| The Powers of Two, Volume 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2006 | |||
| Genre | Free jazz | |||
| Label | Mapleshade Records 11232 | |||
| Paul F. Murphy chronology | ||||
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The Powers of Two, Volume 2 is an album by drummer Paul F. Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was released in 2006 by Mapleshade Records. [1] [2] The album is the companion to 2004's The Powers of Two .
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz |   [3] |
Thomas Conrad, writing for Jazz Times , commented: "The revelation of this recording is Murphy. He is a drummer/sound painter who totally trusts his wildest creative impulses. He responds directly to Willis' forays with a provocative, complex code of his own, then showers Willis' piano decisions in washes of color and dramatic detail." [4]
In an article for All About Jazz , Joel Roberts stated: "It's an odd pairing on the surface - a mostly post-bop pianist known for his subtlety and precision and a free jazz drummer known for his speed and intensity. Yet somehow it works. The two artists display a strong empathy with each rising to the challenge posed by the other; Willis turning up his volume and energy and Murphy showing (occasionally) a softer side. This is rather accessible improvised music... owing mostly to Willis' strong sense of melody. While it's all completely improvised, Willis' solos are so well crafted they often sound like fully realized compositions." [5]
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings praised the album's sound quality, noting that is "not easy with this instrumentation." [3]
All compositions by Paul F. Murphy and Larry Willis.
William John Evans was an American jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His interpretations of traditional jazz repertoire, his ways of using impressionist harmony and block chords, and his trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines, continue to influence jazz pianists today.
Stephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer. Motian played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties.
Money Jungle is a studio album by pianist Duke Ellington with double bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach. It was recorded on September 17, 1962, and released in February 1963 by United Artists Jazz. All but one of the compositions were written by Ellington, with four of the seven on the original LP being recorded for the first time on this album. Later releases on CD added eight tracks from the same recording session.
Bradford Alexander Mehldau is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
Craig Marvin Taborn is an American pianist, organist, keyboardist and composer. He works solo and in bands, mostly playing various forms of jazz. He started playing piano and Moog synthesizer as an adolescent and was influenced at an early stage by a wide range of music, including by the freedom expressed in recordings of free jazz and contemporary classical music.
1958 Miles is a compilation album by American jazz musician Miles Davis, released in 1974 on CBS/Sony. Recording sessions for tracks that appear on the album took place on May 26, 1958, at Columbia's 30th Street Studio and September 9, 1958, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. 1958 Miles consists of three songs featured on side two of the LP album Jazz Track, which was released in November 1959, one song from the same session not appearing in the album, and three recordings from Davis' live performance at the Plaza Hotel with his ensemble sextet. The recording date at 30th Street Studio served as the first documented session to feature pianist Bill Evans performing in Davis' group.
Right Now! is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1965 and released on the Blue Note label. It features McLean in a quartet with pianist Larry Willis, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Clifford Jarvis.
The Art of the Trio Volume One is an album by American pianist and composer Brad Mehldau released on the Warner Bros. label in 1997.
Trio + Strings is an album by pianist John Hicks, recorded in 1997.
Portraits in Ivory and Brass is an album by trumpeter Jack Walrath with pianist Larry Willis and bassist Steve Novosel which was recorded in 1992 and released on the Mapleshade label in 1994.
The Offering is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2007 and released on the Highnote label.
Blue Fable is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2006 and released on the Highnote label early the following year.
The Big Push is an album by pianist Larry Willis which was recorded in 2005 and released on the Highnote label early the following year.
Paul F. Murphy is a percussionist, bandleader and composer. He is best known for having led a variety of small jazz ensembles, and for his long tenure in groups led by saxophonist Jimmy Lyons.
Enarre is an album by drummer Paul Murphy. It was recorded in June 2001 at Bias Studio in Virginia, and was released by Cadence Jazz Records in 2002. On the album, Murphy is joined by cellist Kash Killion and pianist Joel Futterman.
Exposé is an album by drummer Paul Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was released by Murphy Records in 2008.
Excursions is an album by drummer Paul Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was released by Murphy Records in 2008.
Foundations is an album by drummer Paul F. Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was recorded at Lion & Fox Recording Studios in Washington, D.C. in April 2009, and was released later that year by Murphy Records.
The Powers of Two is an album by pianist Larry Willis and drummer Paul F. Murphy. It was released in 2004 by Mapleshade Records. The album was followed by The Powers of Two, Volume 2 (2006).
Sunshower is an album by pianist Larry Willis, released in 2001 by Mapleshade Records. On the album, Willis is joined by cellist Kash Killion, bassist Steve Novosel, and drummers Paul Murphy and Steve Berrios.