If Trees Could Talk (1999) ( )

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Product Summary Label: Mapleshade UPC: 00735561063323 Release Date: 8/31/1999 Buy.com Sku: 60354296 Item#: M7KV4T Format:  CD Song Listing   Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. African, The ------ 2. Straight Ahead ~ A Day on the Plantation ------ 3. Uncle Adolf, Uncle Aaron ------ 4. Ask Me Now ------ 5. Whenever We Could ------ 6. Ballad for E.K. ------ 7. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White ------ 8. Ballad for Frederick ------ 9. If Trees Could Talk ------ 10. Bro' Blues ------ 11. Nightfall ------ 12. Some Other (Sohizophrenic) Blues ------ 13. Auntie Hallie ------ 14. Run Away ------   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Personnel includes: Larry Willis (piano); Hamiet Blueitt (baritone saxophone). Personnel: Larry Willis (piano); Hamiet Bluiett (flute, baritone saxophone); Asante (percussion). Recording information: Mapleshade Studios (1993). Photographer: Michael Wilderman. If Trees Could Talk is a 1993 duo session with Mapleshade house pianist Larry Willis and Hamiet Bluiett, the pre-eminent baritone saxophonist of his generation (percussionist Asante sits in on the opening track). Judging from the producer's liner notes, he appeared quite wary of Bluiett's reputation as some kind of roaring, screeching avant-garde monster, but he really needn't have worried. At this point in his career, Bluiett had become essentially a mainstream player. Sure, he spends an inordinate amount of time in the extreme upper register of his instrument and can squawk and honk with the best of them, but his basic conceptual approach is bluesy and down to earth, and the "experimental" conceits he occasionally offers had been in common parlance since at least the mid-'60s. Willis is a capable if somewhat florid pianist and does little to spur Bluiett into any potentially uncomfortable areas as might have occurred at the hands of, say, Don Pullen. The end result is a fairly solid, though disappointingly bland, date. A couple of tracks, like the opening "The African," pick up a good head of steam, but they're balanced by formless songs like "Ballad for Frederick," where Bluiett's playing is sometimes painfully out of tune. One longs to hear the fire and imagination of the majestic baritone that supplied the earthy bottom to the early World Saxophone Quartet or the later Mingus groups but, on the basis of this recording, those days are far behind. ~ Brian Olewnick Producer: Hamiet Bluiett Engineer: Pierre Sprey   Compilation Appearances Art Of The Ballad Mapleshade's Music Festival Alone Together Offering Duke Of Elegant:gems From Duke Elling   Associated Artists and Works Bargeron, Dave Kenyetta Gentle Giant Of The Tenor ~ Kindred, Bob The Powers Of Two Volume 2 ~ Murphy, Paul (Jazz) Alter Ego ~ Pancella, Tony Shank, Kendra Portraits in Ivory & Brass ~ Walrath, Jack   Technical Info Release Date : 09/14/1999 Original Release Date : 1999 Catalog ID : 6332 Label : Mapleshade Records Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00735561063323   Professional Reviews JazzTimes (6/00, pp.121-2) - "...Blueitt displays his most lyrical side...on this date, not to mention an attractive sense of sheer relaxation that serves the program beautifully. Willis' versatility and impressive capacity enhances whatever he's called for....significant warmth and luster."    Product Image