[TR24][OF] Roots with Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Sam Rivers & Nathan Davis - Stablemates (Remastered) - 1993/2016 (Jazz)

Arthur Blythe, alto and soprano saxophones
Nathan Davis, alto, tenor and soprano saxophones
Chico Freeman, alto, tenor and soprano saxophones
Sam Rivers, tenor and soprano saxophones
Don Pullen, piano, Hammond organ
Santi Debriano, bass
Idris Muhammad, drums
Helmut Nieberle, guitar
Helmut Kagerer, guitar

All star jazz band

Recorded December 14th & 15th, 1992 at Sound Studios Leyh, Heidelberg, Germany
The second release by this magnificent, all-star repertory band features tributes to Benny Golson, Jimmy Forrest, Archie Shepp, George Adams and Johnny Hodges, among others. The tribute to George Adams, penned by his erstwhile partner, Don Pullen, is the beautifully poignant "Ah George, We Hardly Knew Ya", played with great feeling by Arthur Blythe. With its four differently orientated but enormously expressive saxophone stylists and its beautifully integrated rhythm section, ROOTS has won widespread acclaim from critics and public alike.
"Exhilarating music played by exceptional musicians" (Bert Noglik)
yofriend Sep 29 2006
Arthur Blythe, Nathan Davis, Chico Freeman, Sam Rivers, Don Pullen, Santi Debriano, Idris Muhammad got together, and they called themselves "Roots". Their album Stablemates is a solid all-star, all-acoustic, no fuss, album that is bound to get overlooked in the vast world of the recording industry. A rather obscure German Jazz label (In 'n Out Records) that already disappeared, released it in 1993, after the tracks had been recorded in December 1992 in Heidelberg, Germany, with occasional support by Helmut Nieberle and Helmut Kagerer on semi-acoustic guitar. It's 71 minutes of fine, lean, diverse, well-hung Jazz.
To get an idea, try the beautiful hymnal Don Pullen composition Ah, George, We Hardly Knew Ya in 6/4ths that features Pullen on the acoustic piano and Arthur Blythe with a fabulous solo on his alto saxophone.
One of the best Jazz albums from the nineties.
A pretty great session – if only for the work of the sax players! The "stablemates" on the session are a host of older spiritual and soul jazz players – including Nathan Davis, Sam Rivers, Chico Freeman, and Arthur Blythe – alternating solos and coming together in some angular ensemble parts that really sound wonderful. The "Stablemates" reference is well chosen, as there's a lot of Benny Golson influences on the album – especially in the rhythm section of Don Pullen, Santi Debriano, and Idris Muhammad, who groove together with the crackling tightness that Golson would have used on a classic early 60s album, keeping the pace with a soulful swing, so that the horn players can cut loose in some modernist inflections. Titles include "Walkin", "I Remember Eric Dolphy", "Stolen Moments", "Linden Boulevard", and "Stablemates". © 1996-2021, Dusty Groove, Inc.