STEVE LACY/ROSWELL RUDD: Early and Late
Cuneiform, 2007

Strong, previously unreleased quartet material from an adventurous soprano sax/trombone tag team that worked together on and off for 40 years. The second half of Disc 2 is from a 1962 demo session, the rest is from live sets in 1999 & 2002. Everyone gets very long solo spaces – maybe too long in spots – that allow their quirky personalities to shine. It’s offbeat, loose and a good time.

Fo’s Picks: Disc 1 – 2, 4, 5 Disc 2 – 1, 4, 6

DISC ONE:
1. 14:21 – gloopy, Dolphy-ish melodic riff and medium groove; guttural trombone takes long solo and trades off with drums
2. 14:30 – pleasantly lazy tune: lyrical sax bobs gently, inventive trombone work with lots of breath & phrasing tricks; long, relaxed bass solo
3. 11:22 – fanfare into midtempo shuffle; bluesy solos, many repeated phrases
4. 14:21 – percolating uptempo theme, speedy bass, muted solo trombone declarations, agitated sax moans & squeals, exciting drum solo
5. 08:37 – Monk tune, relaxed and swaying like a happy drunk
6. 03:59 – spinning melody, aggressive drums

DISC TWO:
1. 20:11 – African sound: complex bass intro, quick groove, proudly braying trombone, introspective sax, very cool drum solo.
2. 11:05 – Good-time Herbie Nichols tune; relaxed, playful solos all around
3. 16:01 – 3 minute bass intro, cute melody, monotone trombone, lightly bouncing sax, trombone teases, dense drum solo; poem at end!
4. 05:49 – breezy Monk tune, upbeat and appealing, happy solos
5. 06:42 – Cecil Taylor tune, easygoing with a strong rolling beat
6. 05:26 – slippery, upbeat version of Monk tune, nifty interplay
7. 05:36 – alt take of #4

[ Fo ] 25-Aug-07