ANTHONY DAVIS / JAMES NEWTON / ABDUL WADUD – I've Known Rivers (LP-1982, Gramavision)

Label: Gramavision – GR-8201

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1982

Style: Contemporary Jazz, Free Jazz

Recorded and mixed at Vanguard Studios, New York April 1982.

Artwork [Front Cover] – William Pajaud

Design – Neal Pozner

Engineer – John Kilgore

Mastered By – Bob Ludwig

Photography By – Deborah Feingold

Producer – Jonathan F. P. Rose

A1 - Juneteenth (Newton) . . . 5:09

A2 - Still Waters (Davis) . . . 18:12

B1 - After You Said Yes (Newton) . . . 9:47

B2 - Tawaafa (Wadud) . . . 9:15

Anthony Davis – piano

James Newton – flute

Adbul Wadud – drums, percussion

All songs written by Anthony Davis, James Newton or Abdul Wadud. Contains the poem "I've Known River" by Langston Hughes. This combination of musicians works very well. The trio of pianist Anthony Davis, flutist James Newton, and cellist Abdul Wadud are all grounded in the jazz tradition, yet are very adventurous players who are quite versatile. Although the four originals are often complex (and sometimes tightly structured), the players sound quite spontaneous and inspired. Recommended.

_ Review by Scott Yanow

If you find it, buy this album!

JAMES NEWTON – Water Mystery (LP-1985, Gramavision)

Label: Gramavision – 18-8407-1

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1986

Style: Free Jazz, Free Improvisation, Avant-garde Jazz

Recorded at Mad Hatter Studios, Hollywood, California, January 1985.

Design – Neal Pozner

Engineer – Bernie Kirsch

Produced By – James Newton

Cover Art: St. Prosper – by Catharine Warren courtesy of the LIGHT Gallery

A1 - Star Crossed Lovers . . . 3:33

A2 - Lone Hill . . . 10:41

A3 - The Crips . . . 7:58

B1 - Water Mystery . . . 8:56

B2 - One For Strayhorn . . . 5:18

B3 - Dance Steps . . . 5:24

James Newton - flute

Charles Owens - English horn, soprano sax

John Carter – clarinet

April Aoki – harp

Allan Iwohara - koto

Red Callender - tuba

Greg Martin - oboe

John Nunez - bassoon

Roberto Miranda - bass

Anthony Brown – percussion

The five musicians of James Newton's wind ensemble featured on The Mystery School in 1982 (flutist Newton, bassoonist John Nunez, Charles Owens on English horn and soprano, clarinetist John Carter and Red Callender on tuba) are joined by oboist Greg Martin, bassist Roberto Miranda, percussionist Anthony Brown, April Aoki on harp and Allan Iwohara on koto for a rather colorful set. There are two tributes to Billy Strayhorn (including a version of "Star Crossed Lovers"), one for George Russell, a remake of "The Crips" and a pair of features for the koto. A very interesting program of adventurous yet quite logical explorations.

_ Review by Scott Yanow

If you find it, buy this album!