Blueprints Of Jazz: Vol. 2
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2009-02-13
Reviewed 2009-02-13
BILLY HARPER: Blueprints of Jazz, Vol. 2
Talking House, 2008
MODERN JAZZ - This muscular Coltrane-school postbop & poetry set proves that saxophonist Billy Harper remains a powerful creative force. The music has a retro-but-edgy “black consciousness” feel, with unpolished rhythms and intonation just outside the comfort zone of mainstream jazz. And Amiri Baraka’s jazz history poems fit perfectly.
* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
1. 16:43 – awkward theme turns heavy & passionate with a great Amiri Baraka poem about black history (music based on two Coltrane tunes)
2. 9:06 – DEEP jazz history poem over a lopsided yet soulful stride... whew!
3. 4:33 – thumping midtempo, simple but compelling theme & killer drums
4. 5:37 – soulful ballad: sax/piano duet, adds wordless vox & synth
5. 5:15 – thoughtful midtempo: direct horn statements & gospel-tinged piano
6. 7:46 – plodding theme, but sax & trumpet solos have fire in the belly
7. 4:04 – Harper sings! Right outta the church, includes overdub duet w/sax
8. 12:27 – it’s all in here: sturdy theme, fiery horns, heavy chords, spirit & soul
9. 6:15 – perky hardbop and another spoken-word lesson in jazz prehistory
[ Fo ] 02/13/09
Talking House, 2008
MODERN JAZZ - This muscular Coltrane-school postbop & poetry set proves that saxophonist Billy Harper remains a powerful creative force. The music has a retro-but-edgy “black consciousness” feel, with unpolished rhythms and intonation just outside the comfort zone of mainstream jazz. And Amiri Baraka’s jazz history poems fit perfectly.
* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9
1. 16:43 – awkward theme turns heavy & passionate with a great Amiri Baraka poem about black history (music based on two Coltrane tunes)
2. 9:06 – DEEP jazz history poem over a lopsided yet soulful stride... whew!
3. 4:33 – thumping midtempo, simple but compelling theme & killer drums
4. 5:37 – soulful ballad: sax/piano duet, adds wordless vox & synth
5. 5:15 – thoughtful midtempo: direct horn statements & gospel-tinged piano
6. 7:46 – plodding theme, but sax & trumpet solos have fire in the belly
7. 4:04 – Harper sings! Right outta the church, includes overdub duet w/sax
8. 12:27 – it’s all in here: sturdy theme, fiery horns, heavy chords, spirit & soul
9. 6:15 – perky hardbop and another spoken-word lesson in jazz prehistory
[ Fo ] 02/13/09
Recent airplay
Knowledge Of Self
No Cover, No Minimum: Saturday Edition — Jul 01, 2017
Time And Time Again
Rebop — Nov 20, 2015
Knowledge Of Self
No Cover, No Minimum — Jan 10, 2014
Knowledge Of Self
No Cover, No Minimum — Jan 08, 2011
Knowledge Of Self
Music Casserole — May 22, 2010
Africa Revisited
Music for Snarking Out — Jun 19, 2009
Charting
2009-02-14 — 2009-04-18
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Apr 19 | 1 |
| Apr 12 | 2 |
| Mar 15 | 1 |
| Mar 8 | 1 |
| Mar 1 | 1 |
| Feb 22 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Africa Revisited | ||
| 2. | Knowledge Of Self | ||
| 3. | Another Kind Of Thoroughbred | ||
| 4. | Thoughts And Slow Actions | ||
| 5. | Time And Time Again | ||
| 6. | Who Here Can Judge Our Fates? | ||
| 7. | Amazing Grace | ||
| 8. | Cast The First Stone? (...If Yourself Have No Sins) | ||
| 9. | Oh... If Only |