Customer Reviews

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First, you shouldn't be looking here, as this item seems to be out of print and is only available at rip-off used prices. Go check out the RVG edition of this monumental release, one of the finest to flow from Cecil's fingers and pen. Also, ignore M.R.'s review, especially his comments about Henry Grimes' "whirring"--M.R.'s obviously not even observant enough to hear that their are two bassists present, and the great Alan Silva is playing in higher register, as he often does, while Henry augments the drummer's rhythms below. Speaking of which, and adding insult to injury, who's Cyrille Taylor?!! Of course, he means Andrew Cyrille, but such a stunning blunder demonstrates the lack of consideration and knowledge that gives customer reviews a bad rap. This album is too good to be treated with such contempt, and I can't recommend the 2004 remastering highly enough.

I listened to Conquistador! (1966) in my car this morning. Only two tracks long (three, if you count the alternate take of the second track added on the CD reissue).

The title track had me wondering--why did he pick that title? So I sort of listened with a 1492 backdrop. And I could actually see certain scenes--the conquistadors rowing up to shore and striding across the beach, a battle scene, a lenthy pursuit through the jungle, the eerie quiet of the devastation of some Indian city--while listening to the different parts of the music. I'm not usually trippy that way, but there you go. It was quite enjoyable.

Back on earth, I should mention that the music is free, but not totally out there. There are recurring motifs and certain areas where they get a sort of Latin rhythmic thing going on. The horns drop out quite a bit and leave Cecil--who has a very high-pitched clattering raindrop thing going on a lot--with the rhythm section. The drummer, Cyrille Taylor, is fantastic. The bassist, Henry Grimes, rarely plays conventionally, but usually bows his bass in this really high-pitched whirring way, sort of like an oscillator or a flanger. It started to bug me a bit. I'm not sure if with repeated listenings it will bug me more or less. After about 17 minutes, I started to think that the song had better wind down pretty darn soon, and bizarrely it did, two seconds later! So I guess it's just about the right length for me.

Track two was also good, but I didn't wander the mind gardens nearly as much.

Anyway, there is a lot of contrast on this album and it's really good if you like out there stuff. Check it out!

more accessible than unit structures, but infinitely complex and beautifully rewarding. smooth bill dixon, frenzied lyons, beautiful cyrille and fantastic bass work from the pair of grimes and silva. beautiful beautiful beautiful. don't be afraid.