In Concert: Metamorphosis / The Grip cover

In Concert: Metamorphosis / The Grip

Released

Among alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe’s earliest recordings as a leader were a pair of live albums, The Grip and Metamorphosis, recorded at The Brook, a small Manhattan performance space. This CD combines both LPs. Blythe opens the show solo (“My Son Ra”) and is gradually joined by trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, tuba player Bob Stewart, cellist Abdul Wadud, drummer Steve Reid, and percussionist Muhammad Abdullah. The music is a raucous, polyphonic, acoustic funk, sometimes Ayler-esque in its howling intensity, but the tuba adds a rollicking New Orleans heartbeat.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Blues & Roots cover

Blues & Roots

Charles Mingus
Compassion cover

Compassion

Linda Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Vijay Iyer
Crumbling Brain cover

Crumbling Brain

Full Blast, Peter Brötzmann
Dance of the Evil Toys cover

Dance of the Evil Toys

Tarbaby, Oliver Lake
Sun of Goldfinger cover

Sun of Goldfinger

Ches Smith, David Torn, Tim Berne
Black Fire cover

Black Fire

Andrew Hill
Painter's Spring cover

Painter's Spring

William Parker
Amaryllis cover

Amaryllis

Mary Halvorson
The Source cover

The Source

Tony Allen
Hero Trio cover

Hero Trio

Rudresh Mahanthappa
Urban Bushmen cover

Urban Bushmen

Art Ensemble of Chicago