M'Bizo

Last updated
M'Bizo
M'Bizo.jpg
Studio album by
Released1999
RecordedNovember 10, 1997-June 18, 1998
Genre Jazz
Length49:17
Label Justin Time
Producer David Murray
World Saxophone Quartet chronology
Selim Sivad: a Tribute to Miles Davis
(1998)
M'Bizo
(1999)
Requiem for Julius
(2000)

M'Bizo is an album by American jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Ronnie Burrage on drums, Mario Canonge and D. D. Jackson on pianos, Mabeleng Moholo on musical bow, Jimane Nelson on organ, and James Lewis and Jaribu Shahid on basses. [1]

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars, stating, "The singers and percussionists add to the party atmosphere which even when remembering the dark days of apartheid, sounds quite hopeful and optimistic. Well worth exploring." [2]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote that the album "is the fruit of a trip to South Africa and some very happy musical associations created there," and noted that it is dedicated to Johnny Dyani. They commented: "The three-part 'M'Bizo Suite' occupies the bulk of the record, though the opening 'Snanapo'... and 'Matsidiso'... are both powerful works." [3]

In a review for All About Jazz, Derrick A. Smith stated: "with M'Bizo, it's as if the WSQ and their South African guests internalized the notions of Unity to the point of complete unity of performance. The entire album, true to jazz and to African music, moves like a conversive dance." [4]

John Murph, writing for Jazz Times, commented: "M'Bizo manages to successfully absorb the multilayers of musical ideas without succumbing to pretensions... It almost goes without saying that all members of the quartet unleash wicked solos and soulful cacophony, but in recent times the funk began to stale, M'Bizo offers a different and potent stank." [5]

Track listing

All compositions by David Murray.

  1. "Snanapo" - 12:21
  2. "M'Bizo Suite: Africa-Europe-Asia" - 7:59
  3. "M'Bizo Suite: Sizelapha" - 2:56
  4. "M'Bizo Suite: M'Bizo" - 12:37
  5. "Matsidiso" - 13:24

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Saxophone Quartet</span> American jazz ensemble

The World Saxophone Quartet is an American jazz ensemble founded in 1977, incorporating elements of free jazz, R&B, funk and South African jazz into their music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamiet Bluiett</span> American jazz musician and composer

Hamiet Bluiett was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument was the baritone saxophone, and he was considered one of the finest players of this instrument. A member of the World Saxophone Quartet, he also played the bass saxophone, E-flat alto clarinet, E-flat contra-alto clarinet, and wooden flute.

Ronnie Burrage is an American jazz drummer. His style draws from jazz, funk, and soul.

<i>Steppin with the World Saxophone Quartet</i> 1979 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Steppin' with the World Saxophone Quartet is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1979. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Revue</i> (album) 1982 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Revue is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances and compositions by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>W.S.Q.</i> (album) 1980 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

W.S.Q. is a 1980 album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances and compositions by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Dances and Ballads</i> 1988 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Dances and Ballads is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released in 1988 and featuring performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Rhythm and Blues</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1989 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Rhythm and Blues is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Elektra label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake and David Murray and was first released in 1989.

<i>Requiem for Julius</i> 2000 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Requiem for Julius is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray and is dedicated to the band's founding member Julius Hemphill.

<i>Steppenwolf</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 2002 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

Steppenwolf is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Justin Time label. The album features a live performance by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray and was recorded at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on March 1, 1999. This was Purcell's final album with the group.

<i>Selim Sivad: A Tribute to Miles Davis</i> 1998 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Selim Sivad: The Music of Miles Davis is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Jack DeJohnette, Chief Bey, Okyerema Asante, and Titos Sompa and is dedicated to Miles Davis.

<i>Metamorphosis</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 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.

<i>Four Now</i> 1996 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Four Now is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet, released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with guests Chief Bey, Mor Thiam, and Mar Gueye on African drums.

<i>Takin It 2 the Next Level</i> 1996 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Takin' It 2 the Next Level is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray, with a rhythm section of Don Blackman, Calvin X Jones and Ronnie Burrage.

<i>Experience</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 2004 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Experience is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Oliver Lake, David Murray and Bruce Williams, with guests Craig Harris on trombone, Billy Bang on violin, Matthew Garrison on bass and Gene Lake on drums, and features the music of, and is dedicated to, Jimi Hendrix.

<i>25th Anniversary: The New Chapter</i> 2001 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

25th Anniversary: The New Chapter is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released by the Canadian Justin Time label. The album features performances and compositions by Hamiet Bluiett, John Purcell, Oliver Lake and David Murray.

<i>Point of No Return</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1977 live album by World Saxophone Quartet

Point of No Return is the debut album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet released on the Moers Music label in 1977.

<i>Waltz Again</i> 2005 studio album by David Murray Quartet

Waltz Again is an album by David Murray released on the Canadian Justin Time label. Recorded in 2002 and released in 2005 the album features performances by Murray, Lafayette Gilchrist, Jaribu Shahid, and Hamid Drake along with a 10-person string section.

<i>Breath of Life</i> (World Saxophone Quartet album) 1994 studio album by World Saxophone Quartet

Breath of Life is an album by the jazz group the World Saxophone Quartet. It was recorded in 1992 and released on the Elektra/Nonesuch label in 1994 and features performances by Hamiet Bluiett, Arthur Blythe, Oliver Lake and David Murray with Fontella Bass and a rhythm section.

<i>Conversin with the Elders</i> 1996 studio album by James Carter

Conversin' with the Elders is the fourth album by saxophonist James Carter recorded in late 1995 and early 1996 and released on the Atlantic label. The album features guest appearances by veteran musicians, including trumpeters Harry "Sweets" Edison and Lester Bowie, and saxophonists Hamiet Bluiett, Larry Smith and Buddy Tate.

References

  1. Justin Time catalogue Archived 2008-07-06 at the Wayback Machine accessed November 26, 2008
  2. 1 2 Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed September 9, 2011
  3. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1530-1531. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. Smith, Derrick A. (September 1, 1999). "World Saxophone Quartet: M'Bizo". All About Jazz. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  5. Murph, John (October 1, 1999). "World Saxophone Quartet: M'Bizo". Jazz Times. Retrieved April 7, 2022.