A SANCTUARY WITHIN packs some surprises. For one, hearing David Murray work with the master free jazz drummer Sunny Murray in the context of relatively traditional jazz turns out to be an absolute delight. The exotic textures added by Kahil El' Zabar are also new to Murray's canon, although Zabar's playing of the ashiko and earth drum are incorporated seamlessly into the compositions.
A SANCTUARY WITHIN, like much of Murray's work from this period, defies categorization. It combines traditional and modern elements of jazz and adds a healthy dose of African rhythms to the mix. Murray himself would argue that categorizing jazz only serves to damage the art form. One is tempted to agree with him when he suggests simply calling it music, and leaving it at that.
Tracks
1. Short And Sweet (Sunny Murray)
2. Mountain Song (Tony Overwater)
3. Return Of The Lost Tribe (Zahil El'Zabar)
4. Waltz To Heaven (Dedicated To My Aunt Helen Murray) (David Murray)
5. A Sanctuary Within - Part I (Duo) (David Murray)
6. A Sanctuary Within - Part II (Quartet) (David Murray)
7. Most Of All (Sunny Murray)
8. Song For New South Africa (David Murray)
9. Ballad For The Blackman (David Murray)
SUNNY MURRAY drums
TONY OVERWATER bass
DAVID MURRAY tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
KAHIL EL'ZABAR ashiko drum, earth drum, voice, thumb piano
Recorded 13, 14 December 1991 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy
Black Saint - 120145-2