Die Like A Dog Quartet - From Valley To Valley (1998)

A Darker Shade Of Blue

Whenever Peter Brötzmann picks up a saxophone, he broadcasts a tremendoussense of urgency. He projects life experience with incredible emotionalintensity—as freely and powerfully as a saxophonist has ever spoken. For somelisteners, the force of his personal expression may be too much, so consideryourself warned. The fire here gets very hot.

This version of the Die Like a Dog Quartet substitutes trumpeter RoyCampbell on trumpet. Otherwise, in addition to Brötzmann, the group includespercussionist Hamid Drake and bassist William Parker. From the perspective offree-style jazz, it does not get much better than this, the group totally insync for three untitled pieces recorded live at the Fire in the Valley jazzfestival in Amherst, Massachusetts. From any perspective, this very tight,highly disciplined unit is one of the leading ventures in the history ofavant-garde jazz. On the second “tune,” they launch into amagnificent dialogue for forty minutes, rising and ebbing, with distinguishedimprovisations along the way. Campbell is a big plus, his clipped phrases, boldgestures, and confidant lines a welcome addition to the group sound. As to beexpected, Brötzmann electrifies with never-ending torching, while Parker and Drake flow in and out with mesmerizing solidity.

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Uri Hornstein

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