Gwotet

David Murray | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Justin Time Records
• ASIN: B000255L4I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,660 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, and the Gwo-Ka Masters . . ., July 7, 2004

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gwotet (Audio CD)

. . . a very potent brew.

And one that lodges in the back of your brain like a musical burr of the most tenacious, albeit felicitous, sort.

What we've got here is one of David Murray's wild musical experiments--bringing together the reigning maestro of jazz tenor sax (Pharoah Sanders) with the mesmerizing ka drums of Klod Kiavue, the killer rhythm section of Jaribu Shahid and Hamid Drake, and some absolutely stunning Caribbean brass players and singers. The result must be heard to be believed.

Look, these things, which sound so natural if pulled off, don't always work. It was a risk--although understandable--to bring Pharoah Sanders, the man possessing the most distinct, glorious, and immediately recognizable tone in the history of the tenor sax, on board. He fits in so easily, it's almost as if this were the music for which he has perfected his astounding technique and tone. His entire performance on the opening number, but especially his mesmeric, declamatory, riveting solo, defies belief. David Murray follows with what I believe is one of his finest solo efforts ever recorded, seemingly driven to greater heights by the master, Sanders, but still falling far short of the latter's genius. Although Sanders plays on only three numbers, he's featured on the three longest ones and therefore is on board for about half the time. I, for one, am simply flabbergasted by Sanders's sound and concept whenever I hear him. One thing he does is prove that diligence in sticking to one thing can sometimes result in rewards and achievements beyond imagining.

Also on display here and throughout the disc is the enthralling guitar work of Christian Laviso, who brings that get-under-your-skin West African guitar thing fully to the fore with simply jaw-dropping technique, all in the service to musicality of the highest order (check out his intro to "O'leonso" and his mind-boggling solo on "Ouagadougou").

Murray, himself, seems even more energized (and with David Murray, we're talking about one of the highest-energy players in the history of jazz) than usual. Which, strangely, almost uncannily, fits these proceedings perfectly, what with their off-the-scale-although-perfectly-apposite muscular workouts. Even though, to these ears, he's only the third-most vibrant player, Murray's genius in conceptualizing this project, the coming-to-fruition of numerous forays into similar territory, bespeaks a savvy and humility that, oddly, makes him the overall greatest presence on this remarkable disc.

The last shall be first.

David Murray at the absolute top of his game, with the inimitable Pharoah Sanders on board, in the middle of an enthralling gumbo of world-jazz ethnicity: Not to be missed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MODERNIST MUSIC THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND INFECTIOUS, October 21, 2010

By 

David Keymer "David Keymer" (Modesto CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gwotet (Audio CD)

David Murray. Gwotet. Justin Time, 2004.

DM, ten sax & bss clari; Pharaoh Sanders, ten sax (on 3 cuts); Klod Kiavue, ka dr, voc; Christian Laviso, guit, voc; Herve' Sambe, guit; Francois Ladrezeau, boula dr, voc; Jaribu Shahid, b; Hamid Drake, dr; Alexander Brown, Carlos Sonduy Dimet, Elpidio Chappotin Delgado, trpt; Leonardo Alarcon, tbn; Angel Ballister Veliz, alto sx, flt; Moises Marquez Leyva, bari sx

Gwotet, which celebrates master musician David Murray's love affair with Caribbean music, unites Murray with Pharaoh Sanders, one of the fieriest, best and most recognizable sax players coming out of the modernist ferment of the 1960s and 70s, backed by a first class band and a rhythm section augmented by two exciting Caribbean drummers and two guitars.

I've always admired Murray. As a soloist, he can't be beat. His impassioned solos are modernist and mainstream at the same time and he always plays with fire and soul and sure melodic, tonal and rhythmic sense. In addition, he is a good composer and he writes great band charts -as he showed with his charts for his gospel album with Fontella Bass, Speaking in Tongues, and a great big band album (also with mostly Cuban musicians [plus Hugh Raglin and Hamiett Bluiett]), Now Is the Time.

On Gwotet, he has taken a Caribbean rhythm section led by Klod Kiavue on ka drums and augmented it with Hamid Drake on drums, than whom there is no one better as a drummer, two guitarists, and Jaribu Shahid on bass, plus a six-piece horn section (three trumpets, a trombone, two saxes). On three out of eight cuts, Pharaoh Sanders joins in on tenor sax -and he's in very good voice! The cover lists Murray as playing only tenor sax but on the third and seventh cuts on the album, Murray solos on bass clarinet as well. On the third cut, "Ougadougou," he is followed by band and drums in an exciting ensemble; then Pharaoh enters, solos and is joined by Murray on tenor, both improvising polyphonically, with Pharaoh in the lead and Murray supporting. The playing throughout is strong, with eloquent solos from Murray and Sanders and one of the guitarists (I don't know which but I want to hear him again).

The album is both modernist and immediately accessible. You could dance to most of the music on this album! The beat is insistent: it varies enough to avoid monotony as it builds up the excitement. The horn section is excellent and the soloists first rate. What's not to like here?

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Percolating, March 15, 2011

By 

audiofreak "sweetmusic" (Portland Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gwotet (Audio CD)

One of the most virtuostic and energetic CD's you'll ever here. Epitomizes "crossover". Every cut just screeches. I don't know who wouldn't appreciate such a fine work no matter where one's coming from on the musical spectrum.