John Blum Astrogeny Quartet

John Blum Astrogeny Quartet

Eremite Records MTE-49 CD

Personnel:

Blum piano
Denis Charles drums
Antonio Grippi alto saxophone, alto-clarinet
William Parker bass

Track Listing:
  1. Simultanium (12:20)
  2. Astrongeny (15:17)
  3. Encomia (06:27)
  4. Dieci (09:03)
  5. Astrogeny Reprise (03:12)

11 February 1998, The Open Center, NYC
producer: Michael Ehlers
engineer: Alen Hadzi-Stefanov
photography: Jennifer Heller
liner notes: Ed Hazell

there are few sessions to rival this one for sheer urgency and gusto.  it's as if something pent-up in these four musicians waited for this combination of players to unleash it--the music explodes into action. pianist john blum is a secret hero of new york's free jazz community, known as a proficient & forceful improviser in the tradition of his mentors, borah bergmann & cecil taylor.  blum's performance on astrogeny is his shining moment on disc to date.  the legendary denis charles was at his best when paired with william parker; together they formed one of the great, yet under-documented, rhythm-sections in the music.  antonio grippi, a shadowy figure in free-jazz history, makes an appropriately rousing contribution on alto saxophone.