Arthur Blythe ~ Spirits in the Field ~ Blythe Spirit

Описание: • Abdul Wadud (cello)
• Kelvyn Bell (guitar)
• Bob Steward (tuba)
• Bobby Battle (drums)
• Released in 1981

This is one of the most well-rounded Arthur Blythe records from his Columbia period. The distinctive altoist performs three passionate originals and an unlikely version of "Strike Up The Band" with a quintet also including cellist Abdul Wadud, guitarist Kelvyn Bell, Bob Stewart on tuba and drummer Bobby Battle. In addition he is featured on "Misty" with a more conventional trio (pianist John Hicks, bassist Fred Hopkins and drummer Steve McCall), plays his "Spirits In The Field" with Wadud and Stewart, and is quite effective on a reverent but swinging rendition of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" with Stewart and organist Amina Claudine Myers. One of many Columbia LP's long overdue to be reissued on CD, this is a fairly definitive Arthur Blythe recording, showing off his links to hard bop, r&b and the avant-garde. ~ Amazon.com Editorial Review


"That CBS/Sony never released this masterpiece in CD format or even iTunes is evidence of the rampant stupidity that is the norm in the music business. Corporate music industry suits who have released "classic rock" cds from the fantastic to barely noteworthy completely whiffed on jazz, America's classical music. However, if you are able to play LPs or cassettes this really is a classic. "Sister Mamie" is wonderfully lyrical and at the same time melodic with Blythe's typical use of a tuba playing bass lines as opposed to an upright contrabass. "Faceless Woman" reminded me in some ways of Ornette Coleman's standard "Lonely Woman," and "Contemplation" is equally excellent. A Gershwin tune "Strike up the Band" and a gospel classic "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" receive an all-star avante garde but swinging treatment. All and all, this should be available to us via CD and iTunes. Its not and just another reason that the current collapse of the music industry is well deserved.

Along with David Murray, and a handful of others, Arthur Blythe was poised to be the next great saxophone legend in the early 1980s and this release was the last straight ahead work completed for CBS. He went on to some decent "smooth jazz-like"' efforts for CBS, most notable the mid 1980's "Put Sunshine in It" but never seemed able to get the kind of support that was garnered by the equally deserving artists who were part of the "neo-classisists" movement such as CBS/Sony, Dr. George Butler darlings Wynton Marsalis, Blanchard-Harris, Branford Marsalis and others. It goes without saying that the mid-late 80s and early 90s were dominated by "smooth jazz" folks (Kenny G, Boney James, David Benoit, Spyro Gyra, David Koz) moving Blythe and other serious musicians to the underground. Don't get me started on how much I dislike most McDonald-lized smooth jazz on stylistic and symbolic grounds much less what it has done to the public's perception of what jazz should/could sound like.

Lets hope that a Japanese or European company buys the masters from Sony in the way that Rhino has from Warner Brother and other companies so that this gem is available for the world to enjoy, that it is not available now is truly a tragedy!" ~ Dr. Michael J. Smith