Elton Dean Quintet - Silent Knowledge '1996

Tracks list

Tracklist

01 - Gualchos
02 - Sound Awake
03 - First In The Wagon
04 - Trains For Tooting

personnel : 

Elton Dean - Saxophone ,Alto Saxophone
Paul Rogers - Bass
Sophia Domancich - Piano
Paul Dunmall - Tenor Saxophone
Tony Levin - Drums

Although Dean is titular head of the quintet, three-fifths of its personnel is
made up of members of the Mujician group -- Tony Levin on drums, Paul Rogers on
bass and Paul Dunmall on tenor sax. Regular Mujician pianist Keith Tippett is
replaced by Sophia Donmancich, who has a robust, two-handed attack, although
perhaps less of Tippetts musical eccentricity. Dean plays his customary alto sax
and saxello, no longer doubling on electric keyboards as he did during his early
Soft Machine days. The long opening piece, Gualchos, betrays a strong and not
unwelcome Coltrane influence, beginning with the rolling thunder of Donmancichs
piano, and then a solemn minor theme played by the saxes in unison. Everyone
then has ample opportunities for soloing, with Dunmalls hoarse, impassioned
tenor a highlight, along with a serpentine duet between the unaccompanied horns
at the end of the piece. A subsequent ballad, First in the Wagon, has Dean
taking an initial lyrical solo, followed by Donmancich and then apparently by
Dean again on his other horn. Very lovely playing, indeed. The remained two
tracks on the CD are more in the mode of Mujician, going beyond the standard
jazz format of theme and solos and into the more challenging world of collective
improvisation where the musicians take turns following one anothers lead and
combine in temporary duets and trios, pushing the music in various directions.
These pieces are abstract and sometimes abrasive, with fewer touchstones for the
listener, but they offer substantial creative challenges for both listener and
musician. Whatever the territory, this group of musicians traverses it with
panache. ~ Bill Tilland

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