Thanks for Covering Every Corner

Chris M. Slawecki

Senior Editor since 1996

Chris M. Slawecki has been published in music industry and related publications for more than thirty years and has served AllAboutJazz.com as Senior Editor since 1997.

Recent articles (331 total)

Published: November 29, 2007

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Pack a lunch for disc 4, which is only two tracks long but still runs longer than 60 Minutes. To be honest, some moments feel like all the musicians are standing around and waiting for someone else to make something happen: The rhythm section, percussionists and guitarists take about twelve minutes to warm up "Calypso Frelimo" (4, 1) before flute sort of meanders in to take the lead; and despite much pushing and pulling from guitarists Cosey and Reggie Lucas, it seems to take forever to get "He Loved Him Madly (4, 2) off the ground. But, my gosh, the production around your solo midway through "Madly" sounds so deep and vast...a profound sound.

It completely fits with the other indecipherable twists and turns of your music that among so many expansive musical visions (six tracks on Complete "Corner" run longer than twenty minutes), the two tracks that hit me the hardest are its two briefest. This two and a half-minute "Big Fun" edit (6, 6) is pure live evil, stewing a groove dense with menace that your trumpet cuts through bright and blazing, a shooting star. The three-minute "Holly-wuud" edit (6, 7) pounds out similar, primal yet experimental funk, as you spit out and splatter the blues through your wah-wah trumpet. It sounds dangerous and like an impressionist painting in bold colors.

You'd like the packaging, too—it's the final installment in Columbia/Legacy's metal box compilations of your work and it's most likely the most dynamically beautiful package yet.

And so. Speaking of "final installments," I'd really just like to take this chance to say thank you for everything, in case I never get a chance like this again. You left behind a body of work that we're still exploring to this day. Somehow 'thank you' doesn't seem to be enough for a liberating, perplexing but ultimately eternal gift like that. Thanks just the same.

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