And Now...

Last updated
And Now...
Revolutionary Ensemble And Now.jpg
Studio album by
Revolutionary Ensemble
Released2004
RecordedJune 18, 2004
StudioSystems Two, Brooklyn, New York
Genre Jazz
Length50:23
Label Pi Recordings
Revolutionary Ensemble chronology
Revolutionary Ensemble
(1977)		And Now...
(2004)		 Beyond the Boundary of Time
(2008)

And Now... is an album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper. It was recorded in June 2004 and released later that year by Pi Recordings. [1] It was the first recording by the group following a hiatus of roughly 25 years. [2]

Contents

"911-544" is a suite composed by Jerome Cooper, and is a reflection on the events of 9/11, which he watched unfold from the roof of his apartment building. [2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "the Revolutionary Ensemble came back together in 2004. Happily, the three musicians' fire, adventurous nature and determination to express themselves through their highly original music was still very much intact. And Now... has Jenkins, Sirone and Cooper performing a piece with forward momentum ('Berlin Erfahrung'), a dirge, a one-chord drone, the thoughtful 'Light' and a whimsical and surprisingly gentle number ('Ism Schism') that pays tribute to Western classical music. Fans of the group can rejoice that nothing has been lost through the years." [1]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3 stars, and commented: "More than 30 years after the group's first experiments, the members of the Revolutionary Ensemble got back together again. The results are, as one would expect, mellower ('Ism Schism' is a quiet masterpiece with classical overtones), more measured, and better recorded. Nevertheless, the old fires are not extinguished and there is still plenty of excitement in the set. Cooper's '911-544' is a reminder of the old, one-chord pieces, built out of the simplest and most basic of materials. 'Berlin Erfahrung' is speedy and nimble and 'Light' has a delicacy that, instrumentation apart, would make even established fans wonder who was playing." [3]

Writing for All About Jazz , Andrey Henkin stated: "Judged in a vacuum, the album is energetic and has an appealing cerebral quality. No horns and a bassist that functions as an equal member of the front melodic line changes the dynamic away from what listeners typically expect from jazz. This music is not linear or even cyclical. It is reminiscent of the whack-a-mole game, elements popping up and down seemingly at random. There are themes but they are more bookends. Judged against their earlier work, a listener may be surprised that the years didn't have much intervening effect. Apart from the keyboards of Cooper, this could be any of their albums from the '70s. That is as good as starting point for their renaissance as any." [5]

In a separate review for All About Jazz, Jerry D'Souza remarked: "If there is one trait is in evidence here, it is the accessibility of the compositions. Though they ascend from the bed of melody, they are forged on the kiln of inspiration and so create remarkably potent permutations. Each of the musicians gives improvisation its context, and though the angles may be odd, the prism through which they are filtered brings the whole into pronounced focus... The interaction between the three is still intuitive. Time has not effaced their ability to forge ahead, grab imagination, and create music that is spirited, fierce, and dynamic." [4]

Kevin Whitehead, writing for NPR Music, commented: "A breezy detachment that is central to their charm. Great to have them back." [6] Jazz Word's Ken Waxman wrote: "And Now... proves that the Revolutionary Ensemble still work together excellently after all these years apart, and the ellipses suggest there's more to come." [7]

Track listing

  1. "Berlin Erfahrung" (Sirone) - 5:24
  2. "Rumi Tales" (Jenkins) - 6:54
  3. "911-544" (Cooper) - 20:52
  4. "Light" (Jenkins) - 7:46
  5. "Ism Schism" (Sirone) - 9:31

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leroy Jenkins (musician)</span> American composer and violinist (1932–2007)

Leroy Jenkins was an American composer and violinist/violist.

The Revolutionary Ensemble was a free jazz trio consisting of violinist Leroy Jenkins (1932–2007), bassist Sirone and percussionist/pianist Jerome Cooper (1946–2015). The group was active from 1970–1977, and reunited briefly in 2004. Musician George E. Lewis described the trio as "one of the signal groups of the period." Writer John Fordham stated that the group "was remarkable for its concentration on texture, tone colour and the then unclaimed territory between jazz and contemporary classical music." A DownBeat reviewer, writing in 1972, described them as "a unique, utterly contemporary unit of extraordinarily talented players who possess a world understanding of what 'organized sound' is all about."

Jerome Douglas Cooper was an American free jazz musician. In addition to trap drums, Cooper played balafon, chirimia and various electronic instruments, and referred to himself as a "multi-dimensional drummer," meaning that his playing involved "layers of sounds and rhythms". AllMusic reviewer Ron Wynn called him "A sparkling drummer and percussionist... An excellent accompanist". Another Allmusic reviewer stated that "in the truest sense this drummer is a magician, adept at transformation and the creation of sacred space".

Norris Jones, better known as Sirone was an American jazz bassist, trombonist, and composer.

<i>Anthony Braxton</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Anthony Braxton

Anthony Braxton is an album by Anthony Braxton, released in 1969 on the BYG Actuel label. It features performances by Braxton, violinist Leroy Jenkins, trumpeter Leo Smith and percussionist Steve McCall.

<i>It Is in the Brewing Luminous</i> 1981 live album by Cecil Taylor

It is in the Brewing Luminous is a live album by Cecil Taylor recorded at Fat Tuesdays, NYC, on February 8 & 9, 1980 and released on the Hat Hut label. The album features performances by Taylor with Jimmy Lyons, Ramsey Ameen, Alan Silva, Jerome Cooper and Sunny Murray. The album was originally released as a double LP then rereleased as a single CD.

<i>Revolutionary Ensemble</i> (album) 1977 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

Revolutionary Ensemble is an eponymous live album by the free jazz group consisting of violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper, which was recorded in Austria in 1977 and released on the German Enja label and in the U.S. on Inner City Records the following year.

<i>The Peoples Republic</i> (album) 1976 studio album by The Revolutionary Ensemble

The People's Republic is an album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper, which was recorded in late 1975 and released on the A&M/Horizon label the following year.

<i>Manhattan Cycles</i> 1973 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

Manhattan Cycles is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper, which was recorded on the last day of 1972 and released on the India Navigation label the following year. The album documents a performance of an extended composition by Leo Smith.

<i>Vietnam</i> (Revolutionary Ensemble album) 1972 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

Vietnam, also referred to as Vietnam 1 & 2 is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper, which was recorded in 1972 and released on the ESP-Disk label.

<i>The Psyche</i> (Revolutionary Ensemble album) 1975 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

The Psyche is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper. It was initially released on LP in 1975 by the group's own label RE Records, and was reissued on CD in 2002 by Mutable Music.

<i>Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival of America</i> 1979 studio album by Leroy Jenkins

Space Minds, New Worlds, Survival of America is an album by violinist and composer Leroy Jenkins. It was recorded in August and September 1978, and was released on LP by Tomato Records in 1979. On the album, Jenkins is joined by George Lewis on electronics and trombone, Richard Teitelbaum on synthesizer, Anthony Davis on electric piano and piano, and Andrew Cyrille on percussion.

<i>For Players Only</i> 1975 live album by Leroy Jenkins

For Players Only is a live album by violinist and composer Leroy Jenkins, his first as a leader. It was recorded in January 1975 at Wollman Auditorium, Columbia University in New York City, and was released by JCOA Records later that year. On the album, Jenkins is joined by members of the Jazz Composer's Orchestra.

<i>Beyond the Boundary of Time</i> 2008 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

Beyond the Boundary of Time is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper. It was recorded in May 2005 in Warsaw, Poland, and was released in 2008 by Mutable Music. The album contains one composition by each group member, along with two collective improvisations. It captures one of the group's last performances, and is dedicated to Jenkins, who died in 2007.

<i>Counterparts</i> (Revolutionary Ensemble album) 2012 live album by Revolutionary Ensemble

Counterparts is a live album by the Revolutionary Ensemble, violinist Leroy Jenkins, bassist Sirone and drummer Jerome Cooper. It was recorded in November 2005 in Genoa, Italy, and was released in 2012 by Mutable Music. It documents the group's last live performance, and is dedicated to the memory of artist Frederick J. Brown.

<i>Live</i> (Sirone album) 2005 live album by Sirone

Live is a live album by bassist Sirone, recorded in November, 1980, at The Public Theater in New York City. It was initially released in 1981 on Sirone's label Serious Music, and was reissued in 2005 by Atavistic Records as part of their Unheard Music Series. On the album, Sirone is joined by saxophonist Claude Lawrence and drummer Dennis Charles.

<i>Configuration</i> (album) 2005 live album by Sirone and Billy Bang

Configuration is a live album by bassist Sirone and violinist Billy Bang, recorded in November, 2004, at CBGB's Gallery in New York City, and released in 2005 by Silkheart Records. On the album, the musicians are joined by the members of the Sirone Bang Ensemble: saxophonist Charles Gayle and drummer Tyshawn Sorey.

<i>Alone, Together, Apart</i> 2003 live album by Jerome Cooper and Thomas Buckner

Alone, Together, Apart is a live album by percussionist Jerome Cooper and vocalist Thomas Buckner. It was recorded in April 2002 at Lotus Music and Dance Studio in New York City, and was released by Mutable Music in 2003.

<i>A Magical Approach</i> 2010 live album by Jerome Cooper

A Magical Approach is a live solo percussion album by Jerome Cooper. The first track was recorded in April 1978 at Environ in New York City, while the remaining tracks were recorded in September 2007 at an AACM concert in New York City. The album was released by Mutable Music in 2010.

<i>Berlin Djungle</i> 1987 live album by Brötzmann Clarinet Project

Berlin Djungle is a live album by the Brötzmann Clarinet Project, led by Peter Brötzmann, and featuring an eleven-piece band that was assembled for a concert at JazzFest Berlin. Documenting a performance of a single 47-minute work, it was recorded on November 4, 1984, at the Delphi Theater in Berlin, and was released on vinyl in 1987 by FMP/Free Music Production. In 2004, it was reissued on CD by Atavistic Records as part of their Unheard Music Series. On the album, Brötzmann is joined by clarinetists Tony Coe, J.D. Parran, Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, Louis Sclavis, and John Zorn, trumpeter Toshinori Kondo, trombonists Alan Tomlinson and Johannes Bauer, double bassist William Parker, and drummer Tony Oxley.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now..." AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now..." Pi Recordings. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1104.
  4. 1 2 D'Souza, Jerry (March 9, 2005). "Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now..." All About Jazz. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Henkin, Andrey (December 5, 2004). "Revolutionary Ensemble: And Now..." All About Jazz. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Whitehead, Kevin (February 10, 2005). "Jazz Review: The Revolutionary Ensemble". NPR. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ Waxman, Ken (April 4, 2005). "And Now". Jazz Word. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.