David Murray - The Complete Remastered Recordings Vol.3

This is the third volume of Murray's music in this series. As usual the discs slip inside thin cardboard repros of the original album covers and everything fits inside a thick cardboard clam shell box. You'll need a magnifying glass to read some of the liner notes. Murray's perhaps best known as a member of the World Saxophone Quartet (WSQ) who also have a box set in this series which is well worth hearing. If you're reading this you're probably familiar with Murray's sound on the tenor sax and bass clarinet--a combination of old line bebop, straight ahead swing, and free jazz--sometimes in a singular style or combining different styles into one. But his playing was never far from the blues no matter what style he played."Interboogieology" ('78) has Murray playing "outside" with Butch Morris-cornet, Johnny Dyani-bass, and Oliver Johnson drums on four long-ish tracks. Also here is Marta Contreras-wordless vocals, whose heard on "Nanthini's Shadow" and the title track. Both Murray and Morris get a chance to show their blowing skills, especially Morris, who is an intelligent player and arranger. The duet of Murray and Dyani ("Home") is a nice high point with both musicians constructing a good sounding, free flowing improvisation that keeps your attention. Contreras does a good job, but (for me) I prefer hearing the band without her--to each his own here.The two live albums ('84) from Sweet Basil ("Vol. 1/Vol. 2") feature Murray's big band expanded into an exciting sound. With a number of players like Olu Dara-cornet, Baikida Carroll-trumpet, Steve Coleman-soprano sax, plus the fine free bassist Fred Hopkins, and the great timekeeper Billy Higgins on drums, this is some pretty great live stuff by and large. With so many horns there's plenty of fine blowing on both volumes. Butch Morris is along to conduct the band which helps focus everything as it should be."Children" ('84) is a small group album of four tracks that includes Murray and James "Blood" Ulmer-guitar, along with the great Don Pullen on piano, Marvin Smith-drums, and Lonnie Plaxico-bass. But Murray sometimes sounds just a bit uncomfortable here--not meshing completely with the group on these impressionistic pieces. But don't dismiss this album because there's some good things to be heard here."The Healers" ('87) is a set of duets with Randy Weston-piano on four long-ish tunes that venture into outside territory. To my ears I've never gotten the feeling that Murray and Weston were truly simpatico in their give and take across these tunes. But (again) you may hear things differently."Southern Bells" ('87) is a chance to really hear Murray on his bass clarinet along with Alvin Batiste, John Carter, and Jimmy Hamilton all playing B-flat clarinets. This in some ways is reminiscent of Murray's work with the WSQ--this time with the clarinets weaving in and out of each other adding depth and color to the compositions. If you're into jazz clarinet Murray style this is a pretty good album.While I think some of Murray's best work was with the WSQ and on his quartet albums (especially) he's such an inventive and adventurous player (while rarely leaving the blues entirely), most any of his albums will have some good/great music. Is this the place to begin listening to Murray? No. Check out his work in smaller bands first, especially his more straight ahead playing before venturing into his more uncharted music. But for Murray fans all in all, this set, along with the previous two volumes, contain some of his better work.

I'd say these sounded better than previous issues,which I havembut not a complete collection,which I've picked up by getting all 3 boxsets,and a world apart from the LP's,which were never particularly good.I like David Murray in general,capable of playing anything from avant garde,free jazz to more straight ahead material,but if there's one standout recording of his I'd recommend,it's that of Jack de Johnette's first Special Edition disc,try that if you don't want to take a gamble on a boxset,and then you probably will want all of the Black saint/Soul Note discs too.He functions especially well in the first box,I think,the octets,just the right size little big band setting,but that's a personal opinion.These boxes are nothing fancy,just card sleeves,clamshell box,no booklets,go to Specsavers,to read the sleeve notes on the individual albums,but not a bad deal.

Reconozco que Murray es una de mis debilidades. Este es el Volumen III de sus grabaciones con Soul Note/Black Saint. Como siempre sonido perfecto resmaterizado y portadas originales. Para los que no conozcan a David Murray una excelente forma de conocerlo

il box e' abbastanza economico e contiene del materiale anche raro; spiccano i due bellissimi cd della big band. purtroppo il cd del clarinet summit e' stato rimasterizzato male, e nei momenti di note piu' acute e concitate si avvertono dei fastidiosi scratches che rendono l'ascolto ancor piu' arduo; presumo non sia un problema solo della mia copia ma generale dell'edizione - ho riscontrato una cosa simile anche in un cd del box n.2 di mal waldron.

Six disks of sometimes hard to find recordings of David Murray in various settings for €20. Priceless music at a very low price.