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1990 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet
Metamorphosis is an
album by the
jazz group the
World Saxophone Quartet released in 1990 on the
Elektra /
Nonesuch label and features performances by
Hamiet Bluiett ,
Arthur Blythe ,
Oliver Lake and
David Murray with
Chief Bey ,
Melvin Gibbs and
Mor Thiam . It was the first album recorded by the group after the departure of foundation member
Julius Hemphill and their first to feature additional musicians.
Reception
The
AllMusic review by Brian Olewnick awarded the album 2½ stars, stating, "By their own high standards, Metamorphosis had to be reckoned a disappointment."
[1]
The authors of the
Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote that Blythe "fills the outgoing man's shoes with impressive confidence, checking in with a powerful contrapuntal weave that is lifted a notch by the presence of the three African drummers."
[2]
Writing for
The Washington Post , Geoffrey Himes noted that "the results are uneven," but stated that the album is most convincing "when the emphasis shifts to American jazz, and the Senegalese add their rhythmic flavors to the background."
[3]
Track listing
"The Holy Men" (Bluiett) - 2:48
"Lullaby" (Thiam) - 4:51
"Metamorphosis" (Blythe) - 3:28
"Su Mama Ah Zumu" (Murray, Thiam) - 6:25
"Africa" (Lake) - 8:54
"Ballad For The Blackman" (Murray) - 7:52
"Masai Warrior's Dance" (Bluiett) - 5:14
"Love Like Sisters" (Lake) - 4:07
"Lo Chi Lo" (Murray) -6:57
"Feed The People" (Bluiett) - 10:56
Personnel
Hamiet Bluiett —
baritone saxophone
Arthur Blythe —
alto saxophone
Oliver Lake — alto saxophone,
soprano saxophone ,
flute
David Murray —
tenor saxophone ,
bass clarinet
Chief Bey —
asiko , signal drum,
shakere
Mor Thiam —
gmba , gabala, gum gum,
rain stick , bgnn
Mar Gueye — limbe, m'beum m'beum, gring m'biss m'biss
Melvin Gibbs — electric bass (on 1,2,5)
References
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.
Studio albums Live albums
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release.
As leader or co-leader With
James Blood Ulmer / Music Revelation Ensemble With the
World Saxophone Quartet With others
Cold Sweat Plays J. B. (
Craig Harris , 1988)
Special Edition (Jack DeJohnette, 1979)
Album Album (Jack DeJohnette, 1984)
Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge (
James Carter , 2001)
The Jazzpar Prize (
Pierre Dørge 's New Jungle Orchestra, 1991)
Love Outside of Dreams (
Kahil El'Zabar , 1997)
One World Family (Kahil El'Zabar, 2000)
We Is (Kahil El'Zabar, 2000)
Blues for Coltrane: A Tribute to John Coltrane (
McCoy Tyner , 1984)
44th Street Suite (McCoy Tyner, 1991)
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