Gwotet cover
Released

Gwo-ka is a polyrhythmic folk music, played on hand drums, originating on the islands of the Guadeloupean archipelago in the Francophone Caribbean. It dates back to the 17th century, but modern gwo-ka performers like drummer and vocalist Klod Kiavue have updated the music somewhat, adding electric bass, congas, and djembe. Gwotet is Murray’s third collaboration with Kiavue, and the music is sweeter and rougher by turns than on 1998’s Creole or 2002’s Yonn-Dé, where they first took the band name David Murray & The Gwo-Ka Masters; some pieces feature as many as eight horns, and gentle, almost highlife-esque guitar. But Murray’s solos frequently reach screaming heights of ecstasy, and when special guest Pharoah Sanders turns up on “Ouagadougou” and “Ovwa,” the energy level goes through the ceiling.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Nonaah cover

Nonaah

Roscoe Mitchell
Spiders cover

Spiders

Matt Mitchell, Tim Berne
Bright Future cover

Bright Future

Nikola Bankov
Thoughts cover

Thoughts

Bill Dixon
Unit Structures cover

Unit Structures

Cecil Taylor
Ask the Ages cover

Ask the Ages

Sonny Sharrock
Hot Rats cover

Hot Rats

Frank Zappa
Protect Your Light cover

Protect Your Light

Irreversible Entanglements
Artifacts cover

Artifacts

Mike Reed, Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid
Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2 cover

Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2

Luther Thomas, Saint Louis Creative Ensemble, Human Arts Ensemble