David Murray - Waltz Again

[GA Russell]

I got my first David Murray album the other day. As you know from the Plays For Lovers thread, I've been listening to a lot of ballads compilations lately, and this makes for a nice change of pace.

I think that I have seen David Murray's name fairly frequently here. A quick search shows that his name comes up on threads that are too long to look through for the reference. I confess that I think I often confuse him with David S. Ware.

Since I don't know anything about Murray, I thought that those of you who do might like to see a corner dedicated to him, so that you can share your knowledge and recommendations with the rest of us.

The album I got is called Waltz Again by the David Murray 4tet & Strings. It was released three weeks before Christmas on the Canadian Justin Time label, but I don't know where it was recorded. The liner notes say that it was recorded 12/02, mixed in New York 3/04, and mastered in Montreal 8/05.

The "4tet" is Murray on tenor sax, a piano, bass and Hamid Drake on drums. The string section is ten strong.

The strings dominate the music. I know very little about classical music, so you can take with a grain of salt that the string arrangements remind me of something Stravinsky would have written. All the songs were composed by Murray. There are five songs in all, including the 26 minute Pushkin Suite #1 which is made up of seven movements. The strings aren't playing the jazz; that is left up to Murray with his solos.

None of the songs or movements have hummable melodies. But the harmonies are interesting. I find that the music is too deep for repeated listenings on the same day, but I have enjoyed listening to the album once a day since I got it.

Anyway, I can recommend this if you're in the mood for something different. I enjoy it.

Does anyone have anything to say about David Murray? Any recommendations?

[kh1958]

My first experience with David Murray was around 1984 or 1985, when the Jack DeJohnette Special Edition played a one-night engagement at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth. The same group recorded Album Album on ECM, which I strongly recommend. This was a rather exciting group (also with John Purcell and Howard Johnson).

Then, a few weeks later, he returned leading his Octet, which also featured Julius Hemphill, Bakida Carroll and Craig Harris. This was another very exciting concert that I was able to hear on consecutive evenings. As far as the Octet goes, my favorite recording remains Home (Black Saint).

He has a rather large discography, but some of my favorites are Special Quartet (with McCoy Tyner), Shakill's Warrior and Shakill 2 (with Don Pullen on organ), Vertical's Currency (under Kip Hanrahan's name, with vocals by Jack Bruce), the duet recording with Randy Weston (Black Saint), the duet recording with Jon Jang, Gwotet, Live at the Village Vanguard, and Creole.

[jlhoots]

Lafayette Gilchrist is the unnamed piano player in the first post.

I believe he has a "future".

I've been hot & cold on Murray but like this new CD.

[spinlps]

Morning Song makes my Desert Island list...

I picked up the Ballad Artistry of DM w/ George Arvanatis (sp?... too lazy to check) earlier this month and have played it a ton.

I prefer the smaller group (although I'm considering an Octet small in his case) recordings to the larger Orchestra sides for the most part.

[relyles]

I am a dedicated Murray fan and own many recordings featuring him.

As someone new to Murray, you might find the discussion in this thread (both pro and con) interesting:

David Murray, general discussion

Edited January 30, 2006 by relyles

[Bright Moments]

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...hl=david+murray

[JohnS]

I'm a dedicated Murray fan too. I was a bit cool about this one when I first heard it but it's grown on me a lot since. I don't think it's an essential addition to Murray's discography but it is an interesting date, more so than some of his Gwo-Ka sets. I'd like to hear him do another string project. Presumably it was recorded in Cuba around the time of 'Now is Another Time'. Good to know that Murray is still finding new ways to perform his music. The variety of lineups he's used over the years has done a lot to keep his music interesting

Some of this music has been performed live I believe in New York and Israel, maybe elsewhere. An advertised London concert complete with Puskin texts was cancelled.

[Lazaro Vega]

That "Pushkin Suite" is happening. The rest I'm not so sure about and haven't heard enough. At the risk of raising Clementine's ire here's a review: http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0548,davis,70433,22.html

[Kalo]

I like Murray and own a fair number of his recordings. I also dig jazz with strings, especially when they're on the more astringent side, as the Stravinsky comparison makes this sound to be.

As for my own Murray recommendations, don't miss The Hill (Black Saint), a trio session with the magisterial rhythm section of Richard Davis on bass and Joe Chambers on drums and vibes.

Edited February 1, 2006 by Kalo

[GA Russell]

relyles and Bright Moments, thanks for those links!

I don't know why they didn't show up in my search, but they're what I had in mind.

[BFrank]

He has a rather large discography, but some of my favorites are Special Quartet (with McCoy Tyner), Shakill's Warrior and Shakill 2 (with Don Pullen on organ), Vertical's Currency (under Kip Hanrahan's name, with vocals by Jack Bruce), the duet recording with Randy Weston (Black Saint), the duet recording with Jon Jang, Gwotet, Live at the Village Vanguard, and Creole.

I LOVE "Vertical's Currency" and I never realized that he was on it! I also thought I was the only person on the planet who owned it.

As for "Special Quartet" and the 2 "Shakill's", those are certainly among my favorite Murrays. I always try to turn B-3 fans on to the Shakill's albums, but frequently get 'push-back' about Murray's playing. He's not usually thought of in the world of "greeze".

spinlps mentioned "Morning Song" which is very enjoyable, as well.

Finally, let me put in a plug for "Octet Plays Trane". Killer.

[ep1str0phy]

Just 'cause this thread is up:

I just purchased a copy of Wilber Morris's "Wilber Force"--and it's great. I've found Murray to be astringent in many contexts, although this characteristic has occasionally contributed to--and not diminished--the effectiveness of the group sound (e.g., WSQ). The trio on "Wilber Force," however, sounds warm--really warm--and Murray (especially) plays with such vigor, joy, and depth that it's infectious. I mean, the whole band is on (Dennis Charles is in the drum seat), but Murray really comes off like Frank Lowe Mk.II--deep, subtle, and full of love. High recs on this one--I really need to get more DM.

[Guest akanalog]

morning song is a good one-great band too!

that is one problem i have with some murray stuff-he uses ralph peterson a lot who i don't really care for. for instance "i want to talk about you" i really wish it was ed blackwell like on morning song rather than peterson.

[kh1958]

I'm generally not too wild about the recordings of the David Murray Big Band, but I did get to see the band a couple of times at the Knitting Factory, where they were playing every Monday night for awhile--I recall James Spaulding being in the band and soloing almost as much as David Murray. Craig Harris was there also. Butch Morris was conducting. Flowers for Albert and Let the Music Take You stand out in my memory. Not the most disciplined or polished large group I've ever heard, but they did stir things up and generate some excitement.

I must have been in New York on Monday nights several times in a short while, as I was going to see them a third time but ended up having to work until midnight or so, and the band stopped playing at the KF a short time thereafter.