Workpoints

Jazz | May 2005

Reviews

Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2005-07-30
'60s free jazz, a nicely accessible set mixing improv ideas with the compositional styles of the time. Accessible works that pack a lot of adventure and some fancy soloing by a young Kenny Wheeler and John Surman.

Disk Two combines straight jazz composing with a Bitches Brew kind of jamatmosphere, aided by electric piano.

DISK ONE
1- Sinewy mid/fast horn line; includes a bouncy bop segment and a nice vibes solo.
2- Slow, sweet, gentle. Straightahead track.
3- Dusky, midtempo riff. A great jazz brew w/abstract middle.
4- Brash start into quieter flow. Swaying '60s riff later. Really nice.
5- Slow, with elements of menace. Last half: a fast gallop.
6- Quiet start into nice lumbering jazz segments. Long drum solo.

DISK TWO
1- Bright midtempo minor key w/nearly proggy guitar early on. Great straight-jazz mini-epic.
2- Bluesy w/el piano, bright mid/fast
3- Low key psych-jazz bliss to a shuffle beat
4- Tumbling, relaxed mid/fast, lots of bass and electric piano
5- Dreamy midtempo, electric piano w/rich trumpet soloing
6- Shorter version of #3, a nice track
7- Slow and wistful, pretty
8- Bluesy free-guitar intro into midtempo blues/funk.

Recent airplay

Workpoints Part 1
Memory SelectSep 30, 2005
Workpoints [entire 49-minute suite]
Umami Jazz ProgramSep 06, 2005
Darius Part 1
Morning GlorySep 03, 2005
Deep Dark Blue Centre [excerpt]
Memory SelectAug 26, 2005
Under the Pier
Morning GloryAug 13, 2005
Deep Dark Blue Centre
Umami Jazz ProgramAug 09, 2005

Charting

2005-07-31 — 2005-10-02 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Oct 2 1
Sep 11 1
Sep 4 1
Aug 28 1
Aug 14 2
Aug 7 1

Track listing

1. Deep Dark Blue Centre
2. The Barley Mow
3. Workpoints Part 1
4. Workpoints Part 2
5. Workpoints Part 3
6. Workpoints Part 4
7. Little Ben
8. Under the Pier
9. Darius Part 1
10. Darius Part 3
11. Darius Part 4
12. Darius Part 1 Reprise
13. Clear Moon
14. Mackerel Sky