Life Cycle, by The Nommonsemble : Whit Dickey / Rob Brown / Mat Maneri / Matthew Shipp

Life Cycle

by The Nommonsemble : Whit Dickey / Rob Brown / Mat Maneri / Matthew Shipp

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	1.	Wonder 05:32
	2.	War 07:03
	3.	Games 04:49
	4.	Love 07:02
	5.	Acceptance 07:55
	6.	Transformation 09:20

about

[AUM020]

Whit Dickey: drums
Rob Brown: alto sax, flute
Mat Maneri: viola
Matthew Shipp: piano

Following Transonic, which was Whit Dickey's debut as leader, he returned on AUM with yet another tremendous group and this exquisite sound-song cycle. His abiding interest in the ancient essence of life which breathes freely in wide-open spaces – uncluttered by static – is here reflected.

Life Cycle was the fruition of drummer Whit Dickey's then new deeply cohesive group concept, and it was/is something altogether new again. If you had been paying attention to what was happening in jazz & improvised music for the last half decade of the 20th century, you would have heard phenomenal music from all of these players. This album features the stunning talents of these long-time associates in this quartet configuration for the first, and to date, last time. Making great note though: Dickey, Maneri & Shipp reconvened in trio for the astonishing Vessel in Orbit album, released in 2017.

"This album is exhibit A in the case that New York free jazz is -not- mired in the '60s. These four musicians have developed a music that swings in a new way to its own set of rules." –Ed Hazell, Jazziz

"Ample opportunity for Whit Dickey to spin his musicians into an elastic, complexly-woven hymn to the rising chords of his imagination. If you'd like proof that freedom and coherence are not enemies but lovers, look no further." –Ben Watson, The Wire

"I've never heard an unconvincing performance by this drummer, but this record is brilliant even by his standards. It's like the clarified atmosphere after a rainstorm. Electric." –Hi-Fi News

"The imagination and instrumental command of every player here are beyond reproach, and their interactions are near the highest level, though in a somewhat abstract way. Dickey's drumming sets the pace (no pun intended) with his resolute avoidance of any extended rhythmic repetition as might be expected from a player of the Milford Graves stylistic school. Brown and Maneri are master manipulators of timbre as a tool of expression, with the way their notes sound counting for as much, or more, than the particular notes, with Maneri especially digging into microtonal nuances, while Shipp is a subtle colorist with his distinctive harmonies.

"Unlike clichés of New York free jazz, this is not music in which overwhelming energy plays much part; equal interplay and appreciation of piquant sound combinations are the main attraction, and, in the hands of this quartet, prove extremely enticing and fully rewarding on repeated hearings." –Steve Holtje, CDNow

credits

released October 30, 2001

All compositions by Whit Dickey, © Nommo Music (ASCAP)

Produced by Whit Dickey
Recorded by Dave Kowalski on September 15, 2000
at Hillside Sound in Englewood, NJ
Mastered at Hillside by DK

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about

Whit Dickey New York, New York

Drummer-composer from New England with singular drum voice; a resident of NYC since the late 80s. Featured here are his works on AUM Fidelity, and a vintage set first published by Riti Records.

In May 2020, WD & AUM Fidelity launched TAO Forms, a new recording label devoted to jazz of an enlightened & elevated nature: taoforms.bandcamp.com

Photo © R.I. Sutherland-Cohen, 2019 ... more

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