X Man (album)

Last updated
X Man
Andrew Cyrille X Man.jpg
Studio album by
Released1994
RecordedMay 8 and 9, 1993
Studio Sear Sound, New York City
Genre jazz
Label Soul Note
121262-2
Producer Flavio Bonandrini
Andrew Cyrille chronology
My Friend Louis
(1992)
X Man
(1994)
Ode to the Living Tree
(1995)

X Man is an album by drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in May 1993 at Sear Sound in New York City, and was released by Soul Note in 1994. On the album, Cyrille is joined by flutist James Newton, guitarist Alix Pascal, and bassist Anthony Cox. [1]

Contents

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 half.svg [2]
The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Tom Hull – on the Web B [4]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "Considering the musicians who are involved, it is often surprising how gentle and melodic this music is. Guitarist Alix Pascal is a new voice with a quiet sound, while flutist James Newton, bassist Anthony Cox, and drummer Andrew Cyrille have long been known for their versatility, open-minded approach to improvising, and high musicianship. Each player contributed two songs apiece, and the soloing is pretty democratic, with each musician having their opportunity to shine both as a soloist and in the ensembles. This is a subtle set that grows more interesting with each listen." [1]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 3½ stars, and commented: "Flute and guitar add a new spectrum to X Man, one that seems closer to Cyrille's basic understanding of melody. Newton's 'E-Squat' is a strong, clearly stated idea from a player who seems to understand Cyrille's intentions from the bottom up, and the drummer responds with some of his simplest and least cluttered playing on record. 'Simple Melody' is extraordinary, something out of a far-off place that yet seems as familiar and immediate as the most overworked standard." [2]

Track listing

  1. "Answer Me" (Pascal) – 6:09
  2. "Novo" (Cox) – 5:46
  3. "A Simple Melody" (Cyrille) – 5:03
  4. "E - Squat" (Newton) – 5:44
  5. "5:05" (Cox) – 17:29
  6. "Lydia" (Pascal) – 7:02
  7. "X Man" (Newton) – 9:40
  8. "Akan" (Cyrille) – 4:07

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Williams (drummer)</span> American jazz drummer (1945–1997)

Anthony Tillmon Williams was an American jazz drummer. Williams first gained fame as a member of Miles Davis' "Second Great Quintet," and later pioneered jazz fusion with Davis' group and his own combo, the Tony Williams Lifetime. In 1970, music critic Robert Christgau described him as "probably the best drummer in the world." Williams was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Cyrille</span> American avant-garde jazz drummer

Andrew Charles Cyrille is an American avant-garde jazz drummer. Throughout his career, he has performed both as a leader and a sideman in the bands of Walt Dickerson and Cecil Taylor, among others. AllMusic biographer Chris Kelsey wrote: "Few free-jazz drummers play with a tenth of Cyrille's grace and authority. His energy is unflagging, his power absolute, tempered only by an ever-present sense of propriety."

James W. Newton is an American jazz and classical flutist.

<i>Psalm</i> (Paul Motian album) 1982 studio album by the Paul Motian Band

Psalm is an album by the Paul Motian Band recorded in December 1981 and released on ECM June the following year—Motian's fifth album for the label and first with the quintet, featuring guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Ed Schuller, and saxophonists Joe Lovano and Billy Drewes.

<i>Tribute</i> (Paul Motian album) 1974 studio album by Paul Motian

Tribute is an album by American jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in May 1974 and released on ECM later that year—Motian's second for the label. The quintet features alto saxophonist Carlos Ward, guitarists Paul Metzke and Sam Brown, and bassist Charlie Haden.

<i>Tender Moments</i> 1968 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Tender Moments is the eighth album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner and his second released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded in December 1967 and features performances by Tyner with an expanded group featuring trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Julian Priester, French horn player Bob Northern, tuba player Howard Johnson, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, tenor saxophonist Bennie Maupin, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Joe Chambers.

<i>Asante</i> (album) 1974 studio album by McCoy Tyner

Asante is an album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded in 1970 and features performances by Tyner with alto saxophonist Andrew White, guitarist Ted Dunbar, bassist Buster Williams, drummer Billy Hart, percussionist Mtume and vocalist "Songai" Sandra Smith appearing on two tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 in jazz</span> Overview of the events of 1979 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1979.

<i>Metamusicians Stomp</i> 1978 studio album by Andrew Cyrille & Maono

Metamusicians' Stomp is an album by American jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille, recorded in 1978 for the Italian Black Saint label.

<i>The Navigator</i> (Andrew Cyrille album) 1982 studio album by Andrew Cyrille

The Navigator is an album by American jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille, recorded in 1982 for the Italian Soul Note label.

<i>A Tribute to Stuff Smith</i> 1992 studio album by Billy Bang

A Tribute to Stuff Smith is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang recorded in 1992. The album was released on the Italian Soul Note label and features songs written by or associated with violinist Stuff Smith (1909-1967). Bang is supported by pianist and former Smith collaborator Sun Ra, bassist John Ore and drummer Andrew Cyrille.

<i>Six Compositions (Quartet) 1984</i> 1984 studio album by Anthony Braxton

Six Compositions (Quartet) 1984 is an album by the American saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton, recorded in New York in 1984 and released on the Italian Black Saint label.

<i>Attainment</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Charles Brackeen Quartet

Attainment is the third album led by saxophonist Charles Brackeen which recorded in 1987 and released on the Swedish Silkheart label.

<i>Worshippers Come Nigh</i> 1988 studio album by Charles Brackeen Quartet

Worshippers Come Nigh is the fourth album led by saxophonist Charles Brackeen which was recorded in 1987 and released on the Swedish Silkheart label.

<i>Something in Return</i> 1988 live album by Jimmy Lyons and Andrew Cyrille

Something in Return is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons and American jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in February 1981 at Soundscape, New York City, and released by the Black Saint label in 1988.

<i>Good to Go, with a Tribute to Bu</i> 1997 studio album by Andrew Cyrille

Good to Go, with a Tribute to Bu is an album by drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in October 1995 at Mu Rec Studio, Milan, Italy, and was released by Soul Note in 1997. On the album, Cyrille is joined by flutist James Newton and bassist Lisle Atkinson. "Bu" was Art Blakey's nickname, and was derived from Abdullah Ibn Buhaina, the name he adopted after converting to Islam.

<i>My Friend Louis</i> 1992 studio album by Andrew Cyrille

My Friend Louis is an album by drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in November 1991 at Power Station in New York City, and was released by DIW Records in 1992. On the album, Cyrille is joined by saxophonist Oliver Lake, trumpeter Hannibal, pianist Adegoke Steve Colson, and bassist Reggie Workman. "Louis" refers to drummer Louis Moholo, to whom the album is dedicated.

<i>Double Clutch</i> (album) 1997 live album by Andrew Cyrille and Richard Teitelbaum

Double Clutch is a live album by drummer Andrew Cyrille and electronic musician Richard Teitelbaum. It was recorded in February 1981 at Soundscape in New York City, and was released by Silkheart Records in 1997.

<i>Culmination</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Sam Rivers Rivbea All-star Orchestra

Culmination is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Sam Rivers. It was recorded during September 1998 at Systems Two Recording Studio in Brooklyn, New York, at the same sessions that yielded the album Inspiration, and was released in 1999 by BMG France. On the album, Rivers is joined by members of the Rivbea All-star Orchestra: saxophonists Greg Osby, Steve Coleman, Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas, and Hamiet Bluiett, trumpeters Baikida Carroll, James Zollar, Ralph Alessi, and Ravi Best, trombonists Art Baron, Joseph Bowie, and Ray Anderson, baritone horn player Joseph Daley, tubist Bob Stewart, bassist Doug Mathews, and drummer Anthony Cole.

<i>Dedication</i> (Ahmed Abdullah album) 1998 studio album by Ahmed Abdullahs Diaspora

Dedication is an album by trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah. It was recorded on June 17 and 18, 1997, at the Spirit Room in Rossie, New York, and was released in 1998 by CIMP. On the album, Abdullah is joined by members of his band Diaspora: saxophonist and flutist Carlos Ward, guitarist Masujaa, bassist Alex Blake, and drummer Cody Moffett, son of Charles Moffett, to whom the album is dedicated.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. "Andrew Cyrille Trio: X Man". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 307.
  3. Swenson, John, ed. (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 186.
  4. Hull, Tom. "Jazz (1960–70s)". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved February 28, 2022.