Cry

Scott Amendola | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 25, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cryptogramophone
• ASIN: B00007KS9T
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,852 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars new creative music, October 23, 2004

By 

westcoastdrummer27 (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cry (Audio CD)

After reading the 2 star review below, I had to write one in response. Cry is definitely one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Scott's writing style and arranging is very unique. This might spur from the fact that he is a drummer and that he comes from so many influences. His writing is often very melodic, but still complex. I can hear jazz, folk, african, funk, spirituals, fusion, avant-garde, and middle eastern musical influences in his tunes, but his sound is never trite. The ensemble, consisting of violin, sax, guitar, bass, and drums, blends these influences together, and respond to each other to create unique and beautiful melodies and textures.

The album starts with a traditional hymn played freely on the violin over eerie guitar loops and free, textural and colorful drumming. The second tune is an energetic African inspired piece.

The third track, A Cry for John Brown might be the most impressive on the CD. It's a modern funky/fusiony piece built around a simple 3 phrase melody that is stated several times, but in different contexts. After the theme is stated freely, a decieving hypnotic groove develops. Eric Crystal takes an imaginitive solo showcasing the groups ability to interact ubelievably. Nels Cline's guitar solo builds, twists, and turns over onto itself until in boils over in chaos and they return to the melody. Following a rumbling drum solo, they finish conclude the song with an ultra melodic violin solo from Jenny Scheinmann.

The next tune, Whisper, Scream, is an avant piece, well described by the title. It definitely takes some listening to get used to. Track 5, My Son the Wanderer, has an ambiguously middle eastern melody, with hand drumming on the set. At the end of the piece, Nels' guitar work fuzzes out and distorts, creating a druggy loop that fades out.

Bob Dylan's Masters of War is an inspired choice with a scathing interpretation by guest-vocalist, Carla Bozulich. She gives the song new meaning, especially in these times. The album closes with Rosa, dedicated to Rosa Parks, a quiet, acoustic piece, showcasing Nels' guitar work.

The players in his band are talented and are some of the best musicians in their areas. They constantly listen to each other and react to their playing. A Cry for John Brown, Bantu, Masters of War and Rosa are all inspired by incredibly important historical and political figures, and his music definitely reflects this spiritual part of his playing. This album has been very inspirational for me and I highly recommend it.

Also, to the reviewer who claimed Scott didn't write music for his project Crater, he was only partly right. Crater plays completely improvised music, there are no predetermined songs and each member of the group plays a role in determining where the music will go.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, June 4, 2006

By 

A. Burdick (Santa Barbara, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cry (Audio CD)

This album is simply incredible. The opening track is hauntingly beautiful, Bantu is terrific, and A Cry for John Brown is mind blowing. Nels' solo gives me goosebumps even after the 20th listen. Nels is one of the most brilliant and intense players around today and it's great to hear him with one of today's greatest drummers and the always delightful (and thankfully more exciting than in her solo efforts) Jenny Scheinman.

2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Masters" is so close, September 18, 2004

By 

Pharoah S. Wail (Inner Space) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cry (Audio CD)

I've had this disc for a while now and never been sure how to review it. The vast majority of it is not very good at all, but part of Masters of War (with brilliant guest vocalist Carla Bozulich) is a masterpiece that needs to be heard.

The band is Amendola (drums/percussion), Jenny Scheinman (violin), Nels Cline (acoustic & electric guitars), Todd Sickafoose (bass), and Eric Crystal (saxophones). To put it gently, I cannot stand Eric Crystal. I don't know where they found him but they should return him and demand a refund. He has nothing to say. His tone(s) is lifeless and when he switches to soprano it is even worse. Evan Parker and/or Sam Rivers he isn't... to put it very politely.

I've come to the conclusion that it's probably not Amendola who composes the tunes for another band some of these guys are in, Crater. I say this because Crater is great and has some great springboards for improvisation in their repertoire, but most of the tunes on Cry range from bland to plain old bad. To be fair, there are some nice moments. Nels' solo on John Brown. Parts of My Son the Wanderer. Nothing earth shattering or so gorgeous that you need to run out and get this disc, but nice compared to the rest of the album. Keep in mind that even when something fairly good is happening, Eric always pops in to ruin it.

Then... THE MOMENT. Masters of War. I have such mixed feelings about this one that I almost can't bear it. From the opening moment all the way through to the "you ain't worth the blood that runs in your veins" line this is perfection. An epic moment and up to that point my all-time favorite version of any Dylan song. What they do to this song is beyond words. Utterly dark and furious. It's a slow-burn, building mass of pure anger that haunts me to the depth of my being. I get chills every single time I hear it. Right after the blood that runs in your veins, Nels seems on the verge of taking over and driving this song straight into the depths of hell. As it should be. As I wanted. And then !^#%T#)*$%@*&$ Eric takes over.

I can't even stand it. They were THIS close to laying down one of the greatest musical moments in recent memory. Eric Crystal had not played a single note so far during this tune, and then the arrangement changes and he takes over for a couple minutes. It kills everything. I can't think of any other musical moment in my life where tortured, enraged perfection as well as such a gigantic disappointment have occured all within the same song like this. Eric's sax finally shuts up and then we get some more near-greatness with the "Jesus would never forgive..." line, but still. At that point, "What could have been" is firmly in the realm of "What wasn't". Oh by the way, for maximum impact you need to listen to this in headphones, as it starts very quietly and builds.

I wish Masters of War would have been on the Scarnella disc, where no Eric Crystal could have ruined it. Jenny, Carla, and Nels are fantastic together on this one... until.

I've decided to sum it up like this. Cryptogramophone now has all tracks from their releases available for download as "MP3, WMA, FLAC and AAC (for your iPod)". I have a slow connection and an old computer so I never download anything, but that is where you highspeed folks should pick up the Masters of War track for yourselves. Maybe Amazon sells tracks by the download also (I never paid attention to it since I can't do it). If so, check it out. Cryptogramophone's site is www.cryptogramophone.com/