Bassist Charlie Haden and pianist Carla Bley, two of the more eclectic and versatile people in jazz, make a great team as musical conceptualists as a they draw on a shared vision and Bley's knack for sometimes off-kilter large ensemble arranging.
It has been 37 years since Charlie Haden and Carla Bley formed the first edition of Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra at the height of the Vietnam War. This edition launched an international tour in 2004 that began with a stunning performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and was recorded in Rome three weeks later during the European tour leg.
While there are brief, cohesive solos scattered throughout the work by most, if not all of the members, it is the ensemble nature of the work that makes it special. While not every tune is an "anthem per se, each of them gets a sweeping anthemic treatment and feel. Haden and Bley each wrote one tune (the title track and "Blue Anthem respectively) and drew the other material from composers ranging from Samuel Barber and Antonin Dvorák to Bill Frisell, Ornette Coleman ("Skies of America ), Gary McFarland, and Pat Metheny, among others.
Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of Bley and Haden, it is hard not to appreciate the depth and breadth of their musicality, and how the LMO brings it all to life. If there were six stars in the ratings, this disc would deserve them. - Ken Franckling
Tracks
1. Not In Our Name (Charlie Haden)
2. This Is Not America (Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, David Bowie)
3. Blue ANthem (Carla Bley)
4. America The Beautiful - Medley
- a) America The Beautiful (Samuel August War)
- b) America The Beautiful (Gary McFarland)
- c) Lift Every Voice And Sing (James Weloon Johnson, J. Rosamono Johnson)
- d) Skies Of America (Ornette Coleman)
5. Amazing Grace (John Newton / Traditional)
6. Goin' Home - from the largo of The New World Symphony (Antonin Dvorak)
7. Throughout (Bill Frisell)
8. Adagio - from Adagio For Strings (Samuel Barber)
CHARLIE HADENbass
CARLA BLEYpiano
MICHAEL RODRIGUEZtrumpet
SENECA BLANCtrumpet
CURTIS FOWLKEStrombone
AHNEE SHARON FREEMANfrench horn
JOE DALEYtuba
MIGUEL ZENONalto saxophone
TONY MALABYtenor saxophone
CHRIS CHEEKtenor saxophone
STEVE CARDENASguitars
MATT WILSONdrums
Arranged and conducted by Carla Bley
Recorded July 19-22, 2004 at Studio Forum Music Village, Rome, Italy
Verve 80004949-02