Flight Path [Import, Original recording remastered]

Sphere (Jazz) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 5, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Warner Bros UK
• ASIN: B000056OZG
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,542 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. If I Should Lose You

2. Pumpkins Delight

3. Played Twice

4. El Sueno

5. Christina (Dedicated To Buster Williams Neice)

6. Flight Path

Editorial Reviews

Remastered from original analogue tapes. Spinning with dynamic energy, Sphere's second album from 1984 showcases four brilliant originals by the members of the quartet itself.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rediscovering a tenor sax master, Charlie Rouse, March 10, 2002

By 

JEAN-MARIE JUIF (BESANCON France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flight Path (Audio CD)

"Sphere".The name of this groups refers to the great Thelonious Sphere Monk.Two of the musicians of this quartet happened to be Monk's musicians for many years: tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse (1924-1988) and drummer Ben Riley.The great Kenny Barron on piano and Buster Williams on bass complete the group.Sphere was created at the beginning of 1982,and the first record of the group,"four in one",also produced by Elektra Musician,was incredibly recorded on February 17,1982;it was entirely dedicated to Monk's music,and on the same day,Thelonious Monk died.This is the second record of the quartet,and 19 years have passed since this session appeared on LP.Jazz lovers have to be patient.On this record,the quartet plays a magnificent version of a seldom played standard,"if I should lose you" (remember Hank Mobley's version on his "soul station" Blue Note album ?)."Pumpkin's delight" is a Charlie Rouse original."Played twice" is a terrific composition by Thelonious Monk,a very difficult piece."Christina" is a beautiful ballad by Buster Williams,dedicated to his niece.Finally,"El sueno" and "flight path" are Kenny Barron's works.Ben Riley's drumming is close to perfection all through the session.And Rouse,definitely,is one of the most original tenor sax players of all times.This is truly one of the very great records of the eighties,and if you like Monk's universe,you'll be at home listening to this music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The coolest, July 6, 2001

By 

D. Levy (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flight Path (Audio CD)

This album is one of my all-time favorite jazz records, and it's never had a U.S. release on CD. Just this year this disc and the also-excellent first Sphere album "Four in One" were relased in Europe.

Both albums are fitting tributes to Monk, with the great Kenny Barron sitting in his spot and joining two longtime Monk alums, Charlie Rouse and Ben Riley, with Buster Williams on bass.

The albums are full of marvelous music and are spectacularly well-recorded. If you're a vinyl user, seek out these records in that format...otherwise, enjoy these CDs!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Jazz Album You've Never Heard Of, November 23, 2007

By 

David B. Coe "author" (Sewanee, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flight Path (Audio CD)

This a fantastic album that has never received the attention or acclaim it deserved. There's nothing fancy about it, none of the musicians is a superstar. But if you like traditional, straight ahead, no nonsense jazz, this is the album for you. From the haunting opening notes of the first cut ("If I Should Lose You") to the hard bop feel of Charlie Rouse's "Pumpkin's Delight" and Kenny Barron's "Flight Path", to the gentle lyricism of Buster Williams' "Christina", there's something for every jazz fan on this disc. The price is high, because it's currently available only as an import, but it's worth the cost.