Dawkins, Ernest/New Horizons Ensemble / Messenger, The
Album: Messenger, The   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Dawkins, Ernest/New Horizons Ensemble   Added:Jul 2006
Label:Delmark Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2006-08-13 Pull Date: 2006-10-15 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Oct 15 Sep 17 Sep 3 Aug 27 Aug 20
Airplays: 1 1 2 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. Oct 13, 2006: Memory Select
Mean Ameen
4. Aug 29, 2006: Umami Jazz Program
Mean Ameen
2. Sep 15, 2006: Memory Select
Mean Ameen
5. Aug 25, 2006: Memory Select
The Messenger
3. Sep 01, 2006: Memory Select
Toucouleur
6. Aug 22, 2006: Umami Jazz Program
Mean Ameen

Album Review
Craig Matsumoto
Reviewed 2006-08-10
Rich mix of bebop and some free jazz, with deep roots in the tradition. Bopping, soulful, spiritual, joyous, LOUD. Dawkins is a gem of the Chicago scene, carrying on and extending the traditions set down by the likes of Coltrane and Art Blakey. And the solos really cook, too. We've got some of these tracks on other Dawkins CDs, but the energy of live performance turns them into something entirely new.

Live album recorded at Fred Anderson's old Velvet Lounge, which as of this writing is in transition (its old South-Side Chicago location was torn down, and the club is awaiting a chance to open in a new, nearby spot).

1- Squeaky rustling, a 48-second intro
2- Fast bebop over rolling bass/drums. Hard-digging sax solo.
3- Mid/fast straight bop with blues changes; nice '50s Trane feel
4- A blues, with vocals. Slow and celebratory. Not the strongest voice, but it's earnest and soulful.
5- Calmly crazy theme, into fast rolling solos
6- Slowish; ceremonial feel. Then faster, for a crisp trumpet solo
7- Happy and swingy; gets into a New Orleans style group solo. Opens w/stage banter; ends with band intro.

Track Listing
1. Intro   4. Goin' Downtown Blues
2. Mean Ameen   5. Toucouleur
3. The Messenger   6. The Brood
  7. Lookin' For Ninny