Customer Reviews

Kevorkian Suite: Very Still Life

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this cd in the storage room of the music store I worked at a few years ago, I bought it first as a joke, but after I got the nerve to open it I was surprised. It's really good. Jack Kevorkian is not known for his music or his paintings, but he should be. The album moves very smoothly, light and up lifting with the exception of the last track. Playing the flute and organ with this quintet, he shows his human side, which is mostly over looked by his public veiws on..... you know. The final track 'Une Lettre de Jean' is very dark, reminds me of funeral music. This cd was limited to a pressing of 5000, I am the owner of #4510, and would recommend this cd to any jazz fan. It is almost always available on [internet store]... Don't be afraid to add this overlooked gem to you collection.

I saw an advertisement for this album in a '97 Jazz Times. I was intrigued by the concept and purchased a copy to check it out. Wow! This is really good! The flavor is mildly remeniscent of Morphine. This has been in heavy rotation in my CD player at home for weeks and I also burnt a copy for my car. I have copy # 2590 of 5000. FREE KEVORKIAN !

The music which Dr. Kevorkian composed for this album called for a small jazz combo, and included lilting melodies alongside moderate swing time tracks. I'm no jazz aficionado, but these are certainly valid jazz compositions (i.e. not "smooth jazz"). My personal favorite is track 5, "August to Amber".

The album is very relaxing, overshadowed only by Dr. Kevorkian's preceding reputation and his somewhat creepy foreword making reference to his place in the medical subculture of euthanasia. ("The prosecutors would be justified in coming after me if I dared to compare my musical efforts with any of these men [whose compositions I idolize].") If I were to give this album to a friend, I would simply lose the liner notes and claim ignorance as to who the artist was.

What HASN'T Jack Kevorkian done? Aside from the euthanasia advocacy, he has done a lot of remarkable things. He built a water bike, made a feature film, did some great paintings, and even made a jazz CD! This music is fun, vibrant, and interesting. My favorite is the eerie "Whispering Came Violets" which sounds like something that belongs in a graveyard dance scene in a Tim Burton movie. My second favorite is "August to Amber," which has a bit of a mysterious quality to it. Kevorkian saying "Very good" in the background adds an interesting touch. My third favorite is "Back at Abby's." And, of course, the other songs are great too, each having their own unique quality.

I really think a large range of folks would love to hear this album. I love everything about Jack Kevorkian, But I hope he takes time to make more music,and do more paintings,he has made a real contribution to human culture.

Okay, finally got a chance to listen to this record. I didn't even know that Kevorkian played music until I heard him interviewed on the Ron and Fez Show and Ron asked the good doctor when his next jazz album was coming out. I looked it up and sure enough he released this limited edition album. The reviews mentioned that he played jazz flute and organ.

After listening to the CD, I've got to say that it doesn't really have much going for it other than Kevorkian's cache. The other musicians are solid and lay down some decent acid jazz/mood jazz type tracks, but nothing is really outstanding. Not bad for background music at a party but nothing to get your foot tapping and not a lot of passion and fire. This ain't an Art Blakey live album with Lee Morgan that we are talking about.

Now for some words about Dr. K. He may have written the songs here and they are interesting and well arranged, but he doesn't really play that much on the record. The first few tracks he plays maybe one chorus while the sax takes about or 7 and piano takes a few. It is almost like he's doing a cameo on Friends. There is one track towards the end where the sax lays out and Kevorkian blows for the whole track and there are some interludes where he plays a baroque type prelude and a fugue solo but overdubbing himself a few times to get a few voices going on.

How does Kevorkian play? First off, forget the bit about jazz organ. The only organ track is an after thought buried after the last track on the album and on that track he is playing a church organ and playing what sounds like church music from the early 1600's not anything like gospel organ or anything resembling jazz organ. I was expecting something like Brother Jack McDuff, instead I get a slow dirge type tune.

As for flute, he is okay. He has a good tone and improvises slowly, not a lot of chops, and sounds okay overall but this guy does not cook. He isn't Rashann Roland Kirk, Herbie Mann, Yusef Lateef or James Moody. Honestly, he sounds like a decent amateur who surrounded himself with good local musicians.

In summary, the album doesn't stink and the tunes are good, but Kevorkian's playing won't blow you away. The arrangements are good and if he arranged it as well as wrote the tunes then he gets kudos. But even though the other players are good, the album is dull and lifeless.

I got a copy of this CD at a college radio station's annual "housecleaning" sale about 1998, and have listened to it several times over the years. Some of the tracks are quite good, others not so much. On the back of the jewel case, it is described as "acid jazz," for whatever that's worth. (As another reviewer noted, some tracks are similar to music by the group Morphine.)

There are 12 tracks listed, but there's also a "hidden" 13th track that starts about one minute after track 12 ends. It is an organ piece, about four minutes long, and quite different from the 12 listed tracks. Not a great disc, by any means, but if you like moody jazz, it's worth a listen.