Conversations
This recording brings together two generations of the avant-garde, with the '60s John Coltrane-tutored tenor saxophonist-educator Archie Shepp teaming up with the Chicago-based Ritual Trio. Led by drummer-percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, the trio, with tenor saxophonist-pianistAri Brownand bassist Malachi Favors, provides the perfect rhythmic and harmonic canvas for Shepp's stratospheric sax flights. As to be expected, 'Trane's spirit dominates the session, as evidenced by the florid, McCoy Tyner-like passages on "Crescent" and the vibe on "Conversations 1/The Introduction," "Whenever I Think of You," and "Revelations," which features Brown's smoother lines. Brown's elliptical solos illuminate the neoboppish "Kari," while Shepp's wails on "Conversations 2/The Dialogue" fly over the rhythm section's straight-ahead groove. El'Zabar's hand-drummed, Afro-anthems with Shepp and company's blues-tinged vocals choreograph the diaspora dances of "Big Fred," for the late bassist Fred Hopkins, and "Brother Malcolm," for Malcolm X. This dates proves that the avant-garde is alive and well in founding fathers like Archie Shepp, and in disciples like the Ritual Trio.--Eugene Holley Jr.