Customer Reviews

The World Is Not Your Home

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Probably one of the more interesting and best jazz releases of the past 2 to 3 years--despite the lack of Amazon reviews. No small praise, given the many fine releases in recent years. I use the word "mix" in my title, rather than "fusion" because, as often as not, the two key elements are kept separate in the music. This may seem strange (until you hear it), but it works wonderfully in this recording.

David Rogers (and his compatriots too, I think) apparently spent considerable time in Africa studying various musics before entering the studio. The CD includes 6 original compositions, each with distinct instrumental color, rhythmic feel, and formal structure. The set (and title track) opens with a lovely African-inspired clarinet solo, followed by some complex and colorful African percussion work, which segues into a powerful bassline and more familiar strains of modern American jazz. Gyils (African xylophones) make their first appearance in Track 3 and are sure to bring a smile to your face and may even have you dancing around the living room. Track 5 is a remarkable and gorgeous 4-part cantus firmus, with the theme played on bowed bass. The final track is a tour de force Afro-Cuban fantasia, in which pianist Craig Taborn (who seems to be showing up on a lot of good jazz recordings these days), demonstrates a history of this genre.

Rogers himself blows fine tenor sax on all 6 tracks, displaying a nice inside-outside approach. The percussion is splendid throughout, and the bass closely-miked for maximum impact. The recording and sound quality are top-notch. The significance of this recording may be at least somewhat obscured by a delay of 10 years in its release--a plethora of "African-Jazz" recordings came out in the interim. Highly recommended.