When the grooves peak on this album, it's very reminiscent of those Miles and Herbie Hancock records that Maupin was a part of. If you think of albums like Bitches Brew and On The Corner, but with less "statistical density" (as Zappa liked to say), then you're headed in the right direction.
But...while there are many examples of the collective groove here ("Message to Prez", "See The Positive", and the title track, with Maupin switching to alto flute), Penumbra offers several more atmospheric pieces. "Level Three" starts off with a pensive and slightly disjointed improv which then wants to be a blues...but leans toward a free(er) jazz freakout...but finally: blues. "Blinkers" is a breathy workout for solo tenor. "Mirror Image" finds Maupin and bassist Oleskiewicz engaging in a short duet for sax and bowed bass. My favorite of these is "One For Eric Dolphy", full of breath and horn and valve and passion.
Penumbra ends with the gorgeous blues of "Equal Justice." Maupin has moved over to piano, lending a stately feel to an airy composition that gives "Oles" plenty of solo space. It's a nice touch and an unexpected style change to close things out.
Now, if I can just figure out which box I put that David Ocker tape in.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
Oooooooh. Sounds delish!
2 - Mark Saleski
it is! i didn't say this, but at some points the bass clarinet also reminded me of Braxton...though not as, uh...well, whatever the hell Braxton is.
3 - DJRadiohead
Well done, Sir Saleski.
4 - Aaron Fleming
Aye, this is much better than Kenny G, you won't get many references to Bitches Brew inserted into something about him, except maybe "I wish I was listening to Bitches Brew right now, rather than being trapped in this elevator hell."
5 - godoggo
Nice to see that he's getting some attention again. One thing that makes living in Lala land almost tolerable is that I've had a lot of opertunities to see him play for cheap or free a lot, (I'm ambivalent about whether to wish that this will change, though the ration of people with talent to people with taste in this city means that it probably won't). I first saw him 20 years ago in Donald Byrd's band at the Watts Towers festival, and did a double take when his name was announced.
6 - godoggo
I am am a professional typist not.
7 - Connie Phillips
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