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DAVID PHILLIPS & FREEDANCE
Dave Phillips - Bass   Rez Abbasi - Guitars   John O'Gallagher - Saxophone   Tony Moreno - Drums, Percussion
NAXOS JAZZ 86061-2
Crotchet  

1. Eastern Peace

2. You and the Night and the Music
3. Scramble from the White House
4. Pops and Poppies
5. New Esthetic
6. Soul Food
7. Rezolution
8. Paper Spoons
9. Valerina
10. Creating Destiny
11. Spiritual
12. In a Sentimental Mood

Guitarist John Abercrombie, one of the founding fathers of fusion says of Freedance, "Living at a time when tradition and sameness seem to be the norm, it's so great to hear music from this CD, that dares to take chances, mixes it up and gives plenty of room for the imagination tom stretch out."

I don't entirely share his view, but to the people who are into freeform and fusion in jazz, this one is for you. In the sleeve notes David Phillips talks of collaborative ensemble playing where the arranger does not constrain the participants and the piece develops during rehearsal. To me quite a lot of it sounds like a sort of musical anarchy where everyone has his own idea of what should be played, but it doesn't necessarily all fit together!

This album will probably appeal to the sector of the jazz audience mentioned earlier, but I don't think it will go down very well with those who like, me feel that if it don't swing, it ain't jazz!

Don Mather

Don Mather is a Saxophone Player and bandleader in Coventry, UK