Henry Threadgill: Song out of My Trees (Black Saint)
Henry Threadgill's music is ever changing. From his recordings with Air to his latest, Old Locks and Irregular Verbs, his music has never remained static. Someone once said, "He not busy being born is busy dying." Henry Threadgill has remained very much alive over the years.
Song Out of My Trees is one of my favorite Henry Threadgill recordings. I find it fascinating on many levels: the music itself is wonderful; the instrumentation is more varied than any that I could imagine - though obviously not more varied than Henry Threadgill could imagine; also, I believe that this was one of the first times on record that Mr. Threadgill didn't play on all of the tracks. His role is composer/facilitator on two, but there's no falloff with the music on them.
I'd just like to list the instrumentation on the five tracks: "Gateway" - alto sax, trumpet, guitar, acoustic bass guitar, drums (looks like a standard jazz group, but it doesn't sound like one); "Over the River Club" - three guitars, bass guitar, piano; "Grief" - alto sax, accordion, harpsichord, two cellos, voice; "Crea" - hunting horns, three guitars, bass guitar, "Song Out of My Trees" - alto sax, guitar, organ drums (what's his take on a sax plus organ trio? - give a listen and decide.)
I don't know whether this music is jazz. I just think of it as Henry Threadgill music.
I hope that those who have the record will comment on it (general thoughts, favorite cuts, favorite moments), and that some who don't have it might be moved to pick it up. There are reasonably priced copies here: https://www.amazon.com/Song-Out-Trees-Henry-Threadgill/dp/B0000010ZN/ref=sr_1_18?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1473597056&sr=1-18&keywords=henry+threadgill
and elsewhere.
Enjoy the music.