Tapestries For Small Orchestra [CD+DVD]

Bill Dixon (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: CD+DVD
• Label: Firehouse 12 Records
• ASIN: B002RWX4MA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,763 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SOME PRIME BILL DIXON--REMINISCENT OF "INTENTS AND PURPOSES", January 11, 2012

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Tapestries For Small Orchestra (Audio CD)

Two discs-56, 52 minutes each approximately. Also included is a 31 minute DVD on the making of this music. The sound is clean and open, sounding similar to the "ECM sound" but with a bit of warmth. The discs are snapped inside a quad-fold cardboard holder, along with a booklet. The booklet contains essays by Stephen Hayes on Bill Dixon's influence, and another by Taylor Ho Bynum (who plays various horns on this recording), about Dixon's large group music. There's also some color photographs of the band members, and a couple of examples of Dixon's paintings inside the fold-out holder.

This recording, from 2008, shows that Dixon has lost none of his skills as a writer of impressionistic, deep, music. The use of several horns gives Dixon room to color and explore his compositions to the fullest. The compositions are are fairly lengthy-the shortest being 9 minutes, the longer tracks 12-17 minutes. The band consists of-Dixon-trumpet/electronics, Bynum-cornet/flugelhorn/bass trumpet/piccolo trumpet, Graham Haynes-cornet/flugelhorn/electronics, Stephen Haynes-trumpet/flugelhorn, Bob Mauzurek-cornet/electronics, Glynis Lomon-violoncello, Michael Cole-contrabass/clarinet/bass clarinet, Ken Filiano-double bass/electronics, and Warren Smith-vibraphone/marimba/drums/tympani/gongs.

This is typical Dixon-open, impressionistic, sometimes dark, brooding music. But don't let the term "typical" keep you from experiencing this music. This is vital, alive, subtle, exciting, intelligent music-played by musicians who are sympathetic to Dixon's writing, arranging, and playing. The shifting colors and tones throughout these two discs is truly something special. The constant exploration, the use of electronics, the use of modal structures (among other things), gives the impression (at times) of someone speaking in tongues. In some respects (though this set is more refined) this is a continuation of his earlier music-"Intents and Purposes" (especially), and (possibly) portions of "Thoughts" and "Live in Italy". But also included are some pieces of music that have not been written down by Dixon-but they're far from free jazz. The musicians take Dixon's ideas and extrapolate that with their own ideas-and it works. In some (minor) respects Dixon reminds me of some of the things Wadada Leo Smith has done (and is doing) with both the trumpet and music.

But Dixon has matured in his writing and arranging. There's a bit more complexity, a bit more finesse in this music. Again, the players on this recording are fully half the reason that this music delivers what it sets out to do. At times some of this music (listen to "Phrygian II" for example) is reminiscent of Miles Davis' more abstract music-highly impressionistic, seemingly free form jazz. However, on closer listening, this music has a continuation of a "theme", but it also seems to inhabit it's own space in the present-the future isn't vitally important. Likewise "Allusions I" has that wide open trumpet sound, but with a modified walking bass getting equal billing. This track, too, has some relaxed lip blowing on trumpet-you'll know it when you hear it.

Listen to "Adagio-Slow Mauve Scribblings", and you'll hear some prime Dixon. The open, almost pensive horn, the slow building of sounds, all are part of who Bill Dixon is. With (seemingly) so little going on, this piece is deep and thick with feeling-like the best of Dixon's music. The droning in the background, the open, tentative bass, the buildup of sounds, the off-mouthpiece sounds from the horn(s), the weaving in and out of the instruments, the very flux of this music makes for a very visceral, yet understated, listening experience. Very evocative.

The title track has a very relaxed feel, but with more concentrated listening there seems to be some kind of shadowy, undercurrent feel that's hard to pin down. Another highlight. This composition would be especially nice to hear in person. "Durations of Permanence" is a lengthy (14+ minutes) piece that ebbs and flows with occasional quick spurts from different instruments. The feeling is akin to watching clouds gathering for an impending storm. The drama is at times intense, but it's held in check due to Dixon's fine writing.

But I think by now you're (at least beginning) to understand a bit of what Dixon's music is like. If you've read this far, you're probably a Dixon fan, so I'm probably preaching to the choir. If you like his earlier works-especially when he employs a larger group-this is something worth checking into. If you've somehow stumbled onto Dixon/this review, and want to take a step outside your jazz comfort zone, check into this (or some of his earlier works), and see if his music doesn't capture you. This set does take some effort to fully (if that's possible) assimilate, but the effort is very worthwhile. Bill Dixon/"Intents and Purposes" fans-buy with confidence. And if you don't already know, there's a recently released box set from Black Saint/Soul Note under Bill Dixon's name, with nine of his albums from the 80's and 90's-a lot of good Dixon!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music beyond the boundaries of jazz, June 26, 2011

By 

Steve Veny - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Tapestries For Small Orchestra (Audio CD)

With "Tapestries for Small Orchestra", Bill Dixon and his associates transcend the boundaries of jazz. The sound landscapes created by these skillful musicians come close to the avantgarde scene of "classical modern" masters, such as John Cage or Morton Feldman. This is deep-felt music, exploring new ways of expression and characterised by an uncompromising but humanistic vision.