Surrendered

David S. Ware | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 23, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004TB82
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Peace Celestial

2. Sweet Georgia Bright

3. Theme of Ages

4. Surrendered

5. Glorified Calypso

6. African Drums

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For his second album on Columbia (following Go See the World), saxophonist David S. Ware has continued moving from the Herculean pyrotechnics that have been his stock-in-trade for three decades to a more melodic sound. The saxophonist still continues the work of John Coltrane's last phase, but he has found the same balance of freewheeling energy and arching melody that Charles Lloyd and Andrew Hill have. Within this new musical space, the leader and his talented quartet easily move from slow, impressionistic "Peace Celestial" to the rollicking title track to the urgent "Glorified Calypso" with offhand ease. Of particular note for the band is the stunning "African Drums," the 17-minute closing tune that continually turns a simple melody inside out in much the same way that Coltrane and Co. did with "My Favorite Things." David S. Ware has reinvented himself on Surrendered, not because he needed to, but because an artist has to continually do so. And there is no doubt that this is indeed art. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the same ol' thing, May 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Surrendered (Audio CD)

I have been listening to this cd constantly for two days trying to decide if its great or not. I may have to revise my rating someday, but for now I think this may be Ware's best (Flight of i is my favorite previous cd). I have usually felt that matthew Shipp wan't a good fit with Ware, that his dense style did not mesh with Ware, like say Parker's Bass does. On Surrendered, Shipp tones down the attack enough to provide more counterpoint instead of just color sounding more like McCoy Tyner than Alice Coltrane in Trane's mid-sixties group, though that it is not a fair to any of them to compare like that. I think the reason I've been listening to this so much is the fact that it doesn't sound like anything I'm familiar with yet it feels right.

Another criticism I've had of Ware in the past is the sameness of many of his cds both in composition and recording quality. This seems to have much more variety. Each time I play it, it seems to be over very quickly (Dao seems like it lasts for hours sometimes).

All in all, a very fine cd. I'd by just about anything with William Parker anyway.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ware makes his own way., January 24, 2002

By 

Douglas Groothuis "Douglas Groothuis" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Surrendered (Audio CD)

David Ware plays a deep, fast, unique horn. Tonality is key to his technique, but he is not painfully bizarre--as was Pharaoh Sanders most of the time when he nearly ruined the latter Coltrane group (except when he played alto on "Live in Japan"). Ware's music is sometimes jarring, but bright with innovation. "Surrendered" is more approachable and less "outside" than, say, "Go See the World," which I also like. There is more song structure than in other "outside" jazz. Ware's fellow musicians fit well with his sensibilities, especially his pianist, Matthew Shipp, who can hold his own with Ware's ecstatic flights into the unknown. The last piece sounds a bit like "My Favorite Things," and swings in 3/4 time.

This is not one of my most-played discs, but it is just right for some moods. Ware has a voice of his own, to be sure.

--Douglas Groothuis

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a calmer set for a tenor terror, June 15, 2000

By 

p dizzle "p dizzle" (augusta, georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surrendered (Audio CD)

mr. ware has been at the front of the free jazz scene for several years now, playing highly charged, blistering jazz. this album finds the heat turned down a little as mr. ware explores music reminiscent of john coltrane's 'love supreme' and pharaoh sanders' 'karma.' "peace celestial," the opening track, sets the tone immediately as the band repeats a phrase to build an atmosphere, then the soloists play back and forth over the original phrase, raising the musical tension. it grabs the listener, focuses them, and quickly eight minutes is over. "sweet georgia bright" is a nice nod to charles lloyd, featuring a much shorter version than lloyd's own 18 minute+ debut on 'live in the soviet union.' the shortness centers the audience on the tune's inherent swing, revealing mr. ware's solid classic jazz chops. 'glorified calypso' shows mr. ware's controlled fury, pushing limits without boiling over. 'african drums' is an extended closer, employing the same technique as the opener by building on a central riff, painting a musical landscape, and allowing for intriguing interplay between the soloists, showing the tightness and affinity this group has garnered over the years. overall, a very satisfying free jazz session by great players.