julius hemphill | coon bid’ness
‘COON BID’NESS (Arista AL 1012)
Julius Hemphill / alto saxophone, Black Arthur Blythe / alto saxophone, Hamiet Bluiett / baritone saxophone, Abdul Wadud / cello, Barry Altschul / drums, Daniel Ben Zebulan / congas.
On Side Two: Julius Hemphill, Hamiet Bluiett, Abdul Wadud; and Baikida E.J. Carroll / trumpet; Phillip Wilson / drums.
Recorded: Side One: January 29, 1975; Side Two: February 1972.
Julius Hemphill is a composer and an improviser: a composer in the tradition of Ellington, Mingus, and Ra, and an improviser with deep roots in the blues.
Side one of ‘Coon Bid’Ness (four tracks) works as a single composition. The opening piece, “Reflections,” begins with a slow lament, the three horns and cello creating dark, rich harmonies and utilizing a subtle vibrato to underline the music’s pathos. “Lyric” continues in this vein; then the space begins to open up. Hemphill, it seems, likes to work with several layers of sound, to slowly take them apart - to the point of near dissolution - then to put them back together again (though not necessarily the same as they were before). This is what happens during “Lyric” and also during “Skin 1.” The latter piece especially works its way into some very free space. Then “Skin 2” offers alternate choices as to the side’s resolution; yet there is no real resolution, only lingering afterthoughts.
“Hard Blues” (side two) is an unreleased track from the sessions that produced Dogon A.D., originally released on Julius Hemphill’s label, Mbari, and now re-released by Arista. It’s a funky but somewhat rambling piece, with good solos by Hemphill and Carroll. But, by and large, the music on Dogon is better.
In the U.S., it seems, the Seventies have been more a period of consolidation rather than of innovation (as if the advances of the last decade had to be justified before being built upon). In the process, however, some highly original and beautiful music has been made, bringing together various (and sometimes diverse) stylistic elements. Hard to say exactly where this music will lead, but much of it will easily survive the moment of its own creation and is well worth appreciating. Julius Hemphill’s album offers music of this sort, and it’s recommended.
Henry Kuntz, 1975
selected Julius Hemphill recordings:
Posted:
Monday, April 30th, 2007, 17:26.
Filed under: bells.
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