hard core listener sit up and plug in like he hasnt in a long time and bring back the lost listener. So dont hesitate to grab it
This album is a path breaker, the kind of recording that sticks out among thousands that pile up in the stores and online each year. It has all the elements of a jazz classic;the lineup,the genre,the styles,the raw energy,the innovation exploding out from a platform of postbop.This is the kind of jazz which should enthuse the fringe listener, make the hard core listener sit up and plug in like he hasnt in a long time and bring back the lost listener. So dont hesitate to grab it
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By S. Lee
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw Bunky Green several times in Chicago's Jazz Showcase. He killed then and he kills here on this album. Rudresh Mahanthappa is new to me, but obviously talented. The two make a great team here.
This is adventurous music. I love the romping forward looking improvisations displayed here. But the person who steals the show for me, is another Chicago native. Good ole Jack DeJohnette once again kills it in support of the soloists. He elevates, bouys, and pushes the songs to another level. Man... I wished I could see him live more often, but he seldom comes to LA. (he does make an almost annual showing with the Standards trio with Keith Jarrett. But I prefer DeJohnette outside that trio).
So buy it for the altoists, the grooves of Jack... and play it again and again and... Good times...
This is adventurous music. I love the romping forward looking improvisations displayed here. But the person who steals the show for me, is another Chicago native. Good ole Jack DeJohnette once again kills it in support of the soloists. He elevates, bouys, and pushes the songs to another level. Man... I wished I could see him live more often, but he seldom comes to LA. (he does make an almost annual showing with the Standards trio with Keith Jarrett. But I prefer DeJohnette outside that trio).
So buy it for the altoists, the grooves of Jack... and play it again and again and... Good times...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Buy!
One of the best jazz recordings of the year! Great energy all around. I saw them in concert and it was great too. Read more
Published on May 20, 2011 by Mike M
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of 2010's Best
Great interplay between Mahanthappa and Green, stellar rhythm section performances (this is another great album featuring Jason Moran), and a varied and pretty memorable set of... Read more
Published on February 9, 2011 by steve
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Little Random for Me
Very random stuff; lots of jamming with seemingly little direction. Almost returned it but am trying to appreciate it. Good sonics.
Update: I gave it away.
Update: I gave it away.
Published on December 5, 2010 by Dr. R. Lookatch
