For You Lot Chris Potter - 1997 Unspoken

Twenty-seven twelvemonth old reed homo Chris Potter made a big splash on his 1992 debut equally a leader for Criss Cross. He showed remarkable hope non exclusively inwards tenor sax work, only besides on alto, soprano, bass clarinet as well as alto flute. On this 1 he sticks to tenor as well as soprano, only his playing is no less fluent as well as capable. An all-star lineup joins the sometime Steely Dan as well as Joe Henderson sideman for this date: John Scofield on guitar, Dave Kingdom of the Netherlands on bass, as well as Jack DeJohnette on drums. All iv are inwards top shape for this album, which manages to hold out warm, smooth, inviting, as well as adventurous all inwards 1 package.
Potter shows that he's been doing his homework. "Wistful," the opening track, veers perilously around Coltrane Imitator Wasteland, only Potter skirts the border of homage without lapsing into slavish regurgitation. "Hieroglyph" recalls Coltrane on soprano, consummate amongst a tasty proto-world music ostinato from Holland, only again, Potter's playing is fresh as well as involving. "Seven Eleven," on the other hand, makes you lot wonder if Chris was excavation into his Ornette collection. Then "Amsterdam Blues" starts amongst an unaccompanied tenor of such lineament that I became certain I'd honor some of the industrial plant of Mr. Sonny Rollins over at Chris's house. Still as well as all, Potter is a run instrumentalist of enormous talent who is already far along inwards synthesizing these as well as other influences. This is a fine album, only I'll bet I'll similar his liberate of 2007 fifty-fifty better.
The highlight hither is "Et Tu, Brute?", the album's well-nigh striking track. Scofield contributes some scalding guitar licks to a rhythmically complex workout requiring some careful listening yesteryear the quartet. Of course, these guys are old hands, as well as they come upwards through. With no loss of energy, the lovely championship runway follows, featuring some tasty arco yesteryear Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as passionate playing yesteryear everyone. "Time Zone" is equally far out equally this 1 gets, amongst some remarkable variations of mood as well as tempo a complimentary department of keen vigor. Potter is clearly the star here, proving he's worthy of the companionship he keeps.
The legendary trumpeter Red Rodney loved this "kid:" "This nipper is just what I similar to hear inwards a kid. He sucked upwards everything similar a sponge, only his audio is original; his joint is unlike from anybody; his harmonic noesis is profound." Red was right. The nipper has a keen tone, keen chops, as well as yesteryear the way, he wrote all the tunes. While this is relatively mutual these days, Potter's tunes present a wealth of proficient sense, imagination, as well as care. He's paid attending to architectonics, as well as it shows.
Unspoken is a venture album from starting fourth dimension to finish. The sidemen are top-notch throughout, as well as the leader doesn't disappoint. I'll hold out interested to cheque out Chris Potter's time to come work.

Working amongst drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Dave Holland, as well as guitarist John Scofield, saxophonist Chris Potter recorded his well-nigh adventurous tape to appointment amongst Unspoken. Although his powerhouse musical rhythm department sometimes overwhelms him, Potter flexes to a greater extent than creative musculus throughout Unspoken, resulting inwards an engaging, oft provocative listen.

 Tracklist

1     Wistful     7:45
ii     Seven Eleven     9:08
iii     Hieroglyph     6:00
4     Amsterdam Blues     7:50
v     Et Tu, Bruté?     7:12
half-dozen     Unspoken     5:41
7     No Cigar     5:18
8     Time Zone     8:55
ix     New Vision     7:11

Personnel:

Chris Potter     Composer, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Jack DeJohnette Drums
Dave Kingdom of the Netherlands     Bass
John Scofield     Guitar