The Dark Tree cover

The Dark Tree

Recorded
Released

Pianist Tapscott was a crucial figure in West Coast avant-garde jazz for decades, leading the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra since the 1960s. This live double disc, recorded in 1989, showcases his playing in a different context: a quartet featuring clarinetist John Carter, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Andrew Cyrille, whose precision strikes throughout and marching rhythm on “Lino’s Pad” in particular give the music a fierce intensity. Tapscott’s music had a questing quality that strove for beauty and uplift, and this is the sound of his spirit in full flower.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Grand Wazoo cover

The Grand Wazoo

The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa
Songs of Sense and Nonsense - Tell It Again cover

Songs of Sense and Nonsense - Tell It Again

Julie Andrews, Martyn Green, Moondog
Thoughts cover

Thoughts

Bill Dixon
EVOL cover

EVOL

Sonic Youth
The Music Of Wayne Shorter cover

The Music Of Wayne Shorter

Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Joy Unlimited cover

Joy Unlimited

Harry Beckett
Crazy People Music cover

Crazy People Music

Branford Marsalis
Entendre cover

Entendre

Nik Bärtsch