Malinke's Dance

Marty Ehrlich | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 26, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: OmniTone
• ASIN: B00004TFC6
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,801 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Rhymes

2. The Cry of...

3. Malinke's Dance

4. Line on Love

5. Pigskin

6. Tears of Rage

7. North Star

8. Bright Remembered

9. Willy Whippoorwill Steals a Bow

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Once a student of the late, great Julius Hemphill, Marty Ehrlich has lived by his bittersweet, singing alto tone since the 1970s, when he was a mere twentysomething with unmistakable vision. Ehrlich's Traveler's Tales return on Malinke's Dance after a long hiatus, during which the quartet's leader fronted his phenomenal Dark Woods Ensemble, the Julius Hemphill Sextet (an all-sax outfit devoted to Ehrlich's venerated teacher), and many other aggregates. The quartet includes drummer Bobby Previte, acoustic bass guitarist Marc Johnson, and relative newbie Tony Malaby on tenor sax. Recorded live in December 1999, Malinke's Dance revels in Ehrlich's off-kilter melodies that show equally Romantic and avant-garde strains (particularly "Bright Remembered" and Hemphill's "Pigskin"). There's also a richness in the twining saxophones that's both strangely funky (thanks to Previte's driving rhythmic pushes on "Willy Whippoorwill Steals a Bow," "Rhymes," and "The Cry Of") and teeteringly snaky (as on the title track). The quartet's take on "Tears of Rage" (co-written by the Band's Richard Manuel and Bob Dylan) has Harris holding the melody on his acoustic bass guitar, a treat for those who love a nimble low end and/or Dylan. Ehrlich's as distinct here as anywhere, and the results are wonderful. --Andrew Bartlett

Product Description

The first release in seven years for Marty Ehrlich’s highly acclaimed ensemble. Recorded live in the Knitting Factory’s Old Office, Travelers Tales slip and slide and motor, hooking up horns, drums, and bass in ear-tingling layers of sound. Whim and whimsy fill Ehrlich’s evocative compositions, which revels in our earthy roots and celebrates our transcendent flair. With Marty Ehrlich, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Tony Malaby, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Jerome Harris, acoustic bass guitar; Bobby Previte, drums.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Living Music, December 16, 2000

By 

D. Peterson (Orem, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Malinke's Dance (Audio CD)

At first glance this album would seem to have less potential than the "usual" Ehrlich album. For one thing, it features relatively unknown tenorist Tony Malaby instead of Ehrlich's longtime tenorman Stan Strickland. Also it has Jerome Harris playing acoustic bass guitar- certainly an unusual choice. But this album reveals new facets to Ehrlich's already distinctive creative voice. The big reason to pick up this album is for Tony Malaby's solos and his interaction with Ehrlich. Their fiery solos on the title track alone are worth the price of the album. Malaby brings an enormous tone to his tenor, along with an altissimo reminiscent of Pharoah Sanders and an aggressive yet melodic conception all his own. As usual, Ehrlich comes at this with a polished intelligence, though he can rip off blisteringly intense solos like the best of them. Jerome Harris' acoustic bass guitar makes the music more riff-oriented than Ehrlich's quartet with Strickland and drummer Bobby Previte grooves, swings, and explodes like only the top percussionist of the New York scene could. Highlights for me are the incredible title track, the Middle Eastern flute-tenor blend of "The Cry Of," and a remake of Ehrlich's profoundly rootsy blues "Willy Whippoorwill." If you buy an album by this tremendous artist, you should start with his classic "Can You Hear a Motion," but any album will do.