Both Ted Nash and Tom Harrell have explored the "double quartet" concept. Now we can add to the list Greg Osby, whose music sounds nothing at all like theirs. Supplementing his working quartet (Jason Moran, Scott Colley, Marlon Browden) with a string quartet, Osby heightens the dark, austere quality of his harmonies. This results in some of the most moving music of Osby’s career. On the whole, it’s more striking and focused than last year’s Invisible Hand. It also features some of Jason Moran’s best playing on record.
Wisely, Osby doesn’t run the strings concept into the ground: Andrew Hill’s "Golden Sunset" is a sax/piano duo, as is the closing "Minstrale Again (The Barefoot Tapdance)." Strings appear only at the beginning of "One Room." And "Wild Is the Wind," the old Johnny Mathis hit, is performed without strings or drums. The sound of the album never gets old. Osby’s originals are strong, particularly "Northbound," which features his most inspired horn playing on the date. Other highlights include Moran’s "Repay In Kind" and Masabumi Kikuchi’s "M." - David Adler
Tracks
01. 3 For Civility (Greg Osby)
02. Repay In Kind (Jason Moran)
03. "M" (Masabumi Kicuchi)
04. The Keep (Greg Osby)
05. Golden Sunset (Andrew Hill)
06. This Is Bliss (Greg Osby)
07. One Room (Greg Osby)
08. NorthBound (Greg Osby)
09. Wild Is The Wind (Dimitri Tiomkin/Ned Washington)
10. Social Order (Greg Osby)
11. Minístrale Again (The Barefoot Tap Dance) (Greg Osby)
GREG OSBY alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
SCOTT COLLEY bass
NIOKA WORKMAN cello
JUDITH INSELL-STACK viola
CHRISTIAN HOWES violin
MARLENE RICE-SHAW violin
JASON MORAN piano
MARLON BROWDEN drums, percussion
Recorded January 28 & 29, 2001 at System Two, Brooklyn, NY
Blue Note - 7243 5 31395 2 0